The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-10-19
Who WILL WIN?
The Democrats and Republicans are
Fighting for the House.
DEMOCRATS FAVORED

Are NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. seats
Now Held by Republicans Are Now
in the Balance-Squabbles Hunt
Republicans and Help Democrats.
The most momentuous election
the country has seen in half a centu-
nv is now in progress. 1t will deter
mine whether the Republican party,
the party of national administration
is able to keep control of the Ma
tional House of Representatives.
Democrats of political foresight are
emphatic in their claims that the
next House will be Democratic and
that the Hon. Champ Clark will be
the immediate successor of the Hon.
Joseph G. Cannon, Speaker.
Dissatisfaction with the Republi-
can-made tariff is causing Republi-
cans to give their support to the
Democrats in the doubtful Congress-
ional districts, of which political ex-
perts claim there are 11S in the
country. There are 391 members of
the House of Representatives. In
the present House Ell of these are
Republicans and ia Democrats. 1t
is generally conceded that there are
1872 districts reasonably sure for the
Republicans and 141 for the Demo-
Gratis.
This leaves 118 districts doubtful
or debatable, in which the battle
for the control of the House is now
raging with more than the accus-
toned Congressional vigor. The
Democrats feel they have a remark.
able chance 20 show their strength
in this campaign, while the Repub-
Leans, satisfied in some sections over
the tariff are dissatisfied in others,
in some sections torn by party fights
and in other sections placidly con-
tent, are placed absolutely on the
defensive behind breastworks not
built Of solid rock.
OF the debatable districts mention
ed, 50 are now held by the Republi-
cans and Sc by Democrats. The
fact that there are so many debat-
able Republican districts, indicates
on the surface that the Republican
party is in a perilous defensive pos
ition. and that remarkable work
must be done by Republican cam
paign managers in order to save
these districts and thus save the
House for the Administration.
Political experts in figuring upon
the chances for a Democratic House
rely greatly for a base of operations
upon the three special Congressional
election held early in the year. The
first was in the Sixth Missouri dis
tr:ct for a successor to the late Dav-
id A. DeArmond. Mr.. DeArmond.
Democrat, had usually carried the
district by 5000. c. c. Dickinson.
Democrat, carried the district by ap-
proximately $500.
The second, a pure o~ut-and-out
tariff battle, was held in the Four
teenth Massachusetts district, where
the late William C. Lowering, Repub-
lican, was accustomed to polling a
majority Of $4,000. Here Eugene
NJ. Foss, Democrat, was elected by a
majority of $500, overturning as
you see a tremendous number OF
normal Republican votes.
The third was in the T~hirtv-sec-
ond New York district, where James
B. Ravens, Democrat, vas elected 70
succeed the late James B. Perkins,
Republican, whose normal majority
was more than 10000. Mr.. Havens
carried the district by a majority Of
about 1000. In this election, the
fight against the political prin-
ciples Of Boss" Aldridge, Ravens
Republican opponent than against
the tariff.
These three remarkable special
elections were responsible for the
Democrats claiming in advance the
next House of Representatives. They
were remarkable, too, in showing
the modern tendency of voters TO
shift easily from one party to an
other. when occasions seem to de-
mand vigorous party discipline. 1t
must be remembered, however, that
in the 81 acknowledged debatable
Republican districts, the contests
will not be as as they were
in the three districts mentioned
above,
In Vermont, the Republicans show
ed their displeasure of the present
Administration by casting a very
light vote for their two representa-
tives, who, in order to be elected,
had to promise not to vote for JOS
eph G.. Cannon for Speaker. In
Maine a month ago the Democrats
o practically all along the line.
two members of Congress managing
TO wiggle through in the general Re.
publican overthrow.
The Democrats in Maine. long a
Republican stronghold. got the gov
erDor other state officers. both
branches of the legislature. and two
Congressman. The election Of a
Democratic successor to Senator
Hale is therefore assured. The action
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