The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1904-05-11
DEMOCRATS ARE HOPEFUL.


Both Parties Organizing for Warm
Campaign.
Whatever may be the fate OF the
Democratic Presidential ticket to be
nominated at St. Louis in July.
Democrats in Congress believe they
have a chance Of controlling the next
House Of Representatives, and they
will make a determined and aggres-
sive fight to accomplish that end.
The Republican leaders, while not
conceding there is the slightest prob
ability Of Democratic House MAORI.
ty in the Fifth-ninth Congress, will
take no chances, and are preparing to
wage an active campaign in every
close Congressional district.
There is in the present Congress a
Republican majority Of thirty-four.
Could the Democrats hold the dis
tricts they now have and capture
eighteen Of the districts now repre-.
sented by Republicans, they would
have a majority in the next Congress.
The Republicans assert this is impoS-
sible. The Democrats contend that
it not only is possible. but is probable
The Republicans are anxious to In
crease their majority in the House.
During the session of Congress just
closed, the margin on account OF ab'
senteeism, was often too close 1ol
comfort.
To tie Middle West the Republi.
cans are looking for their gains
There are districts in Ohio, Indiana:
and Illinois now represented by Dem
ocrats, which they believe they car
carry.
Judge Wade, who represents the
Eleventh Iowa district. is the only
Democrat from that State in the
House. The Republican leaders have
practically decided to nominate A. f
Dawson, now private secretary tc
Senator Allison, to make, the race
against him, and believe they car
carry the district. Judge Wade had
a plurality in the last election OF about
1900.
The Republicans do not expect any
marked change in the representation
from Eastern States, with the excep-
ton that they hope to defeat
Mr.. Granger, the Democratic Repre-
sentative from Rhode Island, and may
capture one or more of the Greater
New York districts now represented
by Democrats. 1t is not expected
that any Republicans will be elected
from the South, but there is a fear ir
Democratic quarters that the Popu
list party may be rejuvenated IN some
of the Southern States.
Should the Eastern conservatives
dominate the St. Louis convention, il
is said Southern Populists who have
co.operated with the Democrats since
1896 probably would decline to con
tinue the alliance. Should the ole
alliance of Southern Populists anc
Republicans be reformed, the Demo
Gratis may lose a number Of seats.
Shoulu such situation arise, how
ever, it is possible the Republican:
would lose in the West any advantage
Democratic losses In the South might
give them. Should party alignment II
a number Of Western States go back
to where it was before the 1895 cam.
paign, number of Republican mem.
bers might fail Of reelection.
The Democrats have large plans fol
capturing the next House, and they
count on different channels Of politi
cal thought to help them in different
parts Of the country.
Not only have the Democrats mark
ed Mr.. Overstreet, the secretary Of
the Republican committee, for defeat
but they declare it's chairman, Mr.
Babcock, is in danger of suffering a
like fate. In the last election Mr.
Babcock had a plurality Of more thar
5000, but the Democrats count on the
disaffection Of LaFollette Republicans
to wipe this out. In Illinois the Dem
Gratis are planning aggressive cam
paigns in the districts represented by
Messrs. Boutell, Marsh and Warner.
In Iowa they insist that not only will
Judge Wade retain his seat, but that
the Democrats have chance Of beat
ing Mr. Lacey in the Sixth district.
They expect to regain the Colorado
seats formerly represented by Messrs:
Shafroth and Bell. They count on sen.
timent for Canadian reciprocity tc
help them along the canadian from
tier.