The Washington times., 1906-05-31
A Curious Situation.

An anomalous situation cOnfrOntS
the Democratic party at the open
ing of the Congressional campaign.
BY common consent prospects are
brighter for it than since 1896.
That il may control the next House
is a possibility serious enough, at
least, TO be reckoned with by Re-
publicans. That its chances in the
next Presidential campaign are get
ting better day by day is likewise
generally accepted.
Yet with all this TO its credit,
the party plainly stands to lose
some of the places it now holds in
the Senate. SO far is the Senate
removed from the people that the
election of the coming November
is practically certain to increase
greatly the Democratic force IN the
House, while reducing considerably
the party's strength in the Senate.
The gerrymander is largely re-
sponsible for this. There is only
one election left that is not gerry
wandered, and that is the Presiden-
tial- Electors are chosen by States,
1t is true, and this is in a certain
degree a gerrymander. Candidates
have received a majority of the
popular vote and yet been defeated.
But on the whole, experience has
proved that selection of electors by
States is a reasonably Fair method.
When it comes to choosing a SEN
ate the situation is very different.
The Northern States have their
legislative districts arranged TODAY
In favor of Republican Legislatures.
which means Republican Senator's.
How tremendous is this advantage
is illustrated in the fact that this
year, as has been said, the Repub-
licans might easily lose the ma
tional House, and yet gain in the
Senate
The Democrats seem destined to
lose almost every Senatorial seat
outside the solid South, plus Mary
land. Idaho, Oregon, and Colorado.
with Democratic Senators. offer lit
tie hope of continuing that repre-
sentatlon. Montana will probably
send Republican in place of Clark.
Nevada viii perhaps be an excep-
tion, but even there chances are not
encouraging for the Democrats.
If the Democrats should elect
House this year. and a President
in 1908, they would at the best
hardly have n chance to control All
three branches of the Government
before the end OF the next Presi-
Dental term Nothing less than a
succession of veritable political ava
Ianches-and SUGGESTIONS of s1cb
phenomena, all moving in the same
direction, are extremely unusual
would give the Democrats control
OF all the branches of the Govern
ment before 1912. BY that time
the Republicans would have another
chance at the Presidency. and.
granting the possibility of an un-
broken series of Democratic elec-
tions from now till then, the coun-
try would be ripe by that time for
a swing of the pendulum in the
other direction.
So there seems little chance for
Democratic control in n Iono +ima
Probably it would be as well. any
how, that the responsibility sbouId
be divided between the two parties
1t isn't difficult TO believe that if
the Democrats had the House and
the Republicans the Senate. with
the sort of President the country
is likely TO keep in the White House
for some years to come, the pub
lies prospects of consideration
might be improved. Partisan feel
ing is not strong nowadays. II
would be a good time for a mixed
Government to learn how to get
along.