Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-27
THE next HOUSE
Not Plaia Sailing for the
Republicans.
M ANY BAD SPOTS
DISTRICTS WHICH THEY WILL
HAVE TO FIGHT FOR
Weak Places in the Different States
Pointed out-Speaker Cannon
IT,. a Strong Card.
MANY BAD SPOTS

40 oSAA S@A oAoA1 ASPuUlISdiAD ~ ~
surprising to have doubts raised about the
House OF Representatives. The common
belief Is that President Roosevelt will pull
the congressional tickets through. I'm
doubtedly the President will save good
many representatives In close districts. but
there are some factors at work which do
not leave it entirely certain that the cleo
ton Of the republican national ticket Will
insure republican Congress. 49,
had made an occasional note in various
states Of the congressional situation, and
observed that there were weak spots. due
purely to local matters. 1t was only on
taking the data in the aggregate that the
uncertainty became apparent.
Presumably the republican congressional
committee knows all about the prospects in
the various districts, and after 1t gets re-
publican representatives reelected In Maine
and Vermont will be able to give more at
tention to the rest of the country. 1t would
be ungracious to write anything in criticism
OF the committee. which Is seasoned BODY
with plenty of tried timber In Its makeup.
but mild suggestion or two may not be
out Of place. Since the committee removed
It's headquarters to New York city there Is
some feeling in the middle west that 1t Is
not quite so closely In touch with the can
didates and their districts as formerly. This
may not be correct view.
A Number Of Bad Spots.
The actual situation which makes the re-
publican majority in congress more doubt
full than the national election Is due to
number Of bad spots There are something
over 800 districts which are considered
either safely republican or safely demo-
cratic. and this being a presidential year
surprises in safe districts are not probable.
1 have seen a democratic estimate Of Biz
trks .io rryhtn oh ~>,,< do 90
one party or the other. Naturally the
southern states show up in this estimate.
But there is pretty general agreement be-
tween the rival party managers that the
seventy, with a majority of them entitled
to be counted as probably, but not surely,
republican. What Is now bothering the re-
publcans is the possible loss Of districts In
states where they are so strongly tntrenched
that there Is no basis left for making gains.
No republican who understands Nebraska
discounts Bryan's influence in local affairs
there. though be could not carry the state
for himself for President the last time.
Bryan controls absolutely the populist party
in Nebraska. He has effected a fusion on
the legislative and congressional tickets, the
chief aim of which is to land him in the
United States Senate. He is not likely to
succeed. vet by securing the fusion on the
congressional tickets he makes some of the
republican candidates uncomfortable. The
populists, who won't stand for Parker for
for and will support Watson, but they have
Joined readily in; the fusion with the demo-
Gratis the congressional ticket. In the
third district Mccarthy, the republican can
didate, had margin of 200 two years ago,
while in the ffth Norris had only 200 ma
jority. The fusionists also will try to cap
ture the sixth district.
In Wisconsin.
In Wisconsin the republicans have ten
members and the democrats one That
lone democrat is likely to be less lonesome
after November. The situation has to be
faced, and with the La Toilette and the
anti-La Toilette fight to be carried on to
a finish nothing less than miracle can
save all the republican representatives.
good year for political miracles in the
badger state. The La Toilette faction Is
concerned chiefly in unhorsing Chairman
Babcock, but 1t is thought to have bet
ter chance of defeating Minor In the ninth
district 1 should say that the most likely
outcome will be the loss of two or three
republican seats in which the sitting men,
bers feel comparatively safe. That Is the
way these family fights sometimes go.
West Virginia is in very bad shape for
the republicans on their congressional tick
ct. They will have to fight for four out of
FIVE of the districts which they now control.
The national leaders may succeed in
smoothing over one or two of those rows,
yet SO far they have made very little prog
resS.
Some difference of opinion exists in re-
gard to Colorado The labor troubles in
that state are not likely to be so harmful
to the republicans as their own factional
differences They may keep all three of
the districts. but this is not sure.
In California 1t has been assumed that
the San Francisco district. in which the
letter carriers beat Mr.. Loud and elected
a democrat and union labor candidate,
would be redeemed. The recent assurances
v,Of ttcfn Ofn on III
ever. the republicans have a chance in
both the second and the fourth districts.
which gave small democratic pluralities.
In Illinois.
Here in Illinois there are number of de-
batable districts, but It does not appear
that the republicans can count on net gains
In the sixth, which Is one of the Chicago
districts, a mugwump and reform element
is making fight on the reelection of Lori
mer, but is not likely to win out In the
first district. which formerly was repub-
lican, Martin B. Madden who was defeated
two years ago, is making a fight against
the present democratic member Down in
the southern part of the state republicans
with safe majoritfes back of them are hav-
Ing to fight in order to keep what belongs
to them. AS an offset Mr.. J. r. Williams.
who was to have been presented to the ST
Louis convention as the Illinois candidate
for President IL the Hearst forces had not
got control, has q ndfTpW margin.
In Indiana onf of The nine republican
members Holiday in the fifth and Brink In
the thirteenth have flght on their hands.
In Iowa Martin j. Wade, the sole demo-
cratic representative, has Just been renomi-
mated. The repubhcahs will try to over
come the majority of 1900 which he secured
two years ago. iOn the other hand. Mr..
Lacey In the sixth has his usual hot con-
test 1t is bishnfal"ho contest, for the
opposition element IN that district always
combines to make LACEY earn his seat.
In Kansas the trouble among the repub-
iicans is largely personal. especially in the
second, where Mt BoWersock has not vet
been able to harmontze all his enemies.
Campbell In the third and Reeder in the
sixth also have lights 0h their hands.
In Ohio there are nov seventeen members
and thirteen of the districts are safe. The
other four. though nod all Of them are in
danger, are more or Jess doubtful The
worst situation Is In the sixth, where two
republican candidates are in the field.
In the East.
Regarding the situation in the east I
made some inquiries, while in New York
a few days ago, and 1t has to be said that
the outlook is not absolutely reassuring.
The republicans having everything in the
upper part of the state except enc OF the
Buffalo districts have no basis of con-