The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-05
REPUBLICANS FEAR DEFEAT.
WARNING TO BE SENT OUT TO
STIR UP THE WORKERS.
Leading Republicans In Congress Say They
Must Get Busy or Democrats win
Carry the Next House-The Radical
Tendency the Chief Cause or Concern.

NltNANC ~ Nhlbth SaubN VI ~ hs
WASHINGTON, March APPOINTMENT Re-
publicans have expressed the opinion
within the last few days that the drift Of
sentiment among the people is against the
party, and a warning will soon be sent out
designed to stir up the workers throughout
the country. Since 1893 the Republicans
have established a record in of year elec-
tons, but certain leaders hold that disaster
may come at the polls next November unless
something unforeseen should occur. From
Grants second administration up to 1893
Republican success in a Presidential year
was usually followed by defeat in the of
year, but since 1895 the Republicans have
managed to control the choice OF both the
President and the House of Representa-
tives. This string of victories is unparalleled
In the history Of the party.
Leading Republicans, among them Repre-
sentative Joseph w. Babcook, chairman
Of the campaign committee, have been
quietly telling their associates during the
last few weeks, it is understood, that they
must be up and doing or the Democrats
will control the House in the Sixtieth Con-
gress. Political conferences have been
held recently, and a tentative decision has
been reached that Congress shall adjourn
early. Predictions are made that getaway
day may come by May Is, and certainly not
later than June I. The opinion Is expressed
in responsible quarters that adjournment
49, - - .lN-.AI LaytAvI tha loof
named date.
1t is pointed out that the fate OF three
important measures that were expected to
cause endless debate has been determined.
These are the Statehood bill, the Philip
pines tariff bill and the Santo Domingo
treaty. Leading Republican Senator's de-
clare that the situation relative to the rail-
r. ad rate bill should be cleared up in the
immediate future in such a way as to avoid
the long controversy in the Senate that was
expected when the Hepburn bill was sub
mitted to that body by a combination Of
Republican and Democratic votes.
On the House side Of the Capitol politics
Ia being discussed these days, and the dis
cussions are animated and to the point.
There are a great many districts in the
United States now controlled by the Re-
publicans where signs q unrest and dis
content are painfully apparent to those
directly concerned. A party cauous will
be held this month, at which the whole
situation will be gone over. At this caucus
each Republican delegation will present
the name of the Representative it will have
selected by that time for membership on
the campaign committee. The committee
will then r~eorganize and elect officers for
the ensuing two years.
The strongest kind of pressure is being
brought to bear upon Representative Bah
cock to induce him to continue as chairman
OF the Republican Congressional Commit
tee. Mr.. Babcock is skilled in the game of
politics. He has an intimate acquaintance
with conditions in every Congress district
in the United States. BE has the confidence
of the business interests and can find money
where men Of less experience would never
expect to get it. At this painful moment,
however, Mr.. Babcock ia not in touch with
the Administration, and he is at swords
points with Speaker Cannon. Mr.. Babcook
was the leader In the two insurgent move
ments in the House that Jared the regular
organization, and it so happened that the
insurgents tried to punch holes in two Adj
ministration measures, the Philippines tariff
and Statehood bills.
Mr.. Babcock has announced that under
no circumstances will he go through an
other Congress campaign as the party
This information, it is under
stood, does not disturb Speaker Cannon,
nor has it prompted the President or other
party leaders to sit up nights. But a con-
siderable number Of ordinary Representa-
tives. who looked to Babcock for help in
the past and who got what they wanted
for the looking, do not view his retirement
with complacency. They are responsible
for the movement that has been started
having for its purpose the enlistment Of
Chairman Babcock in another campaign.
There are several causes for the I'M
e~asiness expressed by Republican leaders
in Congress when they tall of the approach
ing Congress campaign. Some of them,
they admit, are rather hazy and indefinite,
but they sum up in the one statement:
Everything is breaking badly with US"
In explanation OF this they point to the
recent insurgent movements in the House
and the dissatisfaction manifested Ny
many Republican members with the domi-
nation of the House by a few men.
The chief source of concern to the leaders,
however, lies in what they term "the rad ical
tendency" in the party. The manifesto
ton of this radical tendency, they are agreed,
is in the railroad rate regulation bill, cham
pioned by the President as the most i'm
portant Of the Administration measures.
The old timers say that it is sufficient cause
for alarm to Republicans to see the Demo
Gratis fairly falling over themselves to sup
port the bill urged by a Republican Presi-
dent when both branches of Congress are
overwhelmingly Republican. They are OF
the school of Republicans who believe that
as a general proposition the Republican
party should be against anything and
everything that the Democrats are for.
They say they could forgive the President
his radical views on the rate question IL
the Democrats did not indorse them 30
enthusiastically.
The socialistic tendenc y throughout the
country is another source of concern to
the Republican veterans in Congress. In
the words OF the traditional Democratic
platform, they "view with alarm the
apostasy of young Joseph Medill Patterson
OF Chicago, who comes of good old Repub-
lican stock. In his conversion to socialism