Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-29
Notwithstanding Tom Tag
CART is Chairman.
WON'T PLAY FOR HOUSE
BUT WILL TRADE COMPRESSION
AL TICKET FOR PARKER VOTES.
Attitude Toward the Democratic Con-
gressional Committees is One
of Indifference.

Since the beginning of the present pout-
ical campaign the attitude OF the national
democratic committee toward the congress
sional committee of the party has been
characterized by a lack Of enthusiastic
support Some democrats declare that the
feeling of the national committee toward
its associate committee is one of indiffer-
ence.
For many weeks this Indifference on the
part of the national committee toward the
success of the committee that has charge
of the congressional elections has been
commented on. 1t has up to the present
time appeared to be merely lack of en-
terprise on the part of the national COM
mittee and when the national committee Is
referred to by any one who has an insight
into the affairs of that organization Will
lam F. Sheehan is meant, in spite of the
fact that Tom Taggart Of Indiana is chair
man Of the committee. Sheehan, in the
vernacular of the Bowery, is lit
But men who come here from New York
are beginning to throw out another inter-
probation to this so-called indifference and
lack of enthusiasm. There are men who
are beginning to entertain strong suspicious
that there Is a decided motive in this lin
difference" They declare that William F.
Sheehan, representing the democracy as
he does In every important respect Of the
campaign at this time, has made plans
which do not include the capture Of the
House of Representatives by the democ-
racy. They believe that he has practically
abandoned the congressional side of the
contest and will from now on proceed to do
all in his power to secure the election Of
the national ticket.
To Play Into Wall Street Hands.
Men who entertain this belief see con-
siderable generalship in it. They declare
that Sheehan is getting ready to play with
all the power in his control into the hands
of the people in certain Wall street circles
who still hope for the defeat of President
Roosevelt at the polls next November.
These men whom he seeks to win over to
support the democratic ticket are afraid OF
the result from the election of a democratic
House of Representatives. With demo-
cratic House and republican Senate they
can see only confusion and a career of OPP
position on the part of the majority of the
House. They in fact DO not want to take
any of the risks incident to paralyzing Con-
gress SO far as any consistent action is
concerned, while at the same time they see
the danger of unsettled conditions by hav-
ing democratic House pass legislation of
a nature hostile to the settled policy of the
country on the subject of the tariff.
1t is declared that so far as the demo-
cratic strength in New York state Is con-
cerned it would be increased If the demo-
cratic managers could assure certain ele-
ments hostile to the reelection of Mr..
Roosevelt that they need not fear any
change of party in the House of Represent
atives. The course that has been pursued
by Mr. Sheehan toward the congressional
committee for several weeks is daily
strengthening the belief that it is not one of
mere influence but is of deliberate design.
This suggestion has gone so far as to In
clude in its scope the idea that there will
be attempts on the part of the democrats
next fall to trade with republican candi-
dates for support for rarker and Davis by
agreeing to allow some Of the doubtful con-
gressional districts to go practically with
out contest. Mr.. Sheehan, with the char
acteristic insular view of the New Yorker,
is thinking very much Of New York state
and the fate of New York state leaders, of
which he is the chief. 1t is declared that If
Parker should be elected, with republican
Senate and House of Representatives, the
condition of Mr.. Sheehan would be ideal
far patronage is concerned. The de-
mands of the democratic minority in the
Senate and House would be very much less
insistent than would be the case with "a
democratic majority in the House.
Concentrate on National Ticket.
1t Is said that by concentrating all the
strength of the democracy on the national
ticket, with a readiness to sacrifice the
congressional tickets wherever 1t can be
done to the adv ltage of the national tick
ct, the result would be decided increase
of votes for Parker and Davis.
This plan of campaign appeals to demo-
Gratis who are chiefly interested in captur-
ing the presidency Tor Parker. Besides
holding every seat they now have in Con-
gress, the democrats will be obliged to
capture over fifteen additional seats now
held by republicans in order to secure q
ma jority of one in the House
Democrats generally consider that they
have a greater chance of securing the next
House of Representatives than they have
of electing Parker and Davis, but, from
the viewpoint of Mr. Sho"Han and other
New Workers who are close to him, the
election of a House, with the loss of the
national ticket, would be an empty honor.
On the other hand the election of Parker
and the loss of the House would fulfill the
highest hopes of democratic leaders who
q 70 dominant in this arnnaipn