The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-07-28
CAPTAINS IN BOTH
PARTIES PREDICT
VICTORY in 1916
Both HilIes and McCOmbs See
United Forces Next Year.
"NOt Necessary for Either to
Open Headquarters"
FIGHT ON DOMESTIC ISSUES
G.. o. p. Chairman Hints Tar
if Will Be Dragged Out.
Admits There's Nothing Wrong
With Wilson Foreign Policy.
COLONEL AND BRYAN REGULAR
Il. IL. and Nebraskan Pictured
as Returned PrOdigals.
Democratic Leader Says People
Are Back of President.
Admits There's Nothing Wrong
With Wilson Foreign Policy.
COL ONEL AND BRYAN 'REGULAR'
Il. R. and Nebraskan Pictured
as Returned PrOdigals.
Democratic Leader Says People
Are Back of President.
By LOWELL MELLETT.

BY LOWELL MtsI4lIE1I-
New York July 2S.-William f. Nc
Combs. chairman of the Democratic
national committee. and c. d. Hilles.
chairman of the Republican national
committee. made their first official
predictions on the 1916 election today.
They did not issue statements, be 1T
understood; they suffered themselves
to be asked what they thought o.
prospects and they gave their hopeful
opinions.
Startled by Newspaperman.
1t wasn't much like the year pre-
ceding the campaign of four years
ago; in fact, each of the chairmen
was rather startled by the sight of q
reporter. Recovering, however, they
said:
HilIes-We have every expecta-
ton OF winning. The country is
dissatisfied with the Democratic
administration-getu more so
every day-and. is ready to re-
turn to the Republican party.
Every report I get from all parts
of the country. indicates this. So
does every election recently held.
McCombs-Unless there is some
decided change in the situation it
will not be necessary for either
party to stablish headquarters
next year. The result is a fore
gone conclusion, as things stand
now. The Democratic party is en-
ioying unexampled pre-eminence
that is not likely to be lost for
many years.
Apparently politics has received an
''impasse" like that of the war cam
paign on the German-French border.
Both Sure of Success.
Both chairmen admitted their con-
fidence rested on their having united
party next year. Hilles expects
Roosevelt to be regular next year,
but doesn't know, he said.
Noe 111S- E0C no RI~xr9 N
will be ''regular''-oQt says he doesn't
know.
1.-The fight will be made on domestic
questions said Hil1es. 1.-The whole
country is standing behind the presi-
dent on foreign questions. No fault
can be found with the manner in
which all our public men have lined
up in his support.
There are no domestic issues
that the people will listen to-pOssible
for the Republicans to raise said
McCombs. AS to disregarding foreign
questions thing the people are
thinking about all the time cannot be
diSregarded. The chief foreign QueS-
ton referred to, of course, is the
manner in which President Wilson is
handling the situation brought about
by the European war. As for domes-
tic issues, perhaps the tariff is meant.
Well, if Congressman Dingley were
called back from the grave he could
mt write a tariff schedule protective
enough to make a particle of differ
ence in American business affairs
Filed away in his office, Chairman
HilleS has stacks of figures that have
been compiled since the last presiden-
tial election. They show, he says,
that the country is swinging back to
it's ancient Republican majority. EV
cry normal Republican state will be
Republican next fall. he declared, and
he named Maine, New York, New Jer-
sey, West Virginia. Ohio. Indiana. Ne
hra a do str oh ha
expected back in the fold. He referred
to the figures that have been filed
away on the city of st. Louis since the
election of 1912, when the Democratic
majority was 1900, until the election
of this year, when the Republican
majority was $4,000. The significant
thing, he said, is the steady gains
through three elections in ST. Louis,
not the last majority. The Republi-
cans hope to carry Missouri in con-
sequence, he asserted.
Senate? Why Not?
What don't understand" said
the optimistic chairman, lis the state
ment reported made by Boise Pen
there is a chance for US to capture the
senate next year.. The fact is if it is
q Republican year We are bound to
capture the senate. We only have
to win in Republican states to win
back a majority in the senate and it
will be a Republican year, 1 am con-
fident."
Chairman McCombs said figures
were scarcely worth talking about
now, intimating he had a desk full if
they were needed.
The only possibility of the Repub-
lican party being a contender as it
looks now he said. lis a restoration
of the entente with Roosevelt and his
personal following. And nobody
knows what Roosevelt will do, 1 am
sure