The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-11-02
DEMOCRATIC OUTLOOK
From WASHINGTON

Believed in National Capital thai
Next House will Be Demo
cratic. Other Political
Gossip.
Washington, Oct. 31.-Chariman
Cowherd of the Democratic Congress.
sioaal Committee has issued his fore
cast Of the results in the coming elec
tion and by it he shows that the Dem
ocrats will gain most of the admitted
ly doubtful Congressional districts,
giving them comfortable working
majority in the House. 1t is signifi
cant, too, that present indications are
that three of the most prominent Re-
publicans of the House will, after
the present Congress-, be permitted to
retire to private life. These three are
Representative Babcock, Of Wisconsin
and Overstreet and Heminway of In-
diana. Mr.. Babcock is chairman of
the Republican Congressional COM
mittee and Mr.. Overstreet is secre-
tary, while MIR. Heminway succeeded
Mr.. Cannon as chairman of their i'm
portant committee on appropriations,
when M. Cannon was elected Speak
er.
Friends of Representative John
Sharp Williams, and their name is
legion are greatly elated by Mr..
Cowherd's forecast as it is practically
certain that with Democratic major
ity in the lower chamber Mr.. Will
liams would succeed Mr.. Cannon as
Speaker Mr.. Williams has made the
ablest leader the Democrats have had
for many years and the elevation to
the Speakers chair would prove a
fitting recognition of his excellent
and earnest work in his present diff
cult capacity. It is intimated, too,
that Chairman Cowherd would, in
the event of Democratic control of
the House, succeed Mr., Heminway as
chairman of the committee on appropri
ations.
The valuable services of William J.
Bryan~in Indiana have received signal
recognition, not only from the mem
bers of the national committee but
from Mr.. Parker himself who has
written to Mr.. Bryan thanking him
for the splendid services he has
rendered his party. It is generlly re-
cognized that but for Mr.. Bryars
labors in Indiana the State would
have gone Republican by large ma
jority, whereas it is now looked to to
give gratifying majority for Parker
and Davis. Aside from New York,
which, although regarded as safe
Democrotic State, requires constant
watching, Connecticut is now the
center of Democratic activity.
Reports from New York say that,
despite the betting odds, which are 10
to 2 on Roosevelt, the Democratic
managers are cheerful and even en-
thusiastic and that they expect the
election of their candidates with sew
eral votes in the electoral college to
spare.
The Democratic managers are look
ing daily for the arrival Of Clarence
Symthe who has been making investi-
cations in Panama and Colombia aId
who has advised the national COM
mittee that he has proof of President
Roosevelt's having paid President
Morroquin, of the United States of
Colombia, $3.50, 600 to promote and in
sure the success of the Panama revo-
luton, in order that the way might
be paved for this country to construct
the isthmian canal by way of Panama
and Colon. It is expected that these
proofs will create a great sensation
although the President and his advis-
ors obstinately insist that no such
proofs can be produced.
One of the inexplicable features Of
the last days of the campaign has
been tie attitude recently assumed
by Representative Hearst who, in his
New York newspaper, has attacked
Parker for permitting ex-President
Cleveland %and ex-Secretary Olney to
appear on the stump in support of the
Democratic ticket. Mr.. Hearst de-
clares Cleveland and Olney are as
closely associated with the trusts as
any member of the Repu blican party
and that in permitting them to appear
for him and allowing tlleir voices to
be heard in Democratic councils Mr..
Parker is betraying the "real Demo-
crats'' in the party. Mr.. Hearst, al
though now a.Democratic member Of
Congress and renominated by Dem
ocratic convention, has also shown in
subordination by accepting the en-
dorsement of the populist conven-
tion. in direct disobedience to Leader
! Murphy of Tammany Hall. 1t is gen
orally believed that such methods
must result in the discipliniag of
Hearst after election, although it may
be inexpedient to undertake it iii ad-
| vance of November s.
There is being made an attempt ON
the part of-tbe Republican campaign
| managers to create the impression
tnat Alton B. Parker is the candidate
of the Standard Oil Company. Such
charge is utterly without foundation.
| 1t is based on the fact that State SEN
ator Pat McCarren and Delaney Nj
coll, both ardent supporters Of Mr..
Parker, are closely affiliated with the
Standard Oil Company. But, con-
trary to the allegations of the Repub-
lican press, neither of these men was
D..