Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-03-12
DEMOCRATS SURE
THEY'LLHOLDOWN
IN NEXT ELECTION
Republican SpeIbinderS Can't
Hope to Win With Minority
CriticiSing Administrations
Handling of Wars Affairs

Especial Dispatch to The Journal)
WASHINGTON, March 9.-Although
the house members of the G. o. P. are
Dragging nightly about their winning
out in this summers elections and
wrestling control from the Democrats,
it is very much the case of the boy
whistling to keep up his own courage.
AS matter of fact, they were never
in for a better licking in all their lives
than they are now. from old Uncle
Joe" Cannon on all the way down the
line.
Every day or two the G. o. P. SPELL
binders. renewed with fresh hope of
what there might be in spoils for the
faithful, should they get control of the
house again, issue their bulletins
through such papers as will print them
and through their various agencies in
Washington. Democrats, to read these
ready-made party obituaries, would be-
lieve that it was all over but the toll
ing of the bells. They would go fur
Their and even picture their own de-
mise, except for one thing-what they
hear is not true, and Woodrow Wilson
is the big stumbling block who will
as certain as the day is long keep the
Democrats right where they are
Only Few Oppose Wilson
The reasons which will prevent Re-
publican control of the next, the sixty,
sixth congress, are not difficult to
grasp. With the United States at war,
there are but a handful of men in con-
gress who have the temerity to oppose
the administrators plans. There are
the LaFollettes, and few mora
dozen or less in all, of that stripe, but
they are in SO small minority that
they count for nothing in the final cal
culation. Leaving them aside, the rank
and file of congress dares not oppose
the administrations war plan for the
very good reason that while none of us
wanted war, we are in it now and the
best way of ending it is to fight until
victory is won.
Republicans who used to be loud
mouthed and savage in their attacks
on the Democrats and everything of
Democratic kind before the war began,
and who would haggle over the small
est point which would cause an issue
to be made, are now going their way,
meek as tie proverbial lamb, and vot-
ing with the good Democrats on al
most every proposition which comes
UP.
The days of the 'filibuster' have de-
parted; party alItagonism has taken its
flight and now, the dove of peace flut-
ters through the big house chamber
as an everyday affair.
The scraps in the days when DEM
ocratic and Republican members would
oppose each other, when there were
'lookouts" kept constantly on guard on
each side to see that no advantage
was taken of an important situation,
and everything of the kind, has for
the present gone. There is little spir-
it in the present legislation.
Where, therefore, are the Republic
of the house to get their material when
they take the stump this summer? They
cannot, except in isolated cases, pro-
claim that they are opposed to the war;
that idea has long been vanished; they
can not say that the Democrats have
a bad record for they, the Republic
ans themselves, have loyalty. in almost
every case, supported the administra-
TONS plan.
The Republican member who voted
against our present war plans as rec
commended by the president cannot come
back to congress, while, on the other
hand. he cannot make capital out of his
Democratic opponents, because he has
acted just as they did.
Therefore, so far as issues are con-
cerned, it will be seen that there will
be none this year. certainly of a ma
tional kind. There may be, in a few
cases, certain local influences which
may change a Democrat for a Republic
an, but they will be less than the
bakers Dozen"
This is not the year for the Repub-
licans to win the house, no matter how
much wind-jamming may be done N
the effort. President Wilson has rec
commended from time to time such war
plans as have brought out the support
of not only Democrats, but the big
part of the Republican forces, making.
while doing So a position which will
permit the Democrats to hold the house
and which will cause the Republicans
to fight a losing cause
The Democratic majority in the next
congress will, from present indica-
lions, be about what it is now, between
25 and so. This is the way the mat
ter looks at Washington, in spite of
all the big bluffing and talk from the
G. o. P. camps. 1t is Woodrow Wilson
who has put the crimps into the Re-
publican machinery.