The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-09-19
MEANS DEMOCRATIC
CONGRESS
Especial to News and observer.)

Washington, Sept. 1S.-The withdrawal
from the race for Congress of Speaker
Henderson and the reasons he assigns
for the act form the principal political
event of the year. in the opinion OF all
shrewd and experienced observers here.
The first man l met this morning on my
way to breakfast was Capitol clerk, of
course a Republican. He said: 1T means
that the next Congress will be Demo-
cratic. Later another man remarked
I'VE will have to fight all the harder
The news threw a wet blanket all over
the capitol and greatly worries the Off
Gals in the departments. 1t is construed
as intensifying the division in the Repub-
lican party on the tariff question, and by
consequence as Encouraging the Demo-
Gratis who are united on the subject.
At Democratic Congressional head
quarters Chairman Griggs was absent in
New York But Secretary Edwards and
others were jubilant Their information
from private sources showed that Mr..
Henderson was not acting wildly IN his
apprehension for the safety of his party.
Mr. Edwards said: Colonel Henderson
recognized the handwriting on the wall.
He did not need to wait until later in
the campaign He did not care to face
the music any further and resigned to
get rid of the responsibility of defeat in
his own district and in the country at
large. We have got the next Congress
sure"
1t is stated at the headquarters
that the party counts on winning the
election of Boies and perhaps achieving
the defeat of Lacey in Iowa. In Wiscon-
sin, it is believed, two districts will be
captured, and the statement was made
that a prominent Michigan Democrat
claimed a gain of four members in that
State. 1t is thought that the Democrats
will carry the 1st, End, 3rd and 9Th dis
tricts of Minnesota. 1t is believed that
considerable gain will be made east, in
Guiding New York and Pennsylvania. AS
for New Jersey, where there has been, by
the census. an addition of two Repre-
sentatives the expectation is to carry the
1st Qouderslager' the 5th (where Fow-
Ter of bank bill fame is the nominee) and
the two Hudson county districts, besides
having a live chance for success in the
4th or Trenton Huntington district. The
present representation is six Republicans
to two Democrats. Louderslager, lead
sional Committee and chairman of the
Pensions Committee, was renominated
after great difficulty, and after he had
irritated the machine politicians of the
principal city of his district (Camden) be-
yond hope of compromise. The two Re-
publican dailes of the place carry his
name at their masthead, but say not one
word about the nominee or of devotion to
the candidates of the party. Numerous
threats to knife him have been made by
the petty ward bosses, and harmony
seems to be over in the Republican fam
lily there. nj
Respecting Mr. Henderson's action. the
general sentiment of Republicans is
voiced by the remark to me of one this
afternoon Henderson is a coward.
The feeling against him for acting hastily
and selishly is very bitter indeed. 1t
is thought he should not have exposed
the weakness of his party on the trust
and tariff questions. 1t is even believed
that the Speaker may resign at the next
session, as he will not be able to COM
mand the respect of his party associates.
Democratic excitement among citizens
in private life is indicated by what a
South Carolinian, General -, said to
me this morning: Henderson saw the
danger to his party and wisely decided to
get himself out of the way. / am glad
old man Boies comes again to the front.
He may be elected and l hope he will be,
so as to bring him into the presidential
fight, for the nomination. l mean. The
more candidates the merrier."
The trust question had already tangled
up the Republican leaders before Speaker
Henderson declined the nomination for
reelection. The Presidents utterances
had alenated many of those leaders and
offended the men who always provide the
sinews of war. The President does not
mean to go as far as the people de-
mand any way, but the rich fellows don't
want him to continue as he has begun.
They certainly will not stand his taking
a single forward step. What is he to
do, now that Henderson has accumulated
the popular dissatisfaction? He is on
the eve of starting upon his most i'm
portant stumping tour of the present
campaign. The people will watch most
closely what he says. With Henderson
and Hanna against his modifying the
tariff and with Plat and the Wall Street
crowd and all the trusts threatening him
If he does not hold up in his so-called
war on the trusts, the position of Mr..
Roosevelt is painfully delicate to main
tain CICERO w. HARRIS.