Evening star., 1916-11-11
c. O.P. IN APPARENT
CONTROL OF HOUSE
Has PIG Seats Against 214
for Democrats, According to
Latest Returns.
HINGES ON FOUR OTHERS

In a struggle which has the same
dramatic elements which marked the
fight for the presidency. the republican
party today seems to have won control
of the House of Representatives, as the
latest returns give the republicans 216
seats. democrats PA, progressives 2
socialist / and Independent 1, with a
democrat leading in the one missing
district in New Mexico. Should the re-
publicans retain this lead, the next big
fight will be for the organization OF
the lower body. including the speaker
ship, committee chairmanships and the
great patronage pay roll which sup
ports 1900 House employees.
The one missing district is New Mex
ico which returns two senators, but
only one representative. In that wide
ly scattered field they stfll are counting
votes. and the latest message gives
lead of 1.776 votes over the republican
incumbent, Representative Hernandez
Ninety-six precincts were missing.
Skillfu1 Maneuvering Anticipated.
There is no doubt that the fight for
the control of the House will be one Of
the most skillfully maneuvered battles
ever seen in the Capitol. The absence
of single member will be enough,
perhaps. to determine which party shall
be in the ascendency. The death of a
member betV cen now and the gather
ing of the Sixty-fifth Congress also
NAV decide the question as to a divided
or united Congress-. The entire history
of the country for the next four years
may be in the hands of a single mem
ber 1t any time. and perhaps the balance
shall be controlled by Miss Jeanette
Rankin, the Montana republican. first
oman ever to be elected to the United
States Congress.
The two progressives are Representa-
tive Schall of Minnesota and Re,re-
sentative Martin of Louisiana. Repre-
sentative Schall has more of a repub-
lican tinge to his afiliation than
otherwise, and Representative Martin
is progressive simply because of the
feeling in his district against the
democratic red'ction of the tariff. He
probably is democrat when it come s
to lining up for the organization Of the
House. Representative London. the
New York socialist. afflates with the
democrats for orraniZation purpos In
the present House. and may be looked
upon as more help to the democrats
than to the republicans.
Fuller May Swing the House.
dependent. who furnished one Of the
election surprises by beating Repre-
sentative Roberts. a strong reptb-
liean, may lean one way or the other
and the decision as to who will con-
troll may rest with him.
He ran as an Independent, but in real
ity is dyed-in-the-wool progressive.
He is absolutely independent in politics
and took it up because he was disgusted
with the actions of some of the old
guard politicians, both republican and
democratic.
Two years ago he made his first ap-
pearance in politics as a candidate for
the legislature from Maiden as pro-
gressive, and ne was elected. He served
one term and did not run again. In
the legislature he was absolutely indie
pendent. When he makes up his mind
on a matter influence cannot swerve
him. This year he stuck to the pro-
gressive ship He was one Of the two
progressives elected TO the convention
at Chicago, and he voted for Roosevelt
all the time. Representative Roberts
seemed to have the ninth Massachu-
setts in his vest pocket, SO strongly
that the democrats did not bother to
nominate any one against him. A cou-
pie of weeks ago Mr.. Fuller decided to
enter the fight more as protest
against Roberts than with the expec-
tation of winning.
Then the democrats rallied to Full
1er's support and ex-Gov. Walsh in
dorsed him. Prominent progressives
also did the same.
Support Eagerly to Be Sought.
1t is certainly true that the support
of these four members, who really con-
troll the balance of power, will be
sought by both of the large parties.
and that they may live in clover and
delight between now and the time they
decide just how they will throw their
votes for the control of the House.
The figures which give the repub-
licans the control are subject to change.
however The best judgment Of men
watching the returns from the slow
districts is that the republicans Will
have PIG to the democrats possible 2l5.
The count up to late hour last night
gave an even break, with 216 on either
side However, dispatches today say
that Representative Britt, republican.
has won by fourteen votes in North
Carolina, which gives the republicans
a lead.
In the Britt district there will be q
contest after the House is organized.
There also will be contests in the Mar
tin district in Louisiana, and several
others from close districts. These may
change the majority figures. but the
contests are not made until after the
Eouse Is organized. There is q pos
sibility, therefore, shat the republicans
will control, with three or four more
democrats than republicans, but this is
doubtful.