New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-08-29
THE CONGRESS CAMPAIGN.
NO CLEAR SAILING CHART.
Democrats Want to Trade for Votes
Their Fighting Chance.


mont, McCarren & Co, are reaching Washing
ton daily and are likely TO demand attention
from the leaders Of both parties in the imme-
date future. That Democratic candidates for
the House are hoping TO trade votes for Roose-
welt is the burden Of the complaint that has
reached Washington from various sources.
Going into details 1t appears that Democratic
candidates for Congress, practically abandoned
to their own resources by the Democratic Con-
gressional Committee, are anxious to avail
themselves of the wide popularity of President
Roosevelt of the generally admitted futility Of
attempting to elect Parker and of local differ
ences to trade votes for Roosevelt and Fair
banks for votes for the local candidate for Con-
gress.
1t appears that In a number of instances there
have been factional differences regarding the
Republican candidate for the House and these
the Democratic candidates and their friends
seeking to utilize TO secure Republican votes for
the local nominee in some instances offering two
and three Democratic votes for the national
ticket in return.
1t is hardly believed that Chairman Cowherd
OF the Democratic Congress Committee would
sanction this system of trading, desperate as is
the situation which confronts him and his as
sociates on the committee. but some Of his as
sociates declare that no one can blame either the
system is being planned, in view of the sense
less treatment accorded the Congress commit
tee by Sheehan, Belmont, NIcCarren & Co. In
connection with this it is noteworthy that Chair
man Taggart is being gradually absolved from
blame for the extraordinary position in which
the Congress committee is placed, the ground
that he is only a fgurehead and in on way re-
sponsible for the conduct of the campaign.
Regardless of who is to blame, however, the
Congress committee is in desperate straits,
unable to comply with more than a small per-
centage Of the requests for literature and other
campaign material which are being received
daily. and utterly unable to make any promises
of financial assistance irrespective Of the ends
to be@secured from the proposed expenditures.
Only a small portion OF the Office force which
Chairman Cowherd had virtually engaged is
employed, and it is a constant struggle to make
both ends meet when the little weekly expense
accounts OF the committee are presented. Mean
while, reports from every source indicate that
the New-York leaders are chasing an ignis
fatuus that there is absolutely no chance of
electing the national Democratic ticket, and
that there are. moreover. excellent chances of
carrying a number of doubtful Congress dis
trrJs.
WORK FOR THEIR OWN ELECTION.
Under the circumstances, it is claimed by Mr..
Cowherd's associates that local candidates are
almost warranted in using every means in their
power to effect their own election, and the
chairman feels a decided dellcacy about inter-
ferlng when he is not in position to offer the
assistance which local candidates have learned
to expect from the Congress Committee.
II might be injustice to say that Chairman
Cowherd is sulkng, but it is no breach of con-
idence TO say that he feels deeply the en-
barrassing position in which he is placed and
the utter lack of wisdom and the unaduterated
selhshness which dominate the conduct OF the
Sheehan- Belmont machine.
Mr.. Cowherd's dissatisfaction is. moreover,
spreading Many members Of the party believed
that the appointment OF Tom Taggart as ma
tional chairman would serve offset the intense
local ambitions Of the Parker machine. and
would result in n general distribution OF the
sinews Of war throughout the country. and espe-
cially in those localities where they would be
likely to be most productive Of results beneficial
TO the party as whole. but they are sadly dis
appointed. Mr.. Taggart. it is alleged, has
proved no match for the willy men with whom
he is associated. They have their eyes fixed on
the immense patronage of the great State OF
New-York, and they persist in regarding the
success or defeat of John Smith" candidate
for the House from the "Steenth" Congress Dis
trct Of Missouri, as a matter of insignificant
Importance compared with the great stake for
which they are playing. Meanwhile Mr.. Bel
mont is furnishing the funds; and. say the
Hoosar Bows friends What poor Tag
CART do?"
TEMPTATIONS OF EMPIRE STATE.
II is readily admitted that 1t would prove
useful victory for Sheehan Belmont, McCar-
rem & Co if they could carry New-York. even
If the Democratic ticket elsewhere were showed
under Messrs Hill, McCarren and Sheehan
would be in d position to conduct fitting oose-
ouies for their highly esteemed friend Charles
F.. Murphy Esq, OF Tammany Hall; they could
attend to some pressing business at Albany and
could provide for few INDECENT friends in va
r,ous parts of the State who have long suffered
the bardships of political exile from the pie
counter" 1t is freely admitted, even by the
members of the Democratic Congress Committee
that the temptations Of the Empire State situa-
ton are very great, but that admission affords
little comfort to those who have the needs OF the
entire party and, incidentally Of few personal
friends in various parts Of the country sincerely
While no chimericaI hopes regarding the
tionaI ticket are entertained in Washington, 1t
is asserted with a great show or confidence that
the Democrats have good hghtlng chance IN
seventy-one Congress districts And, II may be
added information from other sources confirms
the assertions of Mr. COWherd'S committee In
some instances In view of the fact that
the Republican majority in the House is only
40 after excluding the seats gained by con-
tests and therefore, by the vote OF the major
itv in the lower chamber It may be seen at
glance how much the Congress committee has
at stake.
DEBATABLE SEATS.
The seats described as debatable, or as afford
ing more than a fair opportunity for Democratic
victory, include three in California (the lid and
the two San Francisco districts). the three dis
tricts in Colorado, three districts in Connecticut
and the Delaware district Despite the certainty