Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-31
THE BUSINESS VOTE
Object Of Appeal of the Re-
publican Managers.
APATHY is FEARED
SEEKING TO AROUSE THE IN
TEREST OF THE INDEPENDENTS.
Apprehensions of Chairman Babcock
Regarding the Fight for the Next
House of Representatives.
APATHY Is FEARED

Q Chairman Babcock OF the republican con-
gressional campaign committee. while in
town a day or two ago, was subjected to
considerable good-natured chatting by some
of his friends in public life over his dis
tress CALL" they termed it. referring TO
his expressions of fear that the House is
in danger. Chairman Cowherd of the demo-
cratic congressional campaign committee
unfeelingly remarked that he feared his
esteemed contemporary was trying to scare
the boys. and allowed that II looked to
him as IL Brother Babcock was hard up
The Outlook Unsatisfactory.
Mr.. Babcock took all the chatting in the
spirit in which 1t was offered but at the
same time told the republican officials with
whom he conversed that in all seriousness
the outlook was not what it ought to be.
To one man he said:
I'VE can carry New Jersey for Roosevelt
by 25O0O. and / think We will. AT the
same time and by the same vote IL is pos
sible to lose three representatives In that
state"
Some of Mr.. Babcock's friends in public
life. who know his methods in waging
cessful congressional campaigns. said after
he left town that they never saw the old
man as badly worked up as he now Is.
AS a rule he keeps stin upper lip, and
although never prone to rainbow chasing,
takes a hopeful view of the situation when
circumstances warrant.
To another friend In official station Mr..
Babcock remarked during his recent visit,
that this is the stiffest campaign he has yet
tackled in the course of his five campaigns
as chairman of the congressional commit
tee. He added that there seemed to be
mere nasty little situations and knotty
problems In this fight than any he has
heretofore engaged In, and he felt ii adj
visable that the republicans should know
the true situation.
Danger Of Over-Confidence.
The managers of the republican congress
sionaI campaign are beginning TO realize,
it is said. that there is danger in too much
confidence. The Roosevelt outlook is so
assuring and the election seems one
sided on the presidential ticket that repub-
licans are likely to get careless. Then.
there is so much interest in state cam
paigns, nota bly, in New York, that the vot-
ers are likely to overlook the congressional
campaign.
Senator Foraker who came across the
continent last week. was in such hurry
to get to New York and talk with the man.
ayers that he could not even stop over in
Washington long enough to remove ;he
stains of his transcontinental journey. TO
some newspaper correspondents. including
a member of The Stars staf who Travelled
10 New York with him. Senator Foraker
said that the only danger which threatened
the republican ticket was apathy. lie
found in the west that people Were not
ticking much interest in politics, and he
admitted that one purpose OF his visit 10
headquarters was to apprise the managers
o. this state of apathy and to urge the
injection of little ginger into the CAM
paign.
There undoubtedly is ground for Mr..
Rabcock's distress call, IL is said, and the
republican managers hope that 1t will be
effective. Mr.. Babcock las a great many
friends among the corps Of Washington cor
respondents, who trust his Judgment and
value his opinion in political affairs Dur
ing his recent visit he talked confdentially
with many of the leading correspondents
and advised them to notify their editors
that the congressional situation needs brac-
ing up and more attention from the man
ayers in the respective districts.
Appeal to Business Interests.
The congressional campaign managers
are appealing confidently to the independ-
ent vote, and especially the business vote in
the crucial states. The campaign which is
being conducted is notably mild as to par
tisanship. No general onslaught Is being
made upon democrats and only policies in
a broad and general way are being dealt
with by the republicans.
Grateful for the support of the gold
democrats in the past, when the money
question was up, the republican managers
are now asking democrats In business and
industrial walks to support republican cam
Gdates for Congress on the ground that IL
will be for the best business interests of the
country that there should be no change in
the House
The republicans, assuming that it is i'm
possible for the democrats 10 carry elec-
toral votes sufficient to elect a President
except through a political revolution, not
presently in prospect, urge the independent
voters to keep the administration intact,
through the election of a republican House,
SO that II will be possible to enact such
legislation the business interests de-
mand.
A Democratic House Powerless.
They point out that If a democratic House
is elected 1t will be poweriess, In any event.
to accomplish anything, and can only make
a muss and hold back In the traces. This
line OF argument Is directed to the business
men and the republican managers believe
that II will carry weight.
Many democrats express the preference,
too, that If it is impossible TO elect Parker.
the House should remain republican. They
say that then they would have the repub-
licans their record for the next Presi-
Dental campaign and be able to hold them
strictly responsible for the things left un-