Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-03-08

VIII the Republicans Lose the House
OF Renresentatives2
According TO the Washington corrc-
spondcnt of the Now York sun. prominent
Republicans al the Capital have expressed
tho opinion 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 iS9S the Republicans
have established a record in oif-ycar elec-
tions, but certain leaders hold that dis
aster may como At the polls next Novem-
Der unless something Unforeseen should
occur. From Grants second admiuistra-
tion up TO 1898 Republican success. in a
Presidential year was usually followed
by defeat in the of-year. but since 1896
tho Republicans have managed to control
the choice Of both the President and the
House Of Representative. This string
Of victories is unparalleled IN the history
Of the party
Leading Republicans, among them
Representative Joseph w. Babcock chair
man Of the campaign committee, have
been quietly telling their associates during
the last few weeks, il Is understood, that
they must be up and doing or the Demo
Gratis will control the House in the Sixtieth
Congress. Political conferences have
been held recently, and a tentative de-
cision has been reached that Congress shall
adjourn early. Predictions are made
that getaway day may come by May 18th.
and certainly not later than June lst.
The opinion is expressed in responsible
quarters that adjournment need not be
prolonged beyond the last named date
II 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 Senators
declare that the situation relative to the
Railroad 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 submitted to that body by a COM
bination Of Republican and Democratic
votes.
On the House side Of the Capitol politics
is 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
pubicans, where signs Of unrest and dis
content arc painfully apparent to those
directly concerned. A party caucus 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 il
will have selected by that time for men,
bership on the campaign committee. The
committee will then reorganize 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 chair,
man Of the Republican Congressiona
Committee. Mr. Babcock is skilled in the
game Of politics. He has an intimat,
acquaintance with conditions in every
Congress district in the United States
He has the confidence of the business in.
forests and can find money where men oI
less experience would never expect tc
get il. At this painful moment, however
Mr.. Babcock is not in touch with the ad.
ministration, and he is at at swords point.
with Speaker Cannon. Mr.. Babcock wa.
the leader in the two insurgent movements
in the House that Jared the regular or
ganization, and it so happened that th,
insurgents tried TO punch holes in two
administration measures, the Philippine
tariff and Statehood bills.
Mr. Babcock has announced that unde
no circumstances will he 20 through an
other Congress campaign AS the part,
manager This information, il is under
Stood does not disturb Speaker Cannon
nor has it prompted the President or othe
party leaders 20 sit up nights. But a con
siderable number OF ordinary Representa-
tives, who looked to Babcock for help il
the past and who got what they wante,
for the looking, do not view his rctiremen
with complacency. They arc responsible,
for the movement that has been starto,
having for its purpose the enlistment o
Chairman Babcock in another campaign
In view of the situation thus set forth
it is not surprising that Republican leader
should feel an anxiety over the outcom,
Of the elections for Representatives il
Congress, next November. For the elec
tion Of Democratic House might prov,
tho foreunnner Of disastrous Rcpub
lican defeat in the Presidential campaign
of 1908.
Tho first break in the string Of Repub
lican Successes that began in 1850 oc
cured in 1874, when the Democrats
elected a majority Of the House Of Rep
rosontatives, and opened the way 10 thef
Presidential victory in 1876, although
they were deprived OF tho logitimat,
fruits Of the latter.
Another Democratic "tidal wavep il
1882, pesaged the Democratic victor,
Of 1884, when Grover Cleveland was irs
elected President. A similar victory il
lSe0 paved the way 20 Cleveland's trium
phant election for a second term, in 1892
Therefore, a Democratic victory a
this wears Congress elections ,,,o,,tl -,