Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1913-10-05
The 1914 congressional campaign

Of the Government and are so fan
united The struggle will be unique
because the first wholesale effect OF
the direct election law for the United
States Senators will be felt at the
polls next Summer.
In "off years" heretofore. members
Of Congress have had to think mainly
of controlling the House of Repre-
sentatives, as the State Legislatures
jority of instances it was foregone
conclusion that this legislature would
elect Republican and another legis-
lature a Democrat.
Now the dignified members of the
upper branch Of Congress have to go
before the "peepul" just as do the
house members and the campaign
committees must wage a double joint
ed fight.
Thirty-two senators are to be nam
I'd in the 1914 campaign the terms of
this summer expiring on March 3
1915.
The death Of Senator Johnston, of
Alabama, reduced the Democratic ma
jority in the Senate to 6, with one or
two Democrats declining to stand
hitched to all party questions. The
Republicans number "A, the Demo-
Gratis so, the Progressives one and
there is one vacancy.
From the Democratic viewpoint
these figures are entirely too close
for party comfort, while they are en-
couraging to the Republicans who
may gain control of the upper branch
Of Congress by winning less than half
a dozen seats from the Democrats
switching the majority to the other
side.
The Democratic majority in the
House, of course, is top heavy and
there is little danger of it being over
turned, but the party does not want
to lose ground because of the effect
it might have in the quadrennial cleo
ton of 1916, when president is to be
elected.
Members of the house come up for
telecetion every two years and are
always in hot water and envious of
the Senators with nothing to worry
about except six-year terms. This
condition keeps the house in a politi-
cal uproar all the time and cam
paign is virtually in progress month
in and month out. The 1914 campaign
will be the same old contest from the
Houses point of view but the "direct
elections" law and the possibility of
seeing the Senate go Republican is
one that complicates the situation
and worries the Democratic campaign
Both parties are planning to use
their heaviest artillery in the 1914
fight. The administration is expect
ed to take a hand in the Democratic
struggle and all the old Republican
warehouses; will be put into harness
again, under the present plans.
The Republican Congressional
Campaign committee is headed by
Congressman Frank p. Woods, of
Iowa, who is to have the aid of trust
ed ieutenants-members of the Sen.
ate and Housewife are given the
title of Vice Chairman. The Demo-
cratic war hosts will be led by Con-
gresham Frank e. Doremus, OF
Michigan, who likewise will have an
able corps of lieutenants and will
have the further advantage of con-
ference with an executive committee
named by the National Democratic
committee.
This executive committee" of the
national committee is presumed to
look after the sinews of war. 1t has
been rather difficult heretofore for
the Democratic Congressional com.
mite to get all the funds it needs
and a few alert gentlemen from the
National Committee may help out ap-
along this line.
In preparation for the coming
struggle, members Of the Senate and
House are already repairing their
political fences. The debates are re-
plete with ''home consumption
speeches, which may be encircled in
frank envelopes to boost the party
in whose behalf they were delivered
and to embarrass the opposition. The
two campaign committees are going
through the Congressional Record in
search of campaign material and
dozens of clerks will begin to flood
the country with literature for the