The Washington herald., 1914-05-03
Political Procession.
nv r.. =. a.

By y. D. q.
A group of new Democratic Congress-
men who have begun to like the diver
sion Of being In public life and Of draw
ing 1850 q year were iamenting the
other night the lack OF activity by the
Democratic Congressional committee or
ganized TO make sure of Democrats
majority In the next House. The lament
began with reference 10 the remarkably
compact and comprehensive organization
OF the minority Republican tside with
Frank p. Woods. Of Iowa. and John Z.
Eversman, Of Illinois. in charge, with
rather sumptuous quarters In the Riggs
Building.
1t is something startling for minority
party TO present such an organization SO
many months In advance Of election and
Democrats from districts normally Re
publican can hardly be blamed for quiet
complaint that more 10 not being done to
continue the present majority In Con-
gress.
Possibly. the Congressional committee
chiefs are not wholly at fault as they
have frequent intimations from Demo
cratic House members that 1t would be
money and effort wasted to run again
and that they will not even ask renomi-
nation. Fully 100 Democrats new on the
House pay roll wondered much thar they
dered more when given second term.
They are unwilling to waste what they
have saved out of four years salary In
a vain effort for a third trip. Many Of
them never enjoyed the thrill Of earn
ing more than 1850 a year before and
the jump to 1850 with extras was over
wheIming. Some have even saved more
than half the salary and are content
The letting go of such Democrats and
the very marked depression among Pro-
gressives gives added joy and hope 10
the Woods Eversman committee, which
would appreciate the moral effect Of a
few more special elections to indicate
the drift back to old-fashioned Republi-
can ideas a few months ahead Of the
big election IN November.
-
Winfield Scott Durbin. late Republican
governor Of Indiana, was In Washington
during the State convention Of his party
last week but he kept close watch on
all that happened. interested most, per-
haps, in what did not happen. What
impre essed Durbin most was tFe .emark-
able representation of one-tIme Progress
ives in the regular Republican cOnven-
ton of this year. Durbin knows them
all by their first names and his soul
swelled with Joy to read over the list
OF delegates and find so many who went
wrong In lSlZ gettlng back 10 the OLD
faith in 1914. with promise of renewed
zeal for the 1916 campaign.
Durbin recalled that two years ago the
city OF Fort Wayne was nOtoriously
rabid for Roosevelt, with men like Will
lam Geake. Byron Samers, and William
Ballou making most noise for their lead
er and most distress for the regular
Republican organization. Yet last week
Durbin read Of all three taking active
part In the regular Republican conven-
ton, and modestly but firmly proclaim
ing themselves as again in the fold. The
Fort Wayne incident was duplicated
from all sections OF the State and Dur
bin knows each repentant one and the
value OF the return to faith OF political
Righteousness. Washington was interest
ed in the nomination OF Hugh Miller for
Senator mainly because more eminent
statesmen like Fairbanks. Jim Watson.
and Hemenway did not aspire to the
Senatorship this year for reasons best
known to themselves. Miller is not well
known in Washington outside of the
Hoosier aggregation, but he Is brave
enough to oppose Shively in an uncer-
tain year. and young enough 20 win
reward later on. even IL he fails to con-
meet this year.