The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-11-07
By wills ]. Abbot.

Chicago, Nov. at this writing the
campaign of 1910 is over. Not Presiden-
tial campaign, il has still differed great
ly from the ordinary on year in poll
tics On its results. which viii be known
within few hours of the publication of
this letter, viii depend not merely the
control of the next House OF Representa-
tives. but the balance of power in the
United States Senate and the future sue
cess or collapse or the Tart administra-
ton, perhaps even the person of the next
President. After almost twenty years Of
active interest in national politics, / can
recall no campaign in which the Presi-
aency was not Immediately involved that
has so greatly aroused the interest and
the enthusiasm of voters.
Consider some of the factors which
VIII enter into the problem which voters
will attempt to solve on November s:
Effect on Taft.
To begin with Taft. As a writer of
news and comment on news, I suppose /
should have put Roosevelt in the begin
ming, given him the center of the stage
and the brightest rays Of the spot light.
But as matter of propriety, let US take
Of the United States and vitality con-
cerned in the outcome of the election.
lie is concerned because the anticipated
Democratic landslide" would be re-
earded as a population OF his admins
uation; because the election of an over
Whelming majority of Democrats to the
next House OF Representatives would tie
his hands for the remainder of his term
de h
tacular and engaging agitator who might
set up the cry: Taft repudiated; we
must have a radical man for the next
Republican Presidential nominee!"
Roots Warning.
only the other day Senator Root, Elihu
Root made a serious speech, declaring
that the only way to avert the Roosevelt
peril was to elect the Republican ticket
ia the Empire State The defeat OF the
ticket. said Root, would be construed
A. a defeat of Taft. and the nomination
Of Roosevelt in 1912 might follow.
To be brief however, the pending cleo
lions promise much of embarrassment
10 the administration. II won, the Roose-
welt clan. which is not small will claim
all the glory and embark with new zeal
on the rehabilitation of their Idol; if lost,
they will declare it a Reputation OF the
Tart administration, and demand that the
popular colonel be summoned 70 lead the
Republican phalanx 70 victory.
These are the things which are to be
won or lost in the election of Novem-
Der S.
Absolute control OF the House of Repre-
sentauves.
Control the United States Senate by the
election of enough progressive Democrats
TO hold the balance OF power ana sway
legislation by combination with the pro-
sressivs, or insurgent, Republicans.
As TO the House.
Concerning the outlook for the House,
/ propose to write only about the deiega-
tions from the States which / have vis-
tied. Those States are Wisconsin. Mime
sofa, Iowa, Kansas. Nebraska, Missouri.
Illinois, Ohio. Michigan, and Indiana.
Within these eleven States lies now the
real battle-ground between the parties
From information that comes TO me from
the East, no less than from the reason
able inference TO be drawn from the
Maine and New Hampshire elections,
am convinced that the heaviest gains of
the Democratic party will be made east
Of the Appalachian Mountains-east of
ohio, If you Will. But that is an opinion
founded largely upon hearsay: what I
wish 10 write about the States of the
Middle West mentioned above Is the fruit
of personal observation during "A six
weeks tour through them During this
journey 1 twice encountered Mr. ROOse-
welt and his suite-as the modern mon
archs would express it-and occasionally
crossed the uail Of Mr.. Bryan. These
two men. with so many views in COM
mon. seem cOmically occupied in travel
Ing about the country preaching the same
ideas and each begging to be permitted
10 give them effect.
Wisconsin.
In a newspaper to-day / saw a head
line concerning the situation in the
Badger state. which was at once pic
turesque and accurate. II ran this way:
La FOLLETTE's YOKE.
Links Democrats and Republicans Together.
That expresses the situation precise.
ly. OF course, Wisconsin has a Repub-
lean organization, and Democratic
organization. both professionally hostile
TO La Toilette. But the little Senator.
who has spent most of the campaign in
a hospital, has the people, and his own
organization. He has the Democratic
vote, always for himself. but not al
ways for his associates. At this closing
moment Of the campaign, ] hav'
son 10 change or 20 qualify the assertion
I made IN the first letter of this series.
that the Wisconsin legislature would be
Republican and for La Toilette on the
surface; that the one Democratic dis
trict now held by Charles n. Welsse,
would remain Democratic; that one Mil
waukee district, now held by William
H. Stafford. would be carried this year
by Victor Berger, Socialist. and that the
Fourth district, now represented by W
j. Cary. is doubtful. Barring a landslide,
| see little chance I'm Wisconsin for a