The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1914-01-30
1.-THE NEXT HOUSE."
A Possibility That the Democrats May
Lose Their Big Majority.

lOoo' hdINof, kDomOCIdtI III Noieh
American Review
If the Democrats carry the house of
representatives. the President will have
won a notable victory; if they fail to
hold majority, he will have suffered
an irreparable defeat. There Is no ques-
ton in our mind as to how the people
would vote today. They would sustain
the administration, not mercy through
a division of the opposition, but gladly
and avowedly as tribute to Mr.. Will
sons earnestness and devotion to duty,
and to give him full opportunity to
develop his policies. The vital result in
November will be determined wholly
by what shall be done affirmatively and
what shall happen incidentally in the
meantime.
What are the prospects in the light
of past EXPERIENCES and present condi-
tions? The house now comprises 291
Democrats and la Republicans (inc!ud-
ing the few Progressives and as of the
beginning of congress- The Democratic
majority--l47- is 80 great that rever-
sal in two short years seems to be prac-
tically inconoeivable. But let us see.
In 1885 the Democrats retained the con.
troll they had won in 1884, along with
the election of Mr.. Cleveland, but their
majority shrank from "a to a scant 15
In 1892 they swept the country, only,
as consequence of tariff legislation
and hard times, to reap disaster two
years later. The comparison is striking:
Dems. Reps
House elected in 1882. ..220 1875
House elected in 1894 .....1 04 246
During those two years the Demo
Gratis lost 1l6 members out of 220 If.
this year. they shonld lose "a members
out of sol, they would forfeit control
of the house of representatives and of
all legislation.
The fact, too, must not be overlooked
that the majority in 1892 was real
majority won against united opposi
ton, whereas the present majority is
only apparent. Just as Mr.. Wilson Is
q plurality President, so is the Demo.
cratic house plurality house. If Re-
publicans and Progressives had voted
together in 1912, they would have had
q majority of IL in the present house..
Take New York as an example It's
delegation stands. Democrats, 80; Re.
publicans, II. A fusion of Republicans
and Progressives would have resulted:
Democrats, 49,; Opposition. 81. New
Jersey is represented by II Democrats
and Republican. Fusion of Republi-
cans and Progressives would have
elected Democrats and s Opposition.
True, complete union Of Republi-
cans and Progressives at the forthcom.
ing elections is beyond power of accom-.
plishment, even though an understand
ing should be reached by the leaders.
With only Republicans and Democrats
IN the race, a certain proportion of the
Progressive vote would go to the Will
son candidates Whether this percent
age would suffice to offset the effect of
Democratic disaffection in states like
New York and Illinois is question.
Whether it would overcome the far
gre ater and incalculable consequence
IF continuing and increasing business
depression, lack Of employment for
hundreds of thousands of workingmen
and disgust at income taxation added
10 the normal reaction which invaria.
bly, follows a presidential victory, is
even more problematical. Enough has
been said, in any case, to show that
little dependence can be put upon faith
N maintaining majority simply be-
cause it is large; the record of 1894
indicates how quickly it may disap-
pear entirely. Nor, in our humble
Judgment, should too much reliance
be placed upon continuance of Mr..
Roosevelt's obduracy. None realizes
better than that most astute of poll.
sicians that, to win the presidency in
1916, he must (D defeat Mr.. Wilson
n the congressional elections and in.
capaciate him for the remainder of his
term, (2) avert further disclosure of the
weakness of his own party,
and (3) reconcile Republicans and bust
ness men generally to his candidacy.
For ourselves we shall be greatly sur.
prised if the movement looking to a
union of forces already inaugurated by
Mr.. Roosevelt's personal lieutenant,
Comptroller Prendergast of New York
City, does not eventuate in sharply
drawn lines between the Democratic
party and the opposition in the coming
November elections.