The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-02-03
POLITICS IN
THE HOUSE
New Men to Lead in
Congressional
Fight.
(Mail Special to the Advertiser)

| WASHINGTON, D. c.. January IS
| Within a very short time, probably
! during February. the House Repub-
| licans must organize for the Congress
sional campaign. In the old days the
| Congressional Campaign committees
| did not count for much. During the
last ten years, the Republican Con-
gressional Committee, Joseph w. Bah
| cock, a native Vermonter represent
ing the third Wisconsin district being
chairman, has been a most important
factor in carrying close districts. More
than once the splendid organization of
this committee, with the sinews of
war at it's command, has undoubtedly
held the House for the Republicans.
This was the case especially in the
campaign of 1898.
Associated with Mr.. Babcock has
been a rare coterie of politicians. Rep
resentative Jesse Overstreet, of In
dianapolis, who has just gotten in a
huff because the President will not
appoint his man as surveyor of the
port of Indianapolis, has for years been
the Secretary of the Committee. Rep
resentative ]. A. T. Hull, of Des
Moines Iowa, chairman of the House
Committee on Military Affairs, whose
sister Mrs Minor Morris was the CEN
trail figure in the ejectment episode at
the White House offices, was the lead
ing member of the Executive Commit
tee. spent much time at headquarters
in the ST. James Building, New York
City, and was one of Mr. Babcock's
most trusted lieutenants. Representa-
tive James S. Sherman, of Utica, New
York, has been and still is vice chair
man. Perhaps he will be elected chair
man, if he will have the office. He can
handle to advantage the great mass of
information which the committee has
about Congressional districts the coun-
try over. Mr. Hull has been mention
ed for the craftsmanship. He has many
qualifications, which Mr. Sherman also
has. Representative Nicholas Long
worth, of Cincinnati soon to become
the Presidents son-in-law, has served
on the executive Committee of the
Congressional committee. It has been
suggested that he take up the diff
cult task of running the Congressional
campaign. The work is always harder
in an off year. Then the Congressional
committee is nearly 1.-The whole thing"
Presidential years the National Com
mittee overshadows it. /
Mr.. Babcock has no idea Of becoming
chairman again. Months ago, he be-
gan to talk to his friends about the
pitcher that goes to the fountain once
too often. He has won six Congress
sional campaigns in succession and
shared the honors that fall to a sue
cessful Congressional chairman in the
House. With so or so new members
coming in every year, full of gratitude
for what has been done to them, the
Congressional Chairman is pretty big
man in the House That is demonstrate /,
ed by the influence Mr.. Babcock has
recently had with members in organ
izing a revolt against Speaker Can
ron on the statehood and Philippine
bills. Mr.. Babcock has been unusually
successful in raising campaign contri-
buttons. The insurance companies
gave to him in New York; as was
brought out in the late Armstrong in
vestigation. For divers reasons Speak
er Cannon has become antagonistic to
Mr.. Babcock. His own district has be-
come decidedly antagonistic to him al
so, it being a hot-bed of La Folletteism.
He will therefore have a fight for his
political life this year to win a re-
election. 1t is not beyond the improb-
abilities that Mr.. Babcock will soon go
into private life, as may Representa- 3
tive Overstreet, who has announced
that he will retire from the Congress
sional Committee. Mr.. Overstreet is =
also threatening to retire from Con- !
gress altogether
While the selection of the Congress
sional committee-one member of Con-
gress from every state that has a Re
publican Observation-Disclosures entirely
upon the House, there will be a dis
position to leave some of the organiza-
ton TO President Roosevelt especially
the selection of chairman. Men re-
alize that he will be a factor in the
Congressional campaign and that APP |
peals for votes will generally be made
in his name. Mr.. Babcock has served
his recent terms as chairman at the
personal request of the late President q,
and subsequently of Presi-
dent Roosevelt. AS Mr.. Sherman comes
from New York where there will be a
lively Congressional fight, it is not I'M
likely that the President will favor his |
selection, or that Of some other New
Yorker, possibly Representative Par
sons now chairman of the New York
County Committee. Speaker Cannon /
is likely to show big interest in the !
reorganization. He has the most at
stake, possibly, in the election of a |
Republican House, for it would mean,
probably, his reelection as Speaker for
a third term
ERNEST G. WALKER.