Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-05-26
w Washington
w LETTER
BY H. 2. WALKER
TO CONTROL CONGRESS
Star Bureau.
Metropolitan National Bank Bldg.
wa cEsrNrsroN Me- ~.

Congress promises to be the most
desperate known in the present GEN.
GRAFTON. Not only will the fight be for
control of the House of Representa-
tives, but for the Senate. Thirty-two
senators. seventeen Republicans and
fifteen Democrats, will be elected by
popular vote for the first time, in as
many States, and this means type
of congressional campaign never be-
fore known in the country.
Because of the new method of elect
ing United States senators. the con-
gressional campaign of 1914, instead
of being merely an "off-year" cleo
ton, with little interest attaching,
promises to assume nearly as great
importance and to be prosecuted as
vigorously as presidential campaigns
have in the past.
Republicans Campaign.
1t is taken for granted that the Re-
publican National Committee will
adopt the recommendation q the
executive committee decided upon
here Saturday and call a special Re-
publican national convention for next
spring, at which efforts will be made
to reorganize the party. change its
basis of representation and inject into
it sufficient new life to make 1t a
factor in the congressional elections
of the following fall.
Already the Democrats have begun
the work of planning. for next Years
campaign, and every effort will be
made to secure from the country an
Endorsement of the Wilson admins
tration by the reelection of Demo-
cratic majority.
The Progressive party's organiza-
ton work. which was begun soon
after election last fall, is being car
ried forward steadily, and Pro-
gressive leaders announce that there
will be a Progressive candidate for
Congress in every congressional dis
trict in the country next fall AS the
Progressives had practically no or
ganization last year, and no time to
complete one, they promise to be
more of a factor in next years cleo
ton than they - in the campaign
of last fall.
President Wis., : taking per-
sonal charge of the general direc-
lions for the Democratic campaign
work. At his suggestion there will
be a close amalgamation between the
anA RnnRTaE-
sional committees.
Leaders VIII Advise.
All members of both the Senate and
House of Representatives looked upon
as leaders or as having any promi-
nence in the party will be included
in the list of men whose advice and
counsel will be called for in the man
agement of the campaign. The Re-
publicans will probably follow much
along these lines in combining the
work of the two committees. The
Progressives will adopt the idea of
Senator Clapp, in all probability, and
refrain from organizing a congress
sional committee, leaving all the cam
paign work to be done by the ma
tional, State and local organizations.
There is no longer any serious sug-
gestion, even among the most optim-
istic Republicans. of an amalgama-
ton between the Republicans and
Progressives in the congressional
campaign of next year. 1t is adj
mitted on all sides that there will
be three parties actively in the field.
The Democrats are counting on this
assurance. in the hope that many
congressional candidates who were
dragged through by the tail last fall
with minority vote viii be able to
repeat the performance and be saved
by getting between the lines again
next year.
While the Democrats talk very con-
fidently, however, there. is an under
current of apprehension everywhere,
and by many prominent members OF
the majority party 1t. is admitted
that little can be predicted as to the
outcome of next years fight until
the new tariff law has gone into eff
feet and it can be seen what the eff
feet upon the country is to be.
Anticipating Hard Times.
The Republicans are frankly look
ing for panicky conditions and hard
times following the passage of the
Underwood bill, and count upon these
conditions, which they consider in
evltable, as sure to bring about re-
action In the sentiment of the country
which will make protection and the
full dinner pail again winning slo-
gan and bring them back into power
Back of all the plans for party re-
organization this is the main hope
Of the Republican leaders. II the coun-
try continues to be fairly prosperous
under the new tariff there is not like
ly TO be much life in the next Re-
publican campaign.
In the decision of the national ex-
ecutive committee not to call spe-
cial national convention until next
year, the progressive Republicans who
conferred at Chicago few weeks
ago have been sat on again. They
wanted a special convention called
this year and a new platform writ.
ten providing for recognition of di
rect primaries, reapportionment o.
delegates, tariff commission ant
some other mild reforms designed
to bring back into the fold the NOR
conservative of the Bull Moosers.
In turning down this plan and de
Gliding To wait until next year to hol'
the special convention, the execu
tive committee was guided by tn
conservatives of the party, If harl
times fellow the new tariff the spe
clal convention is not likely to d
much more than again hold out tn
full dinner pail offer for votes
l67 VESSELS BUILT In
THE MONTH OF April