The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-10-25
R e blican Committee,
However, Not Hampered
by Lack of Funds.
Minority Has Big Handicap
TO Overcome in Fight to
Secure Control.
By JOHN SNURE.

that they are going to elect William II.
Taft as President, Republican poll
| ticians who are in close touch with the
| contest for the control Of the House
| Of Representatives. believe the RepubH-
can party will continue 10 dominate that
/ body
The indications are that If Mr.. Taft is
elected President the House will be
Republican. In case there comes a po-
litiCal Upheayal. a landslide, il is gen
orally accepted by the Republicans that
they cannot elect a majority Of the
House. It IS conceivable that the coun-
try might elect Taft and at the same
time elect a Democratic House or that e
might elect Bryan and choose a Repub-
llcan House. But such an outcome is
not probable. II one will ask the best
informed politicians how the House is
going he viii in most cases get an
answer about in this fashion: The tail
viii go with the hide"
/ OF course, it cannot be overlooked that
/ the Republicans have a great advantage
/ in the House contest. The present
/ House has 156 Democrats and go Re-
publicans, Republican plurality Of &C.
In order to capture the control OF the
! House. the Democrats would have 10
/ gain % districts.
Where Gain Must Be Made.
| This gain has to be made in the States
outside Of the South, the representation
/ from the South being almost entirely
| Democratic It is well-knowu that Re
publican legislatures IN most OF the
Northern States have done what they
could to fortify the Republican strength
/ in Congress by So fashioning the Con
/ gressionaI districts as to make them as
/ certainly Republican as possible In
/ recent years. the Republicans have had
sway of by far the greater part OF the
/ legislatures north Of the Mason and
Dlxon's line and they have. as a rule,
[ not hesitated to do such gerrymandeTng
as Republican needs called for The
work OF these legislatures stands as a
| big obstacle in the way OF Democratic
control Of the House and It is by reason
/ Of the gerrymander Of Republican legis-
/ latures IN many states that Bryan
might well capture the election for HIM
self while the House remained Repuo-
/ lican by a close vote.
No Landslide Expected.
/ Republican calculations on control of
/ the House are based on the belief there
will not be a landslide to Bryan. They
admit there Is drift to Bryan IN many
states, but do not apprehend that 1t Is
going to be or such proportions as 10
syTeen the Republican party from us
mornings. They base this belief in no
small measure on the fact that IhS
farmers OF the country, especially OF
the middle West, are unusually pros
narous and are seemingly not greatly !
disposed to change.
II Is on the fact of the agricultural
orosperitv of the country more than any
Other that the Republican Congressional
.,an,naign managers ere hasing thelr
expectations Of continued control OF
the House.
Another fact that the Republican man /
ayers believe is working 10 their al 1
vantage IS connected with the taFlit /
revision. L is no longer questioned th't
the Sixty-hrst Congress viii revise the
tariff. Those elements in the business
and manufacturing world that are
anxious 70 see the Dlngley schedules /
reduced just as little as posslnIe aI7
throwing their influence in the direction
of Republican control CT the HOUSE
Might Retard Work.
II is tru. plenty Of business men and
business interests are arguing tha-
nothing could be done in way or I'M
portant tariff. corporation. or railroad
legislation if there were a Democratic
President and a Democratic House anu
a RepubIican Senate. But the protected /
interests generally are eager for the
Republicans 10 keep the House IN thelF {
hands and for the Ways and Means
Committee TO continue as It Is now 10
be composed Of a majority OF hlen
rariff men: of followers Of Inc standpat
doctrine rather than Of tariff revision
advocates.
the Republican Congressional com
mittee has. in quiet way been con
quoting a vigorous campaign. The
Bryan-Taft campaign has over
sbsdovyed the Congressional contest.
THE Republican Congressional man
ayers however. have been Hard at
work, and they have not been lacking
in funds wherewith % carry that work
on.
No Publicity Promise.
one thing that has not been allowed
to hamper them is any promise Of puo-
Hcity Of campaign expenditures after
the election, or any other time. Speaker
Cannon and his friends completely .
dominate the Republican Congressional
committee management, This question
Of the outcome of the House contest
Is vital 10 them. To have the House
turned over to the Democrats would /
mean the end of the regime OF Speaker
Cannon and his chief lieuJenants, and |
to have the mastery Of the Congress
sional committee puts the Speaker and |
his friends in a position to strengthen /
the hold Of Mr.. Cannon on the Speaker
ship of the next House. On the Demo
cratic side. the Democrats have not /
been able to effect such an organization .
as the Republicans have. Representa-
tive James T. Lloyd Of Miss ouri is
chairman of the Democratic Congress
sional committee. and has not lacked in /
energy. AT the same time he has little .
money TO work with, and the Demo-
cratic Congressional machinery was
pretty badly run down when he took
hold of 1t. In a large degree, the Demo
cratic Congressional campaign has
rested on Mr.. Bryan, and has depended /
on his ability 10 pull his party through
to victory.
Hope for Anti-Cannon Votes.