Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-04-28

Washington. D, c., April 26.-Re.
Gently a special election was held IN
New York state, and while 1t was only
to fill the unexpired term Of a single
congressman, it was watched all over
the country with the greatest interest.
It is taken by some to be the first
straw to show how political winds may
blow in November.
In this district, for some years rep
resented by Alanson B. Houghton, the
republican vote is normally large. In
the special election Lewis Henry, a re-
publican, won, but by a greatly re-
duced majority.
The recent primary elections in II.
linois are taken as being Of great in.
terest as indications of the feeling on
questions before the country. These
were held at the same time, with the
result that there were two upsets in
sitting congressmen-Ira 9. Copeley
and Clifford ireland. However, the
New York election is taken as better
material for judging feeling in the
country, as republican votes beat Mr..
Copley and Mr.. Ireland. Issues con-
fined to their districts entered most
largely into the fight, although some
significance is seen in the fact that
both were defeated by "wets." as both
Mr.. Copley and Mr.. Ireland have voted
dry" consistently.
Around the capitol, republican poll
ticians who do not try to deceive them
selves know that there is dissatisfac-
ton with congress throughout the
country. The delay in the passage of
the tariff bill is one of the great causes
of this feeling. And because the aver
age citizen does not pause to ~analyze
what is causing the delay, he groups
his grievance under a general crouch
against congress. as O whole.
This displeasure Is being felt by
house members who will come UP for
e -election this autumn. The business
men want the tariff a settled thing.
They feel that the uncertainty as to
exact provisions the law will contain
when 1t Is finally approved by the pres
ident Is adversely affecting business.
1t cannot properly settle down to pull
ing out OF its present situation until
this is done. The house passed the
bill along to the senate months and
months ago. 1t is in the senate fl
nance committee that the delay is be-
ing experienced. Yet the house mem.
bers are feeling the wrath of con
stltuents on this n other accounts.
Election for Short Term
The election in the New York dis
trict was held because Mr.. Houghton
resigned to become American ambas-
sador to Germany. His vote in 1890
amounted to $4,000, in round numbers,
his democratic opponent received in
the neighborhood of 10000 votes. In
the special election the democrat,
Frank Irvine, received about 1900
votes, the successful republican about
10000 votes.
AS the election had the wet and dry
issue in it, u great deal of Importance
has been attached to the TREMENDOUSLY
reduced majority in this normally
strong republican district. The dry
element has been worried by il, and the
vets perhaps more jubilaut than the
showing would justify.
The situation is compared with the
mistaken idea the country received in
1904. Then Theodore Roosevelt won
by a popular majority of 2,544,334 vetes
over Judge Alton B. Parker. This was
hailed at the time as a trem endous
tribute to the personal popularity en-.
Joyed by the late President Roosevelt.
however, on that occasion wise poll
,iclans analyzed the vote in COMPARE
son with the presidential vote four
years before, and discovered some
StNALAAu6 ldElS. WllIldm MIC
hlnley, running for the second time
in 1900, received a popular vote of
1,2l9,53O, while William j. Bryan. the
democrat, polled 6,358,O71 votes. Mr..
MckInley's popular majority, there
fore, was less than 1000, 900 votes.
However. when MI. Roosevelt was
elected, Judge Parker polled but s.
OS4,491 votes-roughly 1000. 900 less
votes than Mr.. Bryan received four
years before. The total republican and
democratic vote in 1900 was 1851
6O1. -Four years later, despite the fact
that hundreds of thousands of voters
had come to legal age in the interven-
ing years, the combined popular vote
OF Roosevelt and Parker was 70
1885. roughly $4,000 less than the
vote in 1900.
game for decades give their opinions
weight, point to this as meaning that
in 1904 democrats had reached a state
Of disgust, and while they would not
become turncoats and vote for repub-
lean candidates, they refused to vote
at all. The figures would appear to
bear them out in this argument.
The special election In the old
Houghton district in New York state
Is taken by these old timers to mean
that the republican voters may sulk in
their tents, and that large numbers of
them will refuse to vote at all. In the
special election for congress, only 40
per cent of the normal republican
voting strength could be gotten out to
the polls. However, there was some
falling off in the democratic strength
1900 against about 10000 two
years ago. However, 1900 is So per