The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-12
Chances Good for Presiden-
 tiaI Campaign of Reason
HOW DEMOCRATS STAND
Lose In Congress In Last Four Years, But Gain In States-The Prohibi ton Fight In New York
 To Be Renewed.
BY sEWELL HAeeARo.

New York, January 11.-In connec- tion with the recent discussion in this column as to the chances of the demo- cratic party in the next presidential election, it is interesting to review the congressional. state and municipal elee- tions that have taken place since the Roosevelt tidal wave in 1904
 The democratic situation as regards Congress was a little better four years ago than it is today. Four years ago the republicans had majority of S2 in the House and 26 in the Senate. Today the republicans, even with the gain of the Oklahom members by the minority, have majority of B in the House and 30 in the Senate. The intermediate House elected in 1904 had 114 republi- can majority. and that loss is not yet quite made up. Nor, if we return to the local constituencies is the result very different. The republicans had 4S2,956 the best of the total vote for congress- men in 1902, 1.66S,524 in 1904, and 7S5,- 20S in 1906. or 752,770 if the Oklahoma returns of 1907 are added.
 In the state elections, the democrats have fared considerably better. There were but four northern democratic gov ernors in 1904. those of Rhode Island, Nevada Montana and oregon. Minne- sota, North Dakota and Oklahoma have been added since that day, to say noth- ing of Massachusetts. carried in 1904 but lost the next year, and Ohio, which would be under a democratic admins tration today if Governor Pattison had lived. The democrats have also been successful in cutting down pluralities in several states which they failed to carry. notably in Iowa, Kansas and New Jersey.
 In Iowa the republican candidate Tor governor won by 1000 in 1903, by 2O,- GOO in 1906: in Kansas. by 42. 900 in 1902. by 200O in 1906; in New Jersey, by 170O0 in 1901. by 5000 in 1907. But it would be a mistake to infer a general tendency from these changes. Although fin a few other states, like Delaware and Indiana the democrats have done slightly better than they did just be- fore 1902 others, like California, Hi nois, Nebraska and Wisconsin have given largely increased republican plu- ralities in comparable elections.
 Of the 102 cities for which data were given in the World Almanac for 1904, 30 had democratic mayors. This year 57 of the same cities have democratic mayors But the net gain of seven was really the result of 42 political over turns in the last four years. Eighteen cities then classed a democratic are so no longer, while 25 which then had republican or independent mayors are now governed by democrats The list follows
 Democratic in 1908, but not in 1904: Buffalo. Cambridge, Columbus, O., Council Bluffs, Denver, Dubuque, Du- luth Elmira. Erie, Pa, Fall River, Houston. Jersey City Los Angeles, Newark. New Haven, Omaha. Paterson, Peoria. Pittsburg, Poughkeepsie, san Francisco, Seattle, Sioux City, St. Joseph. Mo. Tacoma. Total population about 1000. OO0.
 Democratic in 1904 but not in l9oS; Boston. Bridgeport, Camden, Chicago Dayton, Harrisburg, Hartford, Indian apolis, Kansas City, Louisville, Mll- waul1ee, Newport, Quincy, H., Sacra- mento. Springfield, H., Troy, Otlca Wilmington. Del. Total population, about 5,000. 900.
 .'rhe Democrats, then, taking the eoun- try over, have slightly larger numper or men in conspicuous local and state office than they had four years ago. says the Evening Post. More men in position. as they may enjoy thinking, to nave their fellow citizens say, Thou hast been faithful unto few things, l will make thee ruler over many things They have at the same time a slightly smaller number in Congress.
 "On the old theory of political swings it would be hard to find any significance in statistics presenting such violent con trasts as these. Adjacent states, cities Of