Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-11-01
The Contest for Congress.

The Contest for Congress.
The election TO be held on Tuesday
November 5, will involve the choice q
80 members of the United States Scnat'
and an entirely new membership of tn,
House of Representatives, save only il
the few Congress districts where election:
have already been held This is a mos
important element Of tho campaign, anc
naturally, the national committees o
both the leading political parties ar
greatly concerned over the result. The
Democrats hope TO retain their control oi
the Senate and secure working majority
in the House. The Republicans hope tc
make both branches Of Congress re.
liablv Republican.
The present Senate was composed at
the outset Of % Democrats and A. Re
pubhcans. although at present there are
several vacancies. by reason Of death
Filling the vacancies and choosing sue
cessors TO those whose terms expire on
March s, 1919. involves the election of
80 members
The States where Senators will be
elected arc. Alahama, Arkansas, Col
orado, Delaware. Georgia. Idaho. Illinois,
Iowa, Kansas. Kentucky, Louisiana,
Massachusetts. Michigan, Minnesota
Mississippi, Montana. Nebraska New
Hampshire, New Jersey New Mexico,
North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon !,
Rhode Island. South Carolina. South
Dakota, Tennessee, Texas. Virginia. West
Virginia, Wisconsin and " yoming. Those
that will also fill vacancies in the present
senate are Idaho, Louisiana, Massachu-
Setts. New Hampshire, New Jersey,
Oregon snd South Carolina
The United States Senate is composed
of % members, and 40 members consti-
tute working majority In order TO
secure this number Of senators in the
next Congress. the Democrats will have TO
elect 10; the Republicans neeo 20
Estimating on the basis Of the voting
At the 1916 election, the Democrats
seem certain to elect Senators in the
following states Alabama, Arkansas,
Colorado, Georgia. kentucky, Louisiana.
Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New
Mexico. North Carolina Oklahoma, South
Carolina Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and
Wyoming Il If a!i these States elect
Democratic Senators, the Democrats
viii have 30 members Of the next Senate,
: good working majority
BY the same rule. the results OF the
1916 election, the Republicans stand to
elect senators in these States: Idaho,
Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan,
Minnesota. New Hampshire, New Jer-
sev. Oregon, Rhode Island South Dakota,
West Virginia and Wisconsin 13. This
j. seven less than the number required to
insure a working majority,
The one doubtful State is Delaware.
II has hitherto been Republican, but
campaign conditions tins year are very
favorable to Democratic victory.
Ii will thus be seen that Republican
prospects for securing control Of the
Inited states Senate Of the Sixty-sixth
Congress are not promising. The Re
p}ibhcans would have 10 make inroads
into the Democratic States IN order to
win. and this year carries no encourage
ment for such a result.
The present House Of Representatives
consists Of 2l1 Democrats, 212 RepubL
cans, , Progressives, , Independents,
Prohibtionist and Socialist, with g
vacancies Neither OF the leading parties
therefore, is in control, although the
Democrats organized the body, with the
aid Of the Progresslyes, independents
and the lone Prohibition member
On the face Of the situation the Re
publicans seem to have tie better pros
pect Of electing a majority Of the next
House, as they will have 10 elect
only SIX members, IN addition to their
present membership Of 212, to give them
the 2l8 votes necessary 10 a majority.
The Democrats will have TO gain seven
members 10 secure control.
Democratic leaders, however, are hope
ful Of gaining a number Of seats now held
by Republicans, in addition to holding
all their present seats. The situation is
more encouraging to the Democratic than
10 the Republican par Y in this year 5
caUpaign. The war makes a great diff
ference 1t is believed by many cffizens
that verdict at the election adverse to
the Wilson administration would he hail
ed with delight by friends Of Germany
as a repudiation Of the President war
policies. This fact, together with the
splendid accomplishments Of the adj
and the extraordinary ability
displayed by President Wilson in hand
ling al the difficult issues arising from the
war. viii incline thousands and thousands
Of independent citizens to cast their votes
for Democratic candidates for Senator and
at the election next week.
The Sixty-sixth Congress, therefore, is
likely to be safely Democratic in both
branches - result Of the election.