Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1904-10-07
FEARFUL OF DEFEAT.
CHAIRMAN BABCOCK GIVES A
WARNING.

If Election Was Held Now tic Says the Houie
Would Surely Be Democratic-Ihat. tie De-
ciares. Would Be Worse for the Republicans
Than Defeat Of Roosevelt.
That the handwriting on the wall is
beginning to appear in letters that all
may soon be able to read is shown by
the fore e3odings of the once alert and
confident Speaker Cannon, and the
note OF alarm sounded 10y the Chicago
Inter- Oce"n. This is supplemented by
the forebodings of Chairman Babcock
OF the Republican Congressional Com
mittee, in an interview published in the
Chicago Tribune, Mr.. Babcock is quoted
as saying:
GAS matters stand now we are
likely to lose the House of Represen-
iat!ves. Iii the election were to be
held now, there is no doubt OF the fact
that Roosevelt would be elected.
There is great danger, however, not
from Republican apathy, for that does
not exist. but from Republican over
confidence. In all sections OF the
country the representatives report that
voters generally are extremely well
satisfied with existing conditions.
"EverybO ly in the party takes it
for granted that we will win without
an effort. Nothing could be more
dangerous to Republican prospects
than this feeling. Men who would
otherwise take off their coats refuse to
go TO work because they believe there
is no necessity for it. Others will not
contribute money because they think
it would he sIuandered and would not
be used for legitimate purposes. This
feeling o. overcontidence mas lost many
An election.
CAN sorts OF things may happen in
the next six weeks. Our Democratic
friends are just beginning an active
campaign. Parker has been in New
York and he has stirred up the Dem.
Ocracy in the city in.o unanimity of
efforts such as has not been in ten
years. With anything like full vote
Roosevelt will be elected, but if the
people stay at home; if they fail to
organize, or if they give way to the
feeling of confidence in the result,
Roosevelt will be defeated.
1--WE have only to lose fifteen dis.
tricts to lose the House; there are
peculiar conditions in much more
than that number of districts in every
campaign. This year the confusion
OF general politics, entirely independ.
ent of the National ticket, is even
greater than is usually the case.
In 1898, after Mckinley had been
:riumphantly elected Two years before
and in the excitement of war time, we
carried the House by bare majority
OF thirteen which is plenty to do work
with when you get to legislation, but
is altogether too close for comfort
when you are running a campaign.
In 1900 we ran our majority up to 3S.
Two years ago We dropped down to
about 30. where the majority now
stands, making allowance for vacan-
cies.
Ii the Democrats carry fifteen dis
t:icts, which are now represented by
Republicans, they will wipe out our
majority entirely. You can readily
see that in the natural course OF events
without regard to the campaign work
to be done by either party, The chances
favor the Democrats. With an cleo
tion held right now we would
probably elect Roosevelt and lose the
House.
IF nothing more were done, and
the Republicans remain in their fatal
dream of r-confdence, we will lose
not only the House, but the President,
too. II we get right down to work
aud keep things hot from now until
election, we can carry both the Presi-
dent and the House, but we cant do
it by sitting around in our chairs and
telling everybody that the campaign
is a cinch.
$50 far as business conditions are
concerned. it would do more harm to
lose the House than to lose the Pres-
dent. A Democratic majority in the
House means that they would be able
to dictate legislation to large extent.
Everything we did in the way OF max
ing appropriations or entering general
laws would have to be made q subject
Of compromise between a Republican
Senate and the Democratic House.
They would naturally be seeking for
political capital and would immediate.
ly organize swarm of Investigations
OF everybody and everything in the
administration. They would also pass
series of free trade and anti.ex pan.
sion bills and resolutions which would
unsettle business at home and proba.
bly produce revolution in the Philip.
pines.
1t is hardly necessary to 60 into
this subject, because any one can
readily see how it would embarrass
President Roosevelt If he should have
to appeal TO Democratic House and
beg it for appropriations for the Pan.
anna Canal, or for laws TO assist him
in managing the affairs of the Uuiled
States at home or abroad as the Re.
publicans think they ought to he
managed.
If we would lose the Presidency
and still keep control OF both branches
OF Congress, we would have the initia.
tive in all legislation and would have