Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1906-10-31
Probable Result of Approaching
Election

The Congressional campaign,
which is now hurrying onward to
its close, cannot be said TO have
been fought out with the vigor and
enthusiasm usually attaching to
such contests, says the Lynchburg
News. Here and there throughout
the country the voice of the cabi-
net minister has been head in ad-
vocacy of Republican principles
but with the effect of provoking
no extraordinary demonstration.
In many of the Congressional dis
tricts the fighr is being.wagsd with
evident earnestness and thorough
ness, but take it all IN all, the CAM
paign throughout the country has
been distinctly of the undemOn-
strative kind. Before the 9th of
November, it may be that condi-
tions will take on a livelier turn
and something like a whirlwind
finish be witnessed, but on the
surface it's been rather a tame
affair thus far. The great guber-
material contest in New York ap'
pears to have attracted more atten-
ticn and elected Tore genuine in
terest than the political fate of the
next House of Representatives.
We take it, however, that the
people of the country are not
unmindful of the Importance of
the issues involved in the
struggle between the two ma
tional parties. For the past two
or three years many vitality impor-
tant questions and occurrences OF
national political relation have
arisen to excite public interest and
to direct the public mind in serious
vein of quiet thought as to their
significance. and as to how they
should be met and dealt with at
the ballot box. And as result
of it all, much larger vote in
the country at large than outward
signs may now indicate will prob
ably be developed.
1t seems quite widely conceded
among we'll informed sources that
in the election of this year the
Democratic party will make de-
cided gains over it's present House
membership. The chief question
Of doubt is as to whether such in
crease of Democratic strength will
reach proportions of control. The
Republicans now hold 249 seats,
the Democrats 1877. In order, then,
to change the political complexion
of the next House, Democratic
gain Of 81 members will he neces-
sary-or a trifle less than one-half
of the Democratic membership of
the present House. The attain
ment of that result would very
nearly reflect a political revolu-
tion-and would most likely serve
as forerunner for "a great Demo
cratic victory in the Presidential
contest two years ahead. Yet, there
are many who believe that the tenn
per of the American electorate is
such that this result is to- be reck
oned as among the probable occur
rences of the future. The people,
it is claimed, have grown tired Of
being humbugged by the fallacies
of Republicanism and are more
sensible now than ever before that
the cases of oppression and fraud
and injustice to the public at the
hands of trusts and the allied
forces of wealth as they nave been
exposed in the last several monthe,
call sternly for rectifcation through
the application of sound govern
ment principles, and that they
realize it is hopeless to further
depend upon Republicans to fur
Their this purpose-that it is under
successive Republican administra-
tions that the monster evils com
planned of have found birth, susie
nance and development; and that
the beneficiaries thereof are still
closely allied with Republican man
agements, earnestly supporting
Republican candidates, and may
be relied upon to aid in shaping
Republican policies. 1t is this
view of the situation that lends
strength and tone to the hope and
belief that the next House of Rep
resentatives will be controlled by a