Newport daily independent., 1918-11-05

publicans-have declared they are confident of success in today's battle of ballots. Those of the lesser organ izations also are hopeless of gains.
 Being elected today, in the contest for the control of the next congress, are all 431 members of the House of Representatives from all states of the Union except Maine. Maine elected four representative last Sep tember. Also to be elected are 39 U. s. senators. Maine elected one sena- tor last September.
 The outcome generally is regarded as close Representative in the low CT body, delegates from the four ter ritories-Alaska, Hawaii, the Philip pines and Porto Rico-also are to be chosen, although they have no vote.
 How close is the contest for control of congress is apparent from the present lineup in the House and Sen ate. The membership of the House now is Democrats, 215; republi- cans, 209; progressives, 2; inde- pendents, 2; prohibitionists, 1; so- cialists, |; five seats vacant; To- tai 435.
 There are 52 democrats and A re- publicans now in the Senate.
 
 The principal democratic argument of the campaign had been that Presi- dent Wilson should have Congress of his own political faith to insure CO., operation. This the republican spokes- men have opposed with the argument that republicans in congress have Loyalty supported the administration measures needful for the war, and that republicans should be elected to deal with important after-the-war reconstruction problems.
 In today's balloting, particularly ine the southern states where demo- cratic nomination is equivalent to election, the elections really are for nal notifications of nominations al- ready made About 100 democratic and thirty republican candidates for the House and a dozen democratic candidates for the senate already are virtually elected. The latter include, Senators Bankhead of Alabama, Rob- inson of Arkansas, Ransdell of Louis iana, Simmons of North Calodina, Sheppard of Texas, Martin of Vlr- ginia. Also in the same. status are w. J. Harris, nominated to succeed Senator Hardwick of Georgia, Rep resentatiye Pat Harrison, nominated to succeed Senator Vardaman of Mis- sissippi, Edward J Gay of Louisiana, for the unexpired term of the late Senator Broussard, and N. 5. D1al and w. P. Pollock of South Carolina for the long and short terms respec- lively, for the seat held by the late Senator Tillman.
 All of these are without republican opponents except Senator Simmons.
 Virtually all the democratic candl- dates for the House in the southern states. and also a score of republl- can candidates in northern and west ern states, are without opposition, Contests in many other congressional and senatorial districts also were re- garded perfunctory, with nominal op- position being made.
 Chief interest in today's results IS centered in contests for house seats principally in Ohio, Indiana, Wlscon- sin. Nebraska, Kansas, California New Jersey, and a few districts in New York and New England, Massa- chusetts, Nevada, Montana and Wy oming.
 Democratic leaders have waged their campaign especially to make gains in the senate from Michigan, where Henry Ford, the millionaire is opposing Truman Il. former assistant secretary of the Navy, from New Hampshire, where Senator Hollis, democrat, IS retiring and where successor to the late Senator Gallinger, republican senate leader, also is to be elected; from Rhode Island, where Senator Colt, republican, is opposed by Rep resentative O'Shanessey; from Ne braska, where Senator Norris, repub- lican, is opposed by former Governor Morehead, and from Idaho. where Senator Borah, republican, is being opposed by Frank L. Moore, demo crat, and former Governor Goodlng fighting for the short term seat now held by Senator Nu- gent, democrat. The democrats also