The Indianapolis journal., 1902-08-23
BASELESs CLAIMS.

The Democratic press and the managing
committee claim that the party will elect
a majority of the next House. They have
figured out the result, and with those who
do not remember from one election to an
other that seems to settle the matter.
Those who remember so far back as three
or four elections know that the Demo-
cratic managers and press always claim
success before the votes are counted. They
claimed it in this State in 1896 and in 1900
with the utmost assurance. In the same
way they are claiming the next House
and the gain Of two members in Indiana.
Mr.. Hemenway, who is as useful a repre-
sentative as Indiana has had in the House
in years. is. they say. to be beaten to a
standstill. This means that the First dis
trict, which is enjoying a degree Of pros
perity it has never before known, is to
turn its back upon the man who supported
all the measures which brought this uni
versaI prosperity and elect a man TO sue
ceed him who has opposed every one Of
these measures. That is one of the In
diana districts which the Democratic man
ayers have already carried in their imag
nations. At one time the Democratic
managers had selected Mr.. Holiday, of
but the fact that the Democrat who was
designated TO beat him has declined TO be
considered candidate would indicate that
he and his friends have looked the district
over and come to the conclusion that Mr..
Holiday cannot be beaten. Mr.. Brick in
the Thirteenth district, was at one time
put upon the list of the defeated, but those
who have looked the ground over are not
making this prediction as TO the district.
Mr.. Bricks friends reason rightly when
they conclude that two years more of un-
precedented prosperity in the district whose
great industries have a worldwide repu-
tation is not the sort of influence to wipe
out a Republican plurality of 2,216. There
has been some absurd prediction that Mr..
Landis is to be beaten in the Ninth-a
district which, as now made up, gave a
Republican plurality Of over 5000 two years
ago. Similar ridiculous predictions have
been made in regard to the Eighth dis
trict, which had a plurality of $3.50 two
years ago. A report comes from New
York industrial paper that the Democrats
are depending upon a large vote for their
candidate in that district from organized
labor. Yet it is exceedingly doubtful il
the workingmen in the leading gas-belt
district have so far forgotten the dismal
years of 1894, 1895 and 1896 that they will
turn their faces to a party which has de-
clared for a tariff for revenue only.
Attention has thus been called to the
Democratic claims in Indiana as to gains
in the next House to show that those
who make them have consulted their vair
hopes rather than bedrock conditions
There is no Republican district which the
Democrats have better grounds for claim
ing than they had in 1900. The chances are
quite as good for the Republicans carrying
the Twelfth as they are that the Demo.
Gratis will carry any district now repre-
sented by a Republican. The Pittsbure
| Pa) Dispatch, which is not an out-and
out Republican paper by a great deal
after examining the Democratic claims Of
their ability to elect a majority in the
next House, says:
The absence of any defined issue upor
which the Democracy can hope to make
| successful fight does not encourage credul
| ity in their claims, but when it is seer
| that they are expecting to win their battle
| by accessions from the five States-Nev
/ York. Pennsylvania, Ohio. Illinois and In
/ diana-where manufacturing, agricultural
! and commercial interests are united il
! placing the prolongation of prosperity
| above all minor issues. the basis of thei
/ faith becomes still less apparent. 1t IL
almost impossible to imagine how they ar,
! TO secure the votes needed in these dis
/ trictS.
More and more as the campaign pro
/ crosses the desire to prolong the era o
! prosperity will become the dominating in
| fiuence with a majority of voters. For what
ever else the Democracy may stand, /
is committed in this State to a change il
the tarin-to a general change in tn
economic conditions which came with tn
| inaugura ton OF Republican rule in 1897.