New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-07-24
THE FIGHT FOR CONGRESS
DANGER OF REPUBLICAN APATHY AND
ovERCoNFIDENCE.
PLANS DISCUSSED BY OFFICERS OF THE
CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE.
tBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRtBUSE.l

Washington. July PA conference or several OF
the officers of the Republican Congress Committee
was held here to-day TO consider plans for the i'm
pending campaign far the political complexion
of the next House of Representatives Is concerned
Among those present Representative BAD
cock of Wisconsin and Representative Hun. OF
Iowa chairman and vice-chairman of the commit
tee and Representative Loudenslager. Of NeU-Jer-
sey in charge Of the Eastern headquarters VINO
will devote his attention and efforts chiehy %
Congress districts in New-England and the Middle
States including also Maryland. Delaware. West
virginia Virginia and North Carolina They spent
most of the day and evening discussing the genera!
features of the campaign, both in the eastern anu
Western divisions. Messrs. Babcock and Hull have
been in the West for several weeks. ana MI.
Loudenslager has been engaged in correspondence
with leaders throughout his division. so that the
comparison Of views exceedingly interest
ing and important one.
The existing condition in regard 10 the HOUSE Oh
Representatives somewhat resembles that whiSh
prevailed in 1888 and nearly cost the Repuohcan
party the control of that body-a condition OF
apathy and overconhdence. Thousands OF SUD
stantiaI patriotic citizens who in 1895 freely
contributed time. and personal EFFORT 10
promote the success of the Republican ticket ana
avert the disaster of Bryan victory, took their
ease in 1885 when sound financial legislation de-
pended on the election of a Republican majority 10
the House of Representatives. This year there Is
another element of danger, which Chairman BAD
cock and his colleagues have already discoveries III
many quarters. Many Sound Money democrats
viii the Republican NaJOnai liChFt Oli ~
count Bryan's silver imitation views axe eVhcllS
a disposition TO support the candidates OF ther
party for Congress and excusing themselves Oy
saying that there IS danger Of adverse leelsia-
ton by that body the money question, no mat
ter what party may control the House Z Repre-
sentatives This as we'll the general cCnd-tlcn
OF apathy and overconhdence is giving Chairman
Babcock and his associates deep concern The
former freely expressed his views to-day 10
Star reporter.
CHAIRMAN BABCOCK'S WARNING.
Among other things, after saying that the outlook
for the success of the National ticket was satls-
factory. Mr.. Babcock said:
But when it comes to consideration of the Con-
gressional outlook, find some unusual conGltlons,
stood b3 us in 1885 and again in 1855 They viii vote
for the Republican National ticket tor 5hfS san
by the Democrats And yet many OF taem Wia! s sd
Tor the legislative and local offices.
Many people ask Why ali this concern about the
the Congressional ticket through with it? People
do not TO think how the Republicans are hanal
south the like Of which We have not in party.
to Congress from states that Will also give their
electoral vote the Democratic candidates Inat
can prevent. ana around which the Democrats have
states "hicn VIII give their eIectoTal NoIes 10 o
Republicans will at the same time have 40 per cent
look the Democratic Representatives in this Con-
sress from New-York Pennsylvania, NeW-JerSey
tional issues The election Of Republican electors
through Republican Representatives from The New
York City districts. West OF the missouri FtIver
we will have to fight to hold what We already nave.
In the Northwest there are some districts whish
too close in their pluralities to be comfortable
That will push US into New-York PENNSYLVANIA and
Mas III TO make Sans TO- 9 %se a9St
viii comm TAKE be ma pPen1svIya1ia District
Gold Democrat McAieer. the Republicans voting for
him But that is a Republican district and l hope
they will put up a Republican there and make a
hot canvass in which event | think they can elect
2{neE that we esn get TO Keep up our ps]9 S IN
dsfranchsed. we will never get another Republican
Representative from that State where We have
This may seem rather discouraging outlook TO
publicans must face and the sooner they do so and
get down to work the better off they will be. We
sonal EFFORTS on the part OF every man am glad
the business Interests of the country cannot affnr5
to have the House imperilled 1t would be serious
the general prosperity of the Nation ASIDE from
the fact that the election of Democratic House
for the further prosperity of the country, enactng
Interested a Democrats House Would work untold
embarra ssment all along the line. Powerless to do
anything themselves, the Democrats would only
succeed in preventing any one else from doing
When all these things are fully realized by the
fogn n the Conversational Campaign Commit
ton OF II, yoterSmThen the Republicans get their
the proper effort can elect the House but as
sstd, that effort viii have to he made.
Special attention will be devoted by both branches
save narrow puraites majori.ies for the sue
Gessful candidates two years ago, when the Repub-
hCau lost a number of districts which usually
safely Republican. In 1895 there were thirty-fve
which gave pluralities none of which exceeded five
hundred votes. OF these twenty chose Republican
Populst Representatives. The twenty close Re
puhcan districts in that election were scattered
forna.
SOME CLOSE DISTRICTS
In the With California District Needhan Repub-
lican, was elected over the DemoPop, fusion cam
publican gain, In the XIIIth Illinois District Mar,
shall Republican vas reelected by plurality OF
hibtion candidate received AZ votes In the XXTth
Illinois District ROdenberg Republican was elected
434 votes, which was Republican gain But In this
district there were also two Populist candidates
VOC amounted TO 1,2i5 or 40 more than the Re
One-seventh Of all the close Congress districts
were In Indiana. In the LIST District Hemerway
Republican. received a plurality of 81. In the
but the combined of the Prohibition and Pop
ultst candidates amounted to N2. In the With
his Democrauc opponent was S62 but the combined
vote OF the Prohibition. and POpuliSt candidates
sI oulteu 70 $50 ieiNlhS tne Repubilcan more
than thousand votes short of ma torty. In the
18th District the Republican plurality was only
It2 and the combined vote of the Popullst and
Irohlhition candidateS amounted 10 PAS The I'D
District gave Mers Democrat, a plurality OF 90
votes, and POpust candidate received SSs votes
ably receive a smaller vote and the DemoCratic
candidate Will reap the benefit
The lid Iowa District gave a Republican plurality /
There are three close districts in Kentucky The
Vth save Democrats plurality OF 5Si in 1895 /
when there was fectional fight in the Republican |
ranks Ia the With gaye Democratic plurality of
date, received a plurality of only 10 votes