The Washington herald., 1918-10-20
DEMOCRACY is
READY TO WAR
Fight for Control of Con-
gress Begins To-
morrow.


in the nation has elapsed. With the
completion OF the Fourth Liberty
Doan the political struggle for the
control Of Congress will begin in
earnest tomorrow.
The national campaign will be the
shortest in the history OF American
politics. Only two weeks Of actual
campaigning remains before election
day. when the entire membership OF
the House OF Representatives and
thirty-seven United States Senators
are to be chosen.
While the actual political battle
field will thus cover the entire coun-
try chief interest centers in the Sen
atorial contests which will be waged
in half a dozen or more States. con-
ceded by both parties TO constitute
doubtful territory.
To Be Unique Campaign
The campaign will also be unique.
in respect to the compulsory curtail-
ment OF public campaign oratory. The
prevailing influenza epidemic has Sc
riously hampered the speaking ar
rangements Of both of the big parties
and in some sections OF the country
Will necessitate the abandoning Of all
public meetings.
The Democrats enter upon the con-
test with the admitted advantage Of
being in power in both the execu-
tive and legislative branches Of the
government. They at present have
a majority Of four in the House Of
Representatives and Of eight in the
Emitted States Senate.
Congregational Control Issue.
To retain this control Of Congress,
and possibly strengthen it is the aim
Of the Democrats. The Republicans
seek 10 obtain party domination of
both branches OF Congress.
In the House the actual party
strength is divided as follows:
Democrats, ia, Republicans. 2lO: In
dependents. = There are ffty-two
Democratic Senators and forty-four
Republican.
OF 'this number. thirty Democrats
and tWenty-nine Republican Senators
continue in office over the present
election. OF the thirty-seven Senate
vacancies to be filed. twelve are re-
Sarded as certain for the Democrats,
and three for the Republicans At the
outset of the campaign the relative
strength of the two parties in the
Senate is fOrty-two Democratic votes
and thirty-twO Republican votes. con-
sidered as beyond dispute.
This leaves . vacancies. over which
the contest will be confined. OF this
number the Democrats concedr the
Republicans may fill eight which will
bring their total admitted vote in the
next Senate to forty They claim as
Democratic certainties. Colorado,
Kentucky. Mississippi. Montana and
Nevada. which will increase the
Democratic Vote 10 at least forty
seven.
Leaders Are Is.rr.
Homer : Cummings. or. ConnectI-
cut. vice chairman of the Democratic
National COMMITTEE has come to
Washington 10 assume active com
wand Of the Democratic National
Committee part in the Congressional
campaign. He temporarily takes the
place OF Vance Mccormick. who l.
tevOting his entire time to the War
Trade Board.
WHI Il. Hays. chairman Of the
Republican National Committee, who
tas established general Headquarters
in New York city. will spend most
OF Jht time in Washington. in CO.
ore"s'tiOn with the heads of the Re
Fublic'u Congress innsI campaign
commit r-S of the House and Senate.
Air Cummings Yesterday sounded
-C7ll to members OF the Pre- ident's
party to rally TO the support of the
I'eTOc-a'i, Congress iOn4I nominees
i'm whole hearted SUPP rt of the war
administration chairman HAYS and
his TCCia Is Of the Republican Con-
GreSSiCT"l committees have reserved
their ammunition for Monday.
Illinois Fight Bitter.
Interest is focused upon the con-
tests for reelection being made by
Senator James Hamilton Lewis. or
lirrOis. the Democratic parliamentary
hip. and Senator John w Weeks
Of Massa ChUsetts. the Republican
whip. Senator Lewis is opposed by
NedHl Mccormick Congressman at
large. and 10th former Presidents
Taft and Roosevelt have agreed to go
to Illinois to help him
Senator Weeks is opposed by former
Gov. Walsh. Of Massachusetts. and an
old-fashioned campaign will be car
ried on by both parties in the Bay
State. i'm so far as the influenza cpl
demic will permit
The indications point to an exceed
ingly bitter contest in Michigan by
reason Of the pending Federal in
vestigation. Ford's supporters have
announced their intention Of carrying
the fight to the floor OF the Senate.
should Newberry succeed at the polls.