The Hawaiian gazette., 1914-04-28
REPUBLICANS
! HOPEFUL OF .
FUTURE
Falling OF in Progressive Vote,
Together with Fast Widening
Breaches in Democratic Ranks,
Cause Upward Trend in Hearts
Of Members Of Grand Old Party.
By Ernest q. walker.

I WASHINGTON, April Is. Spring
days at Washington are bringing high
Republican hopes. The winter was GER
tainly one Of barren prospects. There
seemed no light ahead. II appeared
that Democrats were getting away
with everything. But what was like
darkness at Washington was breaking
dawn throughout the country, where
the dissatisfaction with existing condi-
lions was. growing. This was burst
upon the Republicans magnates here Of
late. Democratic forces have split in
twain over canal tolls, with Speaker
Clark, Majority Leader Underwood and
Appropriation Chairman Fitzgerald ont
in the open against the President at
the house end Of the Capitol and Sen.
ators O'uorman, Of New York, Cham.
berlain, Of Oregon, Newlasids OF Ne.
vada, and half a dozen Others apsinst
him IN the senate. Just when faetion
alism was rampant within the Demo
cratic ranks, elections were held in the
Patterson, New Jersey, district for
member Of congress and the Republican
candidate won handsomely, by about
5000 majority, although this district
has been going Democratic. A most
significant feature; however, was the
disappearance of the large Progressive
vote in this district. 1t slumped almost
to nothing.
Republicans Take Heart.
But as the result Of il all, Republican
managers here have, taken heart might.
ily. They believe now, what they had
not hitherto believed, that they can re-
gain control Of the house Of representa-
lives this autumn and thus lay the
for the election of Re.
publican President in 1916. Their cour.
age 70 this end has been SO materially
lifted that preparations for the con
gressional campaign are going forward
here with acclaim. The national Re.
publiesn congressional committee is
Son the job.o
I'LL rs now common taIkp, says 4.
current committee bulletin, narnone
Republican, leaders that the next bouse
Of representatives will be Republican.
This feeling does not come as result
of the New Jersey election alone. but
from responses to inquiries which Re.
publican members OF congress have
sent out to the best informed politi.
cans in their respective districts. In
every single ease, these responses have
indicated Republican gains and they
have shown heavy falling away IN
the Bull Moose vote. Republican mem.
bers Of the house say they expect a
great majority Of the congressional ala.
trlets this fan to show a great loss in
Bull Moose strength; as was shown In
the New Jersey election, where the Bull
Moose strength of almost 5000 was
turned into a Bull Moose Weakness OF
only GIL votes thfs year.
(" Carefully prepared reports which
have come in from the Republican state
nnd district chairmen indicate that
Progressives are returning to the Re
publican fold in great numbers. Most
Of these letters say that while a great
number of former Republicans, who
were Progressives temporarily, are an.
bouncing their return TO the party, the
greater number of returns are unan.
nounced and will be shown only In the
polls taken shortly before election and.
perhaps, not until election day itself.
Not only the leaders, but the entire
rank and file of the Republican party
are apparently inspired by the results
in New Jersey. 1t has increased the
Republican fighting spirit all over the
eonntry and promises To show snrpris.
ing results in every state,
Await Teddy's Arrival.
This bulletin voices the very general
Republican sentiment in Washington.
When 1t is remembered that Taft ear.
ried only two States in 1912, those Yer.
mont and Utah, and that Roosevelt had
considerably larger popular vote than
Taft, the figures of elections held since
Then are cause for much Republican re.
loicing, in that they show conclusively
Republicans are actually the second
party OF course, ex. President Roose-
yelt will soon be back in the United
states, stirring matters up politically
and doing his very utmost 10 instill
new life and activity into the thinning
ranks OF his great Chicago revolt. Pre-.
sumably no win rage much, question
interpretations of events and denounce
his opponents generally. He promises
10 go from State TO State. reviewing
and ekhorting, putting candidates afold
and all that.
But Republicans have made such
headway toward getting back into sec
ond place that they seem really on the
road to first place, and the plans for
the congressional campaign are going
ahead with such program in mind.
Maine will lead Off in early September
with the election of four members of
congress. Tremendous efforts will be
made, not only to carry those four con
gressional districts, but to do SO de.
eisively. Three of the four districts
are now Republican, but the Repub-
lean leaders In congress say the Sec
ond Maine district now Democratic,
should be reeaptured, and that it would
be a splendid achievement TO advertise
70 the country If this could be done.
The Second is an historic Republican
district, and If IL were recovered in
September the victory would be worth
hundreds of thousands Of votes to the
party throughout the country the fol
loxyinU Nnvamhar Tvs. II ..iH