Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-07-22
Congressional Campaign.
Opens in Two Weeks.
Formidable Task Of Democrats
To Make Their Boasts Good.
Attempt to Get Control Of House
...literature Put Out.

Washington. July 21.-The campaign
for the control of the House of Repre-
sentatives will be formally opened in
less than two weeks. The Republicans
will make New York their base of
operations, while the Democratic
headquarters will be in Washin gton
and Chicago, in both of which cities
the Republicans will also maintain
branch headquarters. Millions of
copies Of speeches and other called
"literature' is now being printed, and
for the next three months the mails
will be loaded with the messages of
hope and promise to American voters.
The House of Representatives con-
sists of 39l members. the Republican
majority being "A. Francis Curtis. the
expert of the Republican Congression-
al Committee. has compiled list of So
called "doubtful' districts. He has
included i'm this list all districts where
the plurality of the successful candi-
dates two years ago was less than
5000. The campaign of both parties
will centre in the l45 districts. Mr..
Curtis's figures show that the 145
doubtful districts are now represented
by seventy seven Republicans and
weight Democrats.
The fight will be fiercest in fifty
four districts, where the pluralties of
the successful candidate two years ago
were less than 1000. These fifty four
districts are now represented by
twenty four Democrats and thirty Re-
,ty bnn re
the present House. nine of them
Democrats, We're elected two years
ago by pluralities of less than 1000.
If the Democrats hold what they have
and gain in the twenty districts where
Republicans were elected by less than
600 plurality, the next House will be
Republican by five votes.
A Formidable Task.
Notwithstanding the insurgent dis
sensions in the Republican ranks, the
figures show that the Democrats are
confronted with a formidable task if
they are to make good their boast that
they will control the next House. If
the Democrats carry every district
which they now control and are sue
cessful in every other district where
was less than 1000, the next House
will be Democratic by 1G majority
The magnitude of this task will be APP
precated when it is remembered that
in nine districts two years ago Demo-
Gratis were elected to the House by
less than / 900 plurality, while in fif-
teen other districts the Democratic
pluralities We're less than 1000. In
many of these districts the Republic
can leaders are confident they will
make gains this year
In five districts the pluralities two
years ago were less than 100. In the
10th Massachusetts District the pur
ality OF Representative O'Connell
DemocraD was only four. f.. w.
Saunders, a Democrat, was elected by
81 plurality in the 5th Virginia Dis
trict The plurality of Representa-
tive Norris, of the 18th Nebraska Dis
trict, was twenty-five. Mr.. Norris,
who was one of the leaders of the in
surgents. is facing another hard fight
this year. Representative Joyce car
ried the 18th Ohio District two years
ago by plurality of 81 while Repre-
sentative Sheffield had only 81 plural
ity in the 1st Rhode Island District.
Champ CIark's Close District.
Some of the most prominent MEM
bers of the House come from doubtful
districts. Champ Clark, the minority
leader, will have to give close atten-
ton to his district. Mr.. Clark is
serving his eighth term in Congress.
Two years ago his plurality was only
1883. Representative Lloyd, chair
man of the Democratic Congressional
Committee, will not be able to. over
look his own fences while conducting
a campaign for a Democratic House,
for his plurality two years ago was
only BOIL. Representative TaWney.
chairman of the Committee on Appro-
priations, was elected two years ago
BY plurality of 1851. The Demo-
Gratis are camping on Mr.. Tawney's
trail this year. but the Minnesota
Representative is accustomed to hard
fighting, and his success in Novem-
Der is predicted by persons familiar
with the Minnesota political situation.
Speaker Cannon's district is not
clasSed as doubtful, inasmuch as
Uncle Joe" had plurality of 1878
two years ago.
OF the Republican insurgent eleven
come from doubtful districts. They are
Representatives Cary and Nelson,
Wisconsin, Fish, New York: Steener-
son, Minnesota; Madison. Kansas;
Haughen and Kendall, Iowa: Hayes,
California. and Hinshaw, Norris and
Kinkaid Nebraska.
Socialists May Be Represented.
1t is possible that the Socialists may
have one or two representatives in the
next House The election of a Social
ist mayor in Milwaukee has inspired
the members of that party with the
hope of carrying the 4th and 5th
Wisconsin districts in November.
Victor Berger. one of the best known
Socialists in the United States, has
been nominated for Congress in the
9Th District, now represented by Will