Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1910-04-22
House Will Have Demo
cratic Majority.


Washington, April l9.--If present
Indications mean anything the chances
are that the next house Of representa-
tives will have Democratic majority,
aud that numbe Of new Democratic
senators will b. sent to the upper
house. The election Of Mr.. Foss, .
Democrat, In the Plymouth Rock lis
trict Of Massachusetts, ana the cleo
tion Of Democrat to succeed Mr. De-
Almond, in Missouri, by an increased
majority, indicate,that the sentiment
against the Republicans is.wide spread
extending fro u the extreme New En-
gland protection districts to the dis
| trict south Of the Mason and Dixon
line. Within few days successor 10
to be chosen in the Rochester district
In New York to the late James b.
Perkins, and every indication now is
that Aldridge, the Republican nomi-
nee, will be badly defeated.
/ The action of the Indiana state con-
vention last week lie taken by regulars
and insurgents alike to mean that In
diana will so Democratic this year by
large majority. President Taft has
been implored togo TO Indiana and as
stat in saving the Republican party
there. But his geing would do as
much probably, to aid the insurgent
movement as his staying away, and
the prevalent impression among Re-
publieans, Of whatever variety, in
Washington 10 that Indiana ID lost to
the Republicans at the present time at
least.
Ohio is practically given up by the
Republicans also. Harmon's re-elec-
] ton is practically assured, SO far a. APP
pearancss can be relied upon. Not even
the coming Of Roosevelt and his sctive
entry into an Ohio campaign cou Id
overcsm the Indifference of the Re-
publican voters there to party success
Throughout the west and northwest
and in the middle west the same oon-
ditions are said to prevail, and grea I
political cyclone is expected to SWEEP
fuver those states aoths November cleo
ton.
Even West Virginia would seem TO
be in the line for some sweepln 6
changes. Steadfast as are the Repub :
Iicans Of that state, voting, as they do,
for any candidate whose name appears
on the Republican ticket, no matte r
how bitter they opposed him before
the nominations, there il still chance
that some changes may be brought
about at the polls this year. OF course
there is chance-though in view Of
the way in which the Republicans line
up on election day for the ticket, how
ever it 10 Gem posed, this chance seems
rsmote-that the contest for the sena-
torship may grow to such proportions
that several close counties may be
thrown into the Democratic colu mi
and the result may be a Democratic
legislature to select successor to Sem
ator Scott.
Still there is strong probability Of
a congressman or two being captured
by the Democrats in West Virginia.
The First, Second, and Fourth dis
tricts especially seem good fghtin 8
ground. The second has the smallest
Republican majority in the state to be-
gin with, and is especially torn up
this year over postoffics appoint
ments.
George Bowers 10 said to have de-
clared that Mr.. Sturgiss should not
have the support Of Berkeley county
in convention this year, because OF the
recom mendation of Il. G. Henshaw to
be postmaster at Martiasburg.
Sam Montgomery, whose wife has
been superseded as postmaster at Tun-
melton BY d. Il. " atson, is power ia
Preston county. He has . large and
powerful faction with him and doubt
less can be found working against the
nomination Of Mr.. Sturgiss.
whether the senators are actually
taking any hand in the matter or not -,
they are credited with doing so, and
this will aid in the fight against Mr..
Sturgiss' rsnomination.
With this bitter opposition for re-
nomination, even if he obtains it, it
would seem but natural that some of
the opposition should be felt at tho
polls. Mr.. Sturgiss' plurality at the
last election WAS but 3,56l, and q
change of a few more than a thousand
votes wsuld cause his defeat at the
next election. The last time, In round
numbers, $4,000 votes were cast, so a
slight percentage would have to change
their votes to elect Democrat. With
the high cost OF living, the disgust
ever the Aldrich tariff, the postofflce
fights, Cannonism and the Hubbard
Scott fight all tending to disgust the