Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-04-05
VIII the Next House OF Representa-
tives be Democratic


VIII the Next House OF Representa-
tives be Democratic ?
For many years the mid-administra-
tion elections for members Of Congress in
this country wero looked upon as sure
forerinners Of the result Of the ensuing
election for President The party which
secured control Of the House Of Repre-
sentatives at tho general elections next
ensuing the Presidential election was re-
garded as absolutely certain TO elect the
President two years later This tradition
has been shattered occasionally, but there
are many politicians who look upon it
with favor.
In this connection, therefore, the prob
lem Of this years contests for the next
House of Representatives becomes a
highly interesting one. Il is true that
the Republican majority Of the present
House is 40 large that its reversal by this
years elections would be in the nature
Of political revolution Il is also true
that the defeat Of the Democratic party
at the election Of 1904 was overwhelming.
But political revolutions as complete as
the election of a Democratic House Of
Representatives next November would
be are not entirely unknown in this coun-
try. At the Presidential election Of 1879
the defeat Of the Democratic party was
most disastrous, and at that election the
Republicans secured an overwhelming
majority Of the House OF Representatives.
Yet two years later the Democratic party
was swept into power by the election Of a
Democratic House, and in 1876 gave a
quarter Of q million popular majority
to rs candidate for President.
No observer Of political events can fail
TO see the danger that now conironts the
Republican party, on the eve Of political
contest which involves control Of the next
House Of Representatives and Is bound
60 have an important effect upon tho next
election for President Tho party is
crippled by exposures Of scandals and
weakneed by the fight between the
administration And the Republican mom-
bers of the Senate over the Railroad Rates
bill The scandals comprise undisputed
proofs of a corrupt alliance between tho
Republican party and the great corpora
tions of the country, as a result Of which
the latter contributed large sums Of money
to the party's campaign funds including
contributions made specifically for the
purpose Of aiding in the election Of Presi-
dent Roosevelt, The fight in the Senate
is alternating some Of the strongest Re
publican Senators from tho support of
the administration, and therefore is bound
70 have a rcactionary effect upon the
party which these Senators and the adj
ministration represent The scandals
offend the moral sense Of the people, and
the iaciional fight in the senate appeals
directly 70 Republican voters, impelling
them TO array themselves on one side or
the other. thereby iniunously affecting
the fighting spirit Of the party and threat
ening TO seriously impair its voting
strength at the elections.
Reports Of the daily doings Of the Sem
ate leave no doubt Of the wide breach
that now exists between President Roose-
welt and some Of the ablost of the Repub-
hcan Senators. The Presidents insist
ence upon tho enactment Of the Railroad
Rates bin just as il came from the House
melted the indignation Of Republican
Senators who are convinced that the
measure is deficient in construction and
indefinite in application and this feeling
has been intensified by the Presidents
opposition to any form Of amendment.
Even his slight concession in agreeing TO
an amendment in the direction of a re-
view by the courts the result of "a confer
ence held at the White House last Satur-
aay, only engendered more determined
opposition, as il was felt that tho amend
ment was almost as indefinite and indie
terminate as the provisions which had
been subjected to criticism on these
grounds.
The growing irritability was amply
demonstrated during the debate in the
Senate on Tuesday last, when the amend
ment that emanated from the President s
grudging concession was exploited bv
Senator Long Of Kansas, and was ridi-
culed by Senators Foraker and Aldrich.
The effects Of this discussion. It is said.
were 20 Immediately intensity the hostile
feelings Of both the President and his
Republican opponents. awe must beat
Aldrch and those fellows" meaning
therehy an the Senators who are promi-
nent in the efforts to secure review
provision on the lines laid down by Sena-
tors Knox and Spooner said 10 have
been President Roosevelts dictum after
learning how his unsatisfying amendment
had been received And in "beatine
Aldrieh and those fellows President
Roosevelt win be doing a great deal
towards defeating the Republican party
at the lall elections
Il Is impossible to conceive that the