Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-30
Political Captains in Congress
Looking Around.
THE NEXT ELECTION
Is BEING FEARED BY THE REPUB-
LICAN LEADERS.
Majority is Too Cumbersome to Hold
in Good Subjection-The
Democratic Policy.

The political captains In Congress will
step to the front next Monday and begin
a survey of the field for points of vantage.
High politics will be played under the big
white dome this winter, and many man
who swings comfortably in his chair in
the House will hold lose his seat by
this seasons work National issues for
political campaigns are nodded in Con-
gress, and even when one is brought in
by the-sorun of the neck, as the President
dragged up the railway rate question it
has to be shaped in the House and Senate.
1t is safe to say that great many re-
rublicans in the two houses groan in
spirit that this subject is imminent. and
others are lying awake o. nights trem-
bling lest tariff revision shall be added to
their troubles. There will be lot of very
fancy skating around some dangerously
weak ice in politics and legislation before
the spring thaws set in. So the wise old
politicians in both parties will have their
heads together in grave counsel from
now on.
Apprehensive of the Next Election.
From talks with republican leaders 1T Is
gathered already that they are appre-
~hensive of the next congressional cleo
ton. The republicans have had such
phenomenal run of luck that in the or
binary course OF affairs a change might
be expected. They have carried six sue
cessive elections for the House, although
one of them might be described as a
negative victory in that it was won large
ly through the plumbers of the opposi-
ton
1t Is admitted now that the chairman of
the next republican congressional campaign
committee will have a hard task. 1t has
not been decided who shall undertake 1t.
M Elahn hs ttaa ar,ir chr
OF the republicans OF the House If he would
accept, but 1t is doubtful whether he Is in
that frame of mind. In the first place. he
has pretty nearly filled his quota of service
for the party in that line He has never
lost fight and If he decided to retire
would hold the record of all successful cap
tains. Moreover, he has troubles Of his
own, and X he wants to stay In Congress
will probably have to get out into his dis
trice and grapple with the La Toilette fac
ton at close range.
1t Is considered by republicans in high po-
sition very essential that the party should
keep control of the House for the Sixtieth
Congress. The tariff question will have to
be dealt with and the leaders have been
telling the people all along that the tariff
must be revised by the friends of protec-
ton. No thoughtful man In Congress thinks
that 1T will be possible to delay revision be-
yond this Congress, and ii may require su-
preme effort to hold 1t that long.
The republican leaders say that IL they can
only get through thi session without mis-
take and carry the elections next fall they
= will be in shape to take up the tariff at an
extra session of the Sixtieth Congress, to be
called after the expiration of the Fifty
ninth. If, however, the democrats succeed
In putting them in the hole" this winter
ana they lose the House IL would be neces-
sary either to attempt to revise the tariff
an the short session or let a democratic
House muss over 1t in the succeeding Con-
gress, trusting to the Senate to keen the
free traders In check.
The Democratic Policy.
The democratic policy has not yet been
outlined A series of conferences early In
the session will serve to shape the fight
they propose to make. The party will be
more united in the House this session than
1t was in the last John Sharp Williams
leadership will not be contested. and his
friends say he will be more aggressive In
the future There We're mutterings against
him last winter of which he probably has
taken note The minority in the House is
small, but all the more determined, and, it
Is said, more easily to be handled.
The main consideration, democratic lead
ers say, Is to secure unity of action he
tween the party in the House and in the
Senate to get the two wings to flap to-
gether If the Senate democrats don't go
hopping off after Philippine issue or
something as remote, with the House demo-
Gratis chasing tariff or splitting over rail-
way rates. 1t Is believed that the democ-
racy can be lined up for a hopeful fight in
the succeeding campaign.
The democrats are placing great reliance
upon the possibility of the republicans hav-
ing some bad factIonal troubles, especially
In the House. They point to the presence
In the House this session of group of re-
publtcans who fioated into Congress on the
wave of 1904 who are likely to prove FESTIVE
under the tight rein of leadership which
the oligarchy will have to hold. If some
brilliant independent spirit among the re-
publicans should jump the reservation he
might take with a lot of these young
braves. flushed with victory and thirsting
for excitement
The republican leaders appreciate the dan
gers OF cumbersome mai ority.
Speaker Cannon is already taking steps to
Keep the youngsters in hne. 1t Is Whis-
pered that he intends to Dust some of the
old combine who have held the reins so
long ana TO take into council some young
surprising to see changes In the committee
on rules and other committees that domi-
nate legislation in the House 1t Is not to
be denied that there has been considerable
grumbiiug over the alleged imper.ousness
or some of the leaders. and Mr. Cannon
Is said to be taking note of it,