The Washington herald., 1911-12-23

Senator Theodore Burton, of Ohio. is
sixty years old to-day, and unmarried.
He does not consider sixty much more
than the actual prime of life, and wor-
ries less about age than about political
conditions in his State.
Thus far Burton has kept aloof from
the clash between Walter Brown, chair
man of the central committee, and
Lewis Cass Laylin, chairman OF the eX-
ecutive organization. the latter loyal to
Taft. and there are signs that the Bur
ton. part will be that of peacemaker,
once the Ohio campaign is fairly on.
Speaking of birthdays, Senator Scott,
of West Virginia, was siXty-nine on
Monday, and celebrated the day by con-
ferring several hours with the score of
visiting Republicans from his State.
who came on to fix things up for next
year and to organize for the next cleo
tion of a governor and Senator. The
slight gossip on national politics by
the West Virginia visitors indicated
that Senator Scott can celebrate his
next birthday and several more as a
member of the National Committee If
he so desires.
The conference failed to decide on a
candidate for governor, as DR.. Hatfield,
who was most urged, seemed a bit re-
luctant, and another conference will be
held within State lines to agree finally
on a candidate for governor, while the
Senatorship will be left open.
There has long been protest in West Vir-
ginia against fixing up tickets in Wash
ington, so pains were taken throughout
this conference to see that the coming
together of so many wise men was Sim
ply accidental"
Not DOwncaSt in New Jersey.
New Jersey will have two new Con-
gressional districts from now on, and al
ready some artful planning is in progress
to make sure that not only the two new
districts, but several of the old ones, are
made safely Republican. The Legislature
which meets next month has a delight
fully safe Republican majority, and there
will be some celebrity in fixing the dis
tricts according to Republican deserts.
There has been some gnashing of teeth
among Democrats in and out of Congress
because Gov. Woodrow Wilson did not
permit the making of new districts when
he had a Democratic legislature. The
governor was urged to do so, but refused
on high moral GROUNDS, tearing lie "oulu
be accused of pernicious activity in poll
tics, and all that sort of thing. and he
may have had a hope that his party
would win anyhow.
His failure to act will lose the Demo
Gratis some Congressman they now have,
and there will be a careful picking out
of strong Republican wards in the con-
gested section opposite New York CITY
The two new districts will be nicely ar
ranged in that part of the State north OF
Trenton and Paterson. The six districts
now lying north of Trenton are all rep
resented by Democrats. three of whom,
Hughes. Kinkead, and Hamill served in
the preceding House, while Tuttle, Town
send, and Mccoy came from usually Re-
publican districts on the Democratic
wave of last year.
They are not wholly discouraged about
the next campaign. but the Republican
prediction is for a general swinging
back into the old Republican way, which
is not so hard in a Presidential year.
Have you ever thought" asked Con-
gresham Ira Wood, of Trenton, that
New Jersey ranks sixth among the man.
ufacturing and industrial States of the
Union? Well, it seems reasonable that
such State will find the way back to
the Republican party, and with some
alaCrity."