The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-10-16
Republican Majority in the
House May Be Reduced.
DEMOCRATS SCENT a VICTORY
TaIk Confidently of Wrestling Con-
troll from RepubIicans-Democ
Losing Ground in siissouri-sena-
torShips Involved ia Several States
which Are TO Elect Legislatures.

There is excitement in spots-malniy IN
New York. but the country as a whole, IS
as quiet and Iethargic as if the voters IN
one community merely were watching the
contest between candidates in another.
Next month all Of the States. with the
exception Of Maine Oregon, Vermont.
and Arkansas. are to participate in the
election of members Of Congress. These
four States have already elected their
Congressman, on the same day they chose
their State officers. Legislatures are 20
be elected in several States which in
turn elect United states Senators.
In spite Of the broad national character
Of the campaign, there is no sign that the
voters are aroused on any Of the issues Of
purely national interest. which. for so
many years, have divided the two great
parties.
In the face of SO unprecedented
situation, the political managers are puz-
zled, and net "a little apprehensive. At
the present time, however, the chances
seem obviously to favor the Republicans
In the contest for control Of the next
House of Representatives.
COneede a Decrease.
It is conceded even by Chairman Sher-
man and his associates in the Republic
can Congressional Campaign Committee.
that their majority in the next House viii
not be as large as that in the present
House. and they admit privately. the pcs
sibility OF its being cut down TO a narrow
margin, probably to fifteen or twenty,
against the ia With which Speaker Can
non now has 10 wrestie
At the same time, Chairman Griggs and
his associates in the management Of the
Democratic campaign talk privately
quite as confidently as they do publicly
about completely wiping out Republican
cOnttol Of the House.
New York, Of course. presents the sit
uation OF most interest. both to the poll
ticians and the people. Had not William
Randolph Hearst attracted such a sur
pTisingly large following in the short
campaign be made for the mayoralty OF
the metropolis a year ago his candi-
dacy FOR governor this year perhaps
would not create such uneasiness IN tire
conservative circles Of both old parties,
An analysis of the great vote he received
last year reveals the fact that he drew
almost as heavily from the Republicans
as from the Democrats. The NEST aston
ishine feature Of the strength he deyel-
oped last year was the size u the vote he
received in Brooklyn. That borough IS
very evenly divided between the Old par
ties. Hence the Hearst vote there "a
year ago presented quite as large a defec-
ton from the Republican as from the
Democratic camp Mr.. Hearst stood fer
the same principles last year that he
g A.. 2
present campaign differs from last years
That IS that he ran for mayor as the
candidate Of new party. In this con-
test he has the nomination OF virtually
the same elements that formed a third
party year ago. and On top Of that
he secured the regular nomination Of the
Democrats Of the State. Apparently This
gives him an advantage that he could not
claim in his first race. II is undeniabIe
that the Democratic emblem on the Oficie,
ballot viii bring to him thousands Of
votes that he would not have received had
bis name been under the emblem Of Cnly
the third party.
Democrats VIII Vote for Hughes.
As at Offset, in whole or in part, TO this
advantage, however, is the foreordained
fact that thousands of Democrats ali
over the Empire state viii vote for
Charles f. Hughes. the Republican can
didate. Nearly the entire Democratic
press Of the State is arrayed against
Mr.. Hearst. and unless that agency has
completely lost its potency there can ne
TO doubt that Democrats will scratch
him at the polls. On the other hand.
there are thousands of Republicans m
Greater New York and other large in
. IL HHre. IL.
claimed by the Hearst managers. and &c
is conceded in the highest Republican
circles that there is some foundation for
this claim. II he win or lose the gov
eTnorship Of New York. he viii continue
his political activities undated.
Very little is heard in the East of a
situation in Missouri that is represented
in letters received In Washington within
the past few days as peFilOus for the
Democrats The Democratic national
managers eonsoIed themselves over the
surprising slump in that State two years
ago with the assurance that IL was caused
by apathy in their ranks as shown by
the falling off in their total vote without
any considerable increase in thu. Republf
can vote. On this calming theory they
accounted for the Republicans eiecting
nine of the sixteen Representatives to the
House. when in ordinary times they
would be entitled 10 not more than three.
Not All Due TO Apathy.
But it appears that the slump in 1904
was not caused wholly by Democratic
apathy. Party factionalism was a factor
in it. Gov. Folks sudden rise to power
seems permanently to have rent the Mis-
souri, Democracy in twain. The old ele-
ment has never liked him, and its inces-
SAINT hostility has Intensified the factional
bitterness. The Democratic city conven-
ton of st. Louis few days ago virtually
repudiated him. This has added flames to
The fires of faction all over the State. Il
seems to be the old story familiar to peo-
pie who have watched dominant parties
go to pieces in other States
The Republicans Of Missouri are. OF
course, taking fun advantage of this sit
UatiOn ia the Democratic camp. Besides
the sixteen members OF the House. there
are TO be elected in Missouri next month
one or more members Of the Supreme
Court. the superintendent OF public edu-
cation. the legislature and a full set Of
county officers. The members of the State
senate elected this year will hold over
to the next legislature. which will elect
Senator Stones successor. Hence, the
Senat0fShlp IS directly involved. This IS
the chief prize for which all the leading
Missouri Republicans most fiercely strive
Thomas II. Niedringhaus. who lost il
last year by a "fuse" after he had sue
cessfully managed the State campaign, IS
managing the Republican campaign again
this year. He is credited with having
formed the most perfect organization ever
known III Missouri. He is claiming the
State more confidently this year than he
did in 1904, when nobody believed him
and few paid any attention to him. The