Evening star., 1918-11-03
Shortest and Bitterest Clash
of Great Parties Ends
Tomorrow.
PRON0UNCEMENTS GIVE
VOTERS A DIZZY WEEK
Situation in Debatable Congress
sional Districts Arouses
Great Interest.
BY N. O. MESSENGER,

BY N. o. MESSENGER.
! Tomorrow night will bring to a close
political campaign unique in the his
tory OF this country as being the short
est campaign ever waged. and at the
same time one Of the bitterest in point
of partisan intensity aroused. Fewer
any previous contest, yet 1t would be
difficult to recall one in which greater
volume of vitriolic statement emanat-
ing from prominent personages has been
circulated through the public press.
The ''open season" for politics COM
menced after the close Of the liberty
bond campaign two weeks ago, having
been deferred by mutual agreement
during the progress Of that patriotic
endeavor. The whitehead stage of
politics, however, began with the Presi-
dents appeal to the voters for a demo-
cratic Congress, issued week ago last
Friday.
President Created Sensation.
While it had been expected that the
President would take a hand in the
political game by appealing for support
of certain individuals and probably. in
Weighing personally against others,
profound political sensation was occa-
stoned by the course he pursued of
making the republicans charged.
broadside Indictment Of republicans
line of patriotic demarkation between
them and democrats
Then the trouble started Such men
as Taft, Hughes and Roosevelt voiced
quick and hot resentment of the in
ference they drew from the Presi-
by the campaign managers of high
and lesser degree, with expressions
of like tenor from republican leaders
in Congress.
"Topliners" Reply.
Immediately the "tcpliners" in the
democratic party came back with re-
with elaboration of his arguments,
trimmed out with all the adornments
of political animadversion~ they could
bring to mind at the moment. Mem
Daniels, Lane, Wilson. Redfeld. Hous-
ton and Postma ster General Burleson,
Vice President Marshall, the campaign
managers, former Ambassador Gerard
anu OluCld1S VI TALK Ill Inc du.
ministration, together with big men
on Capitol Hill, came out with state
ments or in speeches backing up the
Presidents appeal.
An interesting feature of the out
come Of the Presidents appeal was
the signing of a joint protest against
his action by Theodore Roosevelt and
w liam H. Taft. factional opponents
within the republican party for years.
This was taken to be conclusive
M
an augury of harmony between the
progressives and regulars in the re-
publican ranks-at least for this oc-
caSion.
Dizzy Week for Voters.
It was a dizzy week. no doubt, for
the average voter without hard
get his political bonnet on straight
beforeA sallying forth to the polls next
Tuesday, if re sought to assimilate
all the charges and counter charges,
allegations and refutations which the
By this time the campaign is
made" the "eyes are set" and people
probably can stop and catch their
breath in the whirlwind which has
freely rumored in political circles
yesterday, another and an eleventh.
hour statement may como from an
exalted source.
Tuesdays elections are Of national
and countrywide scope. Thirty-nine
United States Senators and 431 mem
berS of the House of Representatives
will be chosen, Maine having in last
September elected one senator and
four representatives without chang
ing the political complexion Of the
delegation in Congress.
Present Party Divisions.
The present division Of the parties
in the Senate is, democrats, So; re-
publicans, "A; necessary to control,
40. In the House. democrats, 215;
republicans. 209; Independents. II;
necessary to a majority. 21s. In the
country are strict party fights be-
tween the democrats and republicans.
although in some congressional dis
tricts the republicans and democrats
have effected fusion on candidates to
oppose the socialists.
Governors will be elected in thirty
one states. some OF which will also
choose full or partial state tickets
and legislatures. Prohioition viii
and two states will vote on woman
suffrage.
The states which will choose gov
ernors are Alabama, Arizona. Ar
necticut, Georgia. Idaho. Iowa. kan
sas. Massachusetts, Michigan. Mime
sofa, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico,
New York. North Dakota. Ohio.
Oklahoma, Oregon. Rhode Island,
South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas.
Vermont, Wisconsin. Wyoming, Penn
sylvania, Tennessee and New Hamp-
shire.
Minor Elections.
Minor state officials will be elected
in Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Ken
lucky, Louisiana, Missouri. Montana,
North Carolina, Utah and Washing
ton.
The states in which the prohibition
question is to come up at the polls.
in various forms and suggestions,
are California, Colorado. Ohio, WASH
ington, Utah and Wyoming. Okla
bona and South Dakota will vote on
woman suffrage.
The campaign for the governership
in New York attracts this year the
usual attention which affairs political
in the Empire state command. Tho
republican incumbent, Gov. Whitman,
is running for q third term, and 10
being opposed by q candidate selected
by Tammany, Alfred E. Smith Of New
York city, one Of tho most popular
democrats in the whole state.
Eav o-ht1A thApa aM~ <yn-