New-York tribune., 1918-10-20
Expect a Close
Fight for Control
OF Next Congress
Republicans and Demo-
Gratis See Exciting Finish
to Approaching Election

WASHINGTON, Oct. 19.-The great
biennial "drive" in American politics
the Congressional elections-is now
impending.
September marked the close of state
primary elections and nominating con-
ventions, leaving their train of "lame
ducks" and other political cripples.
Leaders of all parties now are mar
shalling their forces for the campaign
which precedes Election Day in Novem-
Der.
The lines of battle already are
fairly we'll defined. Upon the results
of the. balloting depends political con-
troll of the Sixty-sixth Congress,
which convenes in December, 1919, un-
less sooner summoned by President
Wilson. Dependent upon the returns
are the fates of aspirants for nearly
twoscore seats in the Senate and 435
in the House.
Like the Presidential election Of
1916, when CaIl1orna's votes, after
weeks wnt, determined finally the
nations President, the Congressional
result, according to private statements
OF prominent Republicans and Demo-
Gratis in Washington, is. expected to
be close. The Democrats now have
tifty-two Senators against forty-four
Republicans, while in the House the
respective strength is 216 and 209.
Seats of all of the latter are involved
in the present campaign, while twenty
one Democratic and fifteen Republican
Senate seats are at stake.
Election Over in Several States
For all practical purposes the cleo
tion is over in number of states--in
the "solid South" where nomination
on the Democratic ticket is equivalent
to election. Primaries and conven-
tions in these states, however, al
though changing present personnel in
Senate and House from several states,
have not affected the final result. For
some Republicans, without opposition,
the primaries also have meant certain
election in November; these also do
not change present line-ups in Con-
gress, incumbents being named for re-
election.
Already. however, the primaries
have resulted in defeat Of many pres
ent members of Congress. Among
them are Senators Vardaman, of Miss
issippi, and Hardwick, of Georgia,
Democrats. who were opposed by Pres
ident Wilson, and the following Rep
resentatives: McLemore, Slayden and
Garrett, of Texas; Shackleford and
Borland, Of Missouri: Woods, of Iowa,
and others
Missing from their present places
also will be found others who are not
seeking reelection, or House mem
bers who have foregone denomination
to seek election in the Senate. Among
them arc Senators Smith. of Michigan,
Republicans; Hollis. of New Hampshire,
Democrat; and representatives Nc
Cormick and Foss, of Illinois, Republi-
cans; Howard, of Georgia, Democrat;
Church. Of California, Democrat, and
Caleb Powers, of Kentucky, RcptNi-
Coalition Against Socialists
On the other hand, most of the rep
resnntativcs from the Southern Demo-
cratic states have been assured of re-
election to the Sixtvsixth Congress by
virtue of their primary nomination.
In this election for the first time
women are seeking seats in the Sem
ate. Representative Jeannette Rankin
Of Montana is seeking election from
her state, while Annie Martin of the
Woman's Party is Senatorial candi-
date in Nevada New York also has
woman candidate for Congress.
Socialist, Prohibition and other par
ties also have their candidates in the
present campaign. Coalition of Demo-
cratic and Republican forces against
the Socialists has occurred in some
localities, but the campaign now is
being conducted largely between the
Two leading, parties in an effort to Sc
cure unqucstioned control Of the Sem
of any "balance OF power" from the
minor organization.