The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-11-05
CONGRESSIONAL
CONTROL TO BE
DECIDED TODAY
Millions of Votes Will Retain
Democrats in Power or Re-
store G.. o. p.
BOTH SIDES CONFIDENT
Ohio, Indiana, Nebraska, Mon
tana, Nevada and Wyoming
Among Pivotal States.

Americans today are caStiES their bal,
lots in elections which will decide
whether the Democratic party is to-
, retain control of congress; in many
states they are elerting governors and
in practically all states electing local
officers.
Todays election, the first since the
United States went into the war,
comes as the climax Of a campaign
which has been attended by many pn-
usual elements. The allied successes
in France, the German peace offensive,
the Fourth Liberty Loan campaign and
the Influenza epidemic all have dirid-
ed the attention of the public at the
same time.
Leaders Of democrats and repuhli-
cans--have declared they are confident
of success in today's battle of ballots.
! Those of the lesser organizations also
are hopeful Of gains.
! Being elected today. in the contest
for control of the next congress. are
all 431 members OF the house of rep
reSentativeS from al states Of the
union except Maine. Maine elected
four representatives, last September.
Also to be elected are SO United Statcc
senator's. Maine elected one senator
last spring.
The outcome generally is regarded
as close Representatives in the lower
body, degcsates from the four terri
A.; torics-AlaSka, Hawaii, the Philippines
and Porto RicO-ll&sO arc to he chosen,
, although they have no votes.
| How close is the contest for control
of congress is apparent from the pre-
sent lineup in the house and senate.
| The membership of the house now is:
Democrats. 215: republicans. 209 !;
progressives. .; independents, =; pro-
! hibitiOniSts, I: socialists. |; five seats
~vacunt@=tDtay :';4j.
There are 50 democrats and II W-
publicans now in the senate.
The principal democratic argument
Of the campaign had been that PreSi-
! dent Wilson should be congress Of
, his own political faith to insure CO.
operation. This the republican spokcs.
men have opposed with the argument
that republicans in congress have 10y
ally. supported administration meas
ures nee(lful for the war, and that re-
publicans, should be elected to deal
with important aftcr-thc-war recon
struction problems.
In todays balloting. particularly in
! The southern states where democratic
nomination is equivalent to election.
! the elections really are formal retifi-
cations of nominations already made.
About 100 democratic and 80 repub-
ican candidates for the house and Il
dozen democratic candidates for the
senate already are virtually elected.
The latter include. Senators Bankhead
| Of Alabama, Robinson Of Arkansas,
! Ransdell of Louisiana. Simmons OF
North Carolina, Sheppard OF. Texas.
and Martin Of Virginia. Also in the
same status are w. j. Harris. nonlihat-
ed to succeed Senator Hardwick; Of
Georgia. representative. Pat Harrison,
nominated to succeed Senator Varda-
man Of Mississippi. Edward j. Gay of
Louisiana, for the uneXpired term of
the late Senator Broussard, and n. i.
Dial and w. =. Pollock of South Caro-
! lima, for the long and short terms re-
spectively for the seat held by the late
Senator Tillman.
All Of theese are without republican
opponents except Senator Simmons.
Virtually all the democratic candi-
dates for the house in the southern
states, and also score Of republican
candidates in northern and western
states, are without opposition. Con-
tests in many other congressional and
senatorial districts also are regarded
perfunctory, with nominal opposition
being made.
Chief interest in today'S results is
centered in contests for house seats
| >,11 :, II,
sin, Nebraska. Kansas. California. New
Jersey, and a few districts in New
York and New England MaSSachu
t,etts. Nevada. Montana and Wyoming.
Democratic leaders have waged their
campaign especially to make gains i'll
the senate from Michigan, where
Henry Ford the millionaire manufac-
turer, is opposing Truman II. Newber-
ry former assistant secretary Of the
navy, from New Hampshire, where
| Senator Hollis, democrat. is retiring
| and where successor to the late Sen
ator Gallinger, republican senate lead
er, also is to be elected: from Rhode
| Island where Senator Colt. republican,
| is opposed by Representative O'Shau-
messy; from Nebraska. where Senator
| Norris. republican, is opposed by for
| Idaho, where Senator Gooding, repub-
lican, fighting for the short term seat
! now held by Senator Nugent. demo-
crat. The democrats also are hopeful
of gains in New Jersey. New Mexico,
| Wyoming. South Dakota, West Nir-
ginia and possibly in other seats.
Republican hopes for regaining con-
troll of the senate largely are pinned
to Illinois. where Senator Lewis is Op-
posed by Representative Medill Nc
Cormick. Kansas, where Governor
| Arthur Capper the republican nominee
is opposing Senator Thompson, dem
! Ocratic Delaware, where Senator
Salisbury, democrat and president pro
tempore of the senate. is opposed by
former Senator ball, republican: Ida
no. where the republicans, hope to de-
feat Senator Nnseht;;. Nevada, where
Representative Roberts, republican,
and Ammo, Afprti1, tha National Wo-