The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1916-10-23
Admit Hard Fight Ahead For
House Control.
SEEK GAINS IN THE WEST
Republican Congressman Says Party's
Efforts Must 30 Exerted In Western
States to Insure Control In Upper
Houss-PoIitlcaI Equalization In tho
Supreme Court.

HhtIs wv $50 lRpNNAuAl -
Republican congressman who has had
a great deal to do with the political
campaign and Is In a place where he
knows what Is going on says that
Hughes il safe. but that there IL still
a hard fight before the Republicans to
win a majority In the next house and
senate.
Hughes will carry a large number
OF states by narrow majorities," he
said. THE big majorities he will re-
ceive will be In Illinois and Pennsyl-
vania. In other states | expect TO see
the margin close. but Hughes will have
a large majority In the electoral col
lege."
lie sees Hughes elected. but asserts
that there IL doubt about the senate
and the house.
Difficulty With Congress.
This Republican points out that they
cannot expect anything from the solid
south. having as many members from
that section as are likely to be chosen,
and 1t Ii also true that gains In the
east are not likely, as the Republicans
carried about all the districts they
were entitled to In the election Of
1914. Nor Is there any hope I'm Ohio.
I'VE must make gains In Indiana.
Nebraska, Kansas and other western
states" he said. 'if we are to carry the
house under present conditions. The
difficulty about that is the fact that a
number Of western Democrats are very
popular. 1 know OF many who win
run far ahead OF Wilson I'm their dis
tricts. In districts which Wilson can
not carry Democrats will win. That
is what makes It such a hard fight"
The Republican Senate Seats.
While the Republicans are trying TO
c u at least nine seats In the senate
held by Democrats In order to give
them a majority, they have three seats
held by Republicans In jeopardy, &C
cording to this same authority. Those
are Della ware, North Dakota and wy
oming. I had already included these
among other states where Republicans
have become uneasy. but 1t was rather
surprising to And a leading Republican
politician admitting that these three
seats were In doubt. He went on to
say that there a not the least danger
In Wisconsin. Washington or California
on account OF the progressiveness of
La Toilette, Poindexter and Hiram
johnson. These men viii be surely
elected. in his opinion.
BIG Law Profits.
Judging by the fact that several hun.
dred lawyers are admitted to practice
In the supreme court each year, the
law must be a paying business. or
course there are thousands OF lawyers
doing z very big business who never
come to the highest court. 1t takes
money to carry cases to the supreme
court.
Political Equalization.
The retirement of Justice Hughes
from the supreme bench gave Presi-
dent Wilson an opportunity to make a
political equalization OF the highest
court-that is, as near an equality as
could be made. There are now four
Democrats-Chief Justice White and
Justices McReynolds. Brandeis and
Clarke. There are five Republicans
Justices McKenna, Holmes, Day. Van
Devanter and Pitney. That IL the
closest political division there has been
in many years.
Not All Politics.
There Is something besides politics GO
ing on in Washington. Quite a mum
Der Of officials are devoted to the bust
ness Of the government. Many cabi-
net officers are here from time to time
and are scanning the estimates In or
promptly. The treasury officials must
send In the estimates on the day con
gress meets, and that department is
pushing the others to get their figures
In. These estimates will be quite large
this year.
Won't Worry Tom Marshall.
In q speech Vice President Marshall
referred to the civil service as "snivel
service" and expressed his regret that
means were not found to pry out all
omceholders and give their places to
Democrats. OF course this aroused the
Civil Service league and kindred or
carnations. But that makes no differ
4nce to Tom Marshall and will not
change his attitude. He Is a law unto
himself and says what he thinks.
Want to Come Home.
1T seems to me as IL every man in
the national guard down on the Mexi-
can border wants a furlough and
wants to get home l never saw any
thing like It." The remark was made
by an army officer under whose eye
the applications for relief of this kind
come. II anything has been clearly
demonstrated 1t is that the national
guard Is not the kind of force for
guard and patrol duty with no active
service. The men are willing to fight
II there Is 4 chance, but want to stay
at homo when there Is no need for