Evening star., 1917-11-05
CONGRESS MEETS
IN -FOUR WEEKS
Politics Expected to Play Part
in Deliberations Of
Long Session.
FIGHT TO CAPTURE HOUSE

. Snt HuSSSe
Four weeks from today Congress Will
for the so-called "long ses-
sion" Guesses vary as to how long it
will be, all dependent upon war condi-
tions. Politics will play a part in the
deliberations Of the session, whatever
its length. The congressional elections
will come along next year, together with
campaigns for senatorial terms expiring
in 1919.
Every member of the House who de-
sires to come back to Congress will
have to do his political haymaking dur
ing this session. Nominations com
mence in the spring and continue
through the summer. with the election
on the first Tuesday in November.
Speeches must be prepared for homo
consumption and every political oppor-
tunity offered by the transaction Of the
public business used to best advantage.
g. o. p. to Make Drive for House.
It Is we'll understood on all sides that
the republicans intend to mako a
drive" for the capture of the House.
When this Congress organized the ros-
ter stood, democrats. 2l2. republicans.
213. scattering, I. vacancies, 3. How
the democrats organized the House is
remembered. Death and subsequent
elections will change the totals slight
ly. but the narrow margin of difference
-
1t is an open secret that the republi-
cans base their hope OF gaining the
House upon playing up possible mis-
takes by the administration in the con-
duct of the war. The democrats be-
lieve they will fail In this expectation.
dent" and don't swap horses in the
middle of the stream will help them
to elect majority.
The democrats argue that political
issues as such will be lacking. There
is no tariff. no financial question. no
issue at all, in fact as they view the
outlook, granting the war continues
Whether the adversary can come in on
campaign of dissatisfaction and criti-
cism they doubt. They say the re-
pubIicans will be hampered to an ex-
tent in their proposed campaign OF
heckling the administration by the
possibility of laying themselves open
to the charge of fomenting disaffec-
use that warning at all times.
Where Republicans Will Attack.
At the same time they realize that
the republicans will have some leeway
for their attacks. It is admitted to be
quite probable that ground may be
found for complaint Of failure to speed
up war work. Mistakes will be uncov-
cred. they apprehend. in the very ma
ture of things. They are confident.
however. that no far-reachins charges
of inehiciency can be sustained
Another bond issue is regarded as a
certainty some time during the win
ter's session. Chairman Fitzgerald of
the House appropriations committee
already has given warning OF more
heavy appropriations, involving the
necessity Of laying Of further taxes.
These incidents of the future are re-
garded as likely to fnure to the sadvan-
tage. to a degree, of the party In op-
position.
1t is also we'll known that the re-
publicans intend to make campaign
for the regaining of several Senate
seats. along the same line of criticism
of the administration and taking ad-
rest that may be occastoned by the
legislation of the democratic Congress.
State Campaigns Next Year.
Delaware. New Jersey. Illinois. New
Hampshire and Kansas are the states
in which the republicans propose to
make their campaigns. regarding them
as either normally republican or pre-
senting good fighting ground. New
Hampshire is held to be debatable, al
though it went for President Wilson by
a small vote in 1916. Senator Hollis
term expires. He is classed as one of
the most resourceful politicians in the
Senate. but the republicans are going
after his seat.
Senator Salisbury of Delaware will
have a fight on his hands The republi-
cans are planning to use to advantage
what appears to them to be certain
democratic dissensions in Delaware.
and will contest for the senatorship.
In Illinois Senator ]. Hamilton Lewis
will have strong opposition by the
The republicans have not
abandoned that state by any means.
and propose to make every effort to
regain the seat.
Senator Hughes of New Jersey, pop
ular as he is. is a sick man. and may
not he able to carry on a campaign for
reelection The republicans are gain
ing strength in New Jersey all the
time, and will put up strong man
against whoever the democrats select.
Kansas is regarded as normal re-
publican state. although 1t gave it's
electoral vote to President Wilson.
while choosing a republican governor.
senator Thompson's term expires and
the republicans are going after his
with vim,