The Anderson daily intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, 1914-10-21
Especial to The lntclligencer.) J

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Men in political and journalistic
life have spent dozens of years in
Washington declare that never
within the periods of their obser-
vation has there been congress
sional campaign in which there
was SO little spirit as the present
one, which draws to "a close a
week from next Tuesday.
Usually there is a determined
contest on the part of each of the
two leading parties to capture a
majority in the house in an "off"
year. And it may be said that -
ually the congressional election in
an off year indicates the way the
presidential and congressional
elections at the following general
election will go. The claims of
the rival campaign managers are
usually SO sweeping, and SO wild
ly published, that the public is
really left in some uncertainty un-
til the returns come in. 1t is true
that these claims are generally
very greatly discounted by the
public, but there is always a pos
sibility that either side may win,
so far as can be gathered before
the election.
But this year it is different. 1t
is almost unbelievable, but it is a
fact, that the Republicans are
conceding that they have no
chance Of carrying the congress
sional elections this year. On the
other hand, the Democrats admit
that they lose something like 40
seats in the house.
Majority About 100.
This however, will leave the
Democrats with a majority of
about 100. At present their ma
iority is i45, and it is remarkable
that the Republicans are claiming
no more than 40 of these seats.
Ift is true that loss of 40 seats
by the Democrats and a CORE
spending gain by the Republicans
would place the formers majori-
ty somewhat under 100, but the
opinion of the best judges is that
the Democrats will emerge from
the contest with at least that num-
Der of seats in excess of their op-,
ponents. i
A few speeches are being made
by leading party men in each par
ty in the doubtful States, but both
narties are suffering, apparently
from lack of funds. 1t is claim
I'd that the war chests are nearer
empty this year than ever before,
md Democrats argue that this
sact alone is greater blow, byl
far, to the Republicans than to |
the Democrats.
Gains In Senate.
Nolfe the less certain, appar-
emily, are Democratic gains in the
senate. 1t is very likely that a |
Democrat will succeed Root in |
New York, and Burton, of Ohio, I,
IS liable to be succeeded by a De-
mocrat. Gov. Baldin, of Con- |
necticut, is making a strong fghtE
for the senatorship againstl
Brandeges, Republican, and isl
accounted probable winner. Pen.
rose, of Pennsylvania. is makingi
the fight of his life. He has neverE
had to fight before. When sena-
tors were elected by the legisla-
lures, PenroSe was able to boss I
the situation; but this year the
people elect the senators bv d.
rect vote. and while MIR. Penrosel
won the nomination easily, he has
been spending great deal of /!
time in Pennsylvania defendingf
his record in the effort to secure1
reelection. The same is true ofl
Gallinger, of New Hampshire,
who is being opposed by Com
gressman Stevens. Even Smoot, /
of Utah, is by no means Certain |
of reelection. The Democrats
and Progressives In that Statei
have combined on another Nor
mon, and, Snoot is in danger of /
being retired. In several of thel
Middle Western States Demo
cratic candidates for the senate