Evening star., 1901-11-13
Hoping That the Republicans Will
Make Mistakes.
LOOKING TO CONTROL FHE HOUSE
Watching the Presidents Attitude
on Reciprocity.
NJ A TER OF TRU S T S

Democratic senators and representatives
as they arrive are talking very earnestly
| among themselves over questions Of policy
| for the democratic party in the coming
Congress. There does not appear at pres
| ent to be very much unanimity of opinion
among them, nor even agreement upon any
| one line of policy to be pursued.
Most Of them are awaiting President
Roosevelt's 9 message to get the cue for pos
sible democratic opposition. The democrats
say it is likely their policy will be more
one of opposition than of aggression and
initiative. They will search for weak spots
in the republican 3rmor, and if they can set
together, attack.
The democrats have been counting main
iy upon the trust question to give them
material for assailing the republicans in
this Congress. But they are not even as
sured that they will be permitted to enjoy
the free use of this weapon. They do not
know what ground Mr.. Roosevelt will as
sume upon this question. Some think 1t
altogether possible the President may come
out in strong antitrust message and le-
| lieve the democratic party of the task of
crushing the octopus Others of them do
not look for any such procedure, however
upon the part of the administration and
believe the democrats will have free swing
in this regard.
Watching Reciprocity.
Inc ITeSlQenI attitude toward reCa-
procity is also being watched with great
solicitude upon the part of the democrats.
They think that If he falls short of the
expectations Of those who demand reci-
procity as means of extending the foreign
| trade Of the country it will be an opportu
nifty for the democrats to make campaign
material. The Presidents remarks to call
ers within the past few days have not been
construed, however, as holding out much
fn fha TO in, int1fa
In the coming session both parties will
| make their campaign material for the con-
gressional campaign next summer and fall.
The democrats are counting upon attempt
ing play to get possession Of the House
at the next election. There is no chance
Of getting the Senate for many years. With
control Of the House they can force COM
promises on legislation and their efforts
politically between this time and the presi-
dental campaign will be devoted to work.
ing for control of the lower branch of Con-
gress.
Their capital is very meager at this time,
they admit. but they live in hope. They
say that past experience has shown the
dangers which surround an 6ver-confident
and reckless majority in the House; that If
the republicans are given rope enough
they may yet hang themselves" In fact,
about the best prospect that the situation
now holds out to the democrats is the pos
sibility of republican mistakes. Not always
in the past has the democratic party been
able to take advantage of the mistakes of
Its opponent, however, and there are few
signs Of unification Of the conflicting inter-
ests and views of the democratic member
ship in the coming Congress.
Several Leaders In the House.
There will be two or three democratic
leaders in the House without doubt. The
slverites are dying hard, the anti-trustites
are clamorous that their policy should be
made the party shibboleth the anti-expan-
sionists even in the face of the Supreme
Court decisions, will keep up the fight
against the insular policy of the admins
tration. Free trade is about the only DEM
ocratic policy that does not appear likely
to enter the lists. and no leader is pushing
to the front upon that platform.
After the administration has spoken upon
reciprocity and the republicans have eau
cused upon tariff revision, the democrats
will probably try to get together and see If
their antagonists have left them anything
at which to cavil. 1t may be said that the
party managers Of the republicans are
watching this phase of the political situa-
ton very carefully. Some of the repub-
lcans are for ignoring the trusts and going
straight ahead; others are more cautious
and would meet in some degree the popu-
lar demand for recognition Of the trust as
a national menace.
There is this difference in the methods of
the two parties: that whatever the major
fty of the republicans decide upon the mi-
nority Of their party win fall into line and
support. The democrats, some Of their
leaders think, are more likely to split into
factions.
That seems to be the main fear of the
most thoughtful democrats, based upon the
bitter experience Of the past. "If we can
only stick together" they say, "the repub-
licans flushed with power are very likely to
SLIP but the chances are We will not be
ready to hit them while they are down."
The infusion of new democratic blood into
the Senate is not likely to alter the condi-
tions in the party. The young democrats
Mr. Carmack and Mr. Bailey, while with
holding none Of their ability from their col
leagues, will, according to those who know
them best, be very 10th to interpose their
views and opinions as against the judgment
Of their elders at such an early stage of
their senatorial careers.