The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-10-06

! slonal committees must wage a dou-
ble-jointed, slam bang fight, and
/ United States senator's will be directly
responsible to the common peep,,l !"
the ultimate consumer" and the rest
OF the well known ballot-casting char
acters.
Thirty-Two to BE Named.
| Thirty-two senators are to be named
IN the lSl4 campaign. the terms of
that number expiring March 8, 1915.
The Democratic majority in the Sem
ate is too small for the comfort OF
the party. There Is good majority
or only six at present, and two or
three CT these decline to stand with
out being hitched. on many questions.
Today the Republicans number forty
four to the Democrats fifty. The Pro-
greSsives have one senator and there
is one vacancy. caused by the death
of Senator Johnston. of Alabama.
So the Republicans, by winning
hafr q dozen seats IN the coming
struggle. may gain control of the up
per body.
As to the house Of Representatives.
the present majority OF the Democrats
is too bulky and unwieldy~-any one
at the capital Will say so. Democrats
do not think there Is any possibility
OF the tables being turned in the next
congress. but the party does not want
to lose ground because of the effect
on the country at large. The presi-
Dental campaign of 1915 is In mind,
and a heavy Republican gain next
year would influence the big fight to
considerable extent. In fact. many
politicians predict that If the Repub-
leans make a hole in the Democrats
lines next year big enough for even a
small sized wagon to drive through,
the next president will be a Repub-
lican.
Progressive Gain Problematical.
Republicans and Democras in the
house, always up to their necks in
political hot water. have gathered con-
siderable campaign fodder on all sides
of the various national issues already.
What the Progressives have gathered
so far is prohlenaticai. They make
so much out of everything that the
real value of their campaign material
is difficult to appraise until after the
landslide" or the arrival of the
dark horse 1t is as certain as taxes
that the income tax will be made a
campaign issue. that the tariff situa-
ton will be watched with as much
care and precision as a trained nurse
watches n clinical thermometer in a
fever case. and for every factory that
closes down on account of the lower
ed duties the Republicans will send
out hundreds and thousands of warn
ings to ehe other manufacturers and
other factory hands throughout the
country.
Meantime the old question OF
fourth class postmasters and political
patronage of all sorts Is still both
ering Democrats. There Is q bigger
effort than ever to make exceptions to
the civil service lists. Southern Demo-
Gratis. whose political life depends on
getting some appointments for their
constituents, are ready to do almost
anything to break into the govern
ment's pay roll for the benefit Of
trusted lieutenant II something
does not happen soon many South
ern Democrat now in congress will
have a tough time of 1t to win at
the primaries next season.
sixteen Million Promises.
The reason is plain. Democrats
have been out of power sixteen years.
During that time about 100000
promises have been made concerning
Jobs under the government. and 16,-
O0o. 900, more or less, Democrats be-
lieve their congressman are holding
out" on them because the Jobs are
not forthcoming. Therefore. there
will be 100000 soreheads who will