The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1906-09-03
Radical UtteranCeS De-
stroyed Last VeStige of
Democratic Interest.
BIGGER THINGS AHEAD
Outlook For 1903 More I'M
pOrtant Party Question
Than Capture of House.

If anything more was needed to dis
tract the last vesuge of attention from
the Congressional campaign, 10 has hap
pened in the Bryan reception and the
things consequent thereon. II has been
noted as a most interesting phenomenon
that neither Republicans nor Democrats
have been able to get up the least inter
est in the fight for control of the next
House of Representative. A few folks
have mailed dollars 10 the campaign
committees, but nobody outside the
second Maine district seems TO be will
Ing ia any measure 10 excite himself.
True, New York has on hand few
exciting quarrels, but they are intra-
partisan affairs and relate 20 control of
the organizations, not 10 the Congress
Eional campaign. Ohio likewise has a
struggle for control of its Republican
organization. and Iowa has been through
another. Illinois fought out its troubles,
and on Tuesday Wisconsin Republicans
viii settle their differences at the pri-
mary polls. Vermont and New Hamp-
shire have succeeded in working I'D
rather than the usual amount of excite
ment. Pennsylvania is having all the
symptoms, and every diagnosis agrees
that New jerseys case is the real thing.
Bryan Sets Them Guessing.
And now the reformed, conservative
safe aud sane Democracy has got itself
tied securely 70 a leader, only 10 dis
cover that he Is hOpelessly radical II
can't very we'll get away from him. and
st doesn't know what 20 do with the
platform he is serving up TO it,.
Small wonder that the Congressional
campaign gets no attention when such
momentous affairs are distracting at
tention from It, There Is only one po-
liuical situation that interests anybody
nowadays, and that is one which affects
or seems 10 affect the 190S outlook
A good many people, though realizing
that IL viii probably be impossible to
get up any interest. are nevertheless
asking themselves what effect all this
viii have on the outcome IN the Con
gressional polling. The answer Of
course must be a guess; but the pre-
pOnderance OF guesses among men cred
tied with some political astuteuess leads
to the conclusion that the Democratic
chance Of capturing the House has gone
gllmmering. What with the failure TO
organize and push an aggressive tariff
night and what with the Bryan disJTac-
tiOns and the abundance Of the crops,
things haven't been coming well for
Democracy since Congress adjourned.
The next few days Will cast consider
able light on the political tendencies OF
the year. In Wisconsin the primary Will
be held tomorrow. Ia Toilette is gOirBg
10 win by a comfortable majority. his
supporters insist with much confidence
but they VIII not be easy till the returns
come from the primary polls because
the new primary law Is being tested for
the frst time and nobody can tell just
how Il VIII work.
Gain Seats in Wisconsin.
II is promised that at least two OF
the present Republican Congressman
from the Badger State-Stafford and
Miner-wiH be defeated and BabcOck is
said 70 be in real danger. The La Fol
lette people are still after him. and If
they fail at the primaries 10 Is expected
they viii carry the fight to the polls
on the same day that Wisconsin holds
its primary. Vermont viii have it's
election. There is ample warrant for
the statement that Vermont has not
had a more interesting fight since the
civil war days. The Proctor machine
is having a test Senator Proctor has
announced that he viii retire soon from
the Senate He Is running his son,
Fletcher ID. Proctor. for governor this
year with the intention as is common
~ understood. OF having him, later on,
elected u the family seat in the Sen
ate. Thus would the scepter be safely
handed from the upper 10 the lower
branches Of the Proctor genealogical
tree.
A combination Of independent Repub-
licans and Democrats has entered pro-
test against this family arrangement,
and PeTcival ". Clement Democrat. is
being supported by this coalescence.
Fight in Littlefeld's District.
The Maine election comes September
10. and IN 10 of year for decades has
so much interest attached 10 It. This
is because the invasion by organized
labor OF the field Of practical politics
IS here 10 have its first test Of strength.
How serious this movement is regarded
by the Republican campaign managers
may be judged from the great activity
they have displayed in tho Lttlefeld