Evening star., 1938-03-13
c. 0.P. ORGANIZES
FOR FALL BATTLE
Confident of Gaining so to
100 Seats in House in
November.
By WILL p. KENNEDY.


Confident of gaining from so to 100
House seats. Republican leaders are
organizing for determined battle in
the November congressional elections
to whittle down the Democratic ma
jority in Congress as a prelude to the
1910 presidential campaign.
The G. o. P. national management
Is cooperating closely with its Con-
gressional Campaign Committee. real
izing the importance Of making a good
showing in the forthcoming elections
in order to hearten opposition to the
New Deal and build foundation for
efforts to unseat the present admin
istration two years hence.
The united party effort will be DEM
onstrated when the opening rally is
held in Newark. N. j.. on March %,
with Republican National Com
mittee Chairman John D. M. Hamil-
ton. Senatorial Campaign Manager
Townsend and Congressional Cam
paign Manager Joseph w. Martin as
the principal speakers.
Map Campaign Strategy.
Campaign strategy was outlined yes
terday by Representative Martin, who
was Mr.. Hamilton's first lieutenant in
the Landon presidential campaign and
now is serving his seventh consecutive
term in the House as Representative
from Massa chusetts.
The congressional campaign will be
directed nationally from Washington
this fall, instead of from headquarters
in New York. as heretofore.
Chairman Martin said he expects
most striking gains to be made in
Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois. New Jer-
sey and other large States. Conditions
have picked up on the West Coast.
and we now look for appreciable gains
there" he added.
He is particularly heartened. Chair
man Martin said, by surveys showing
general feeling. even among Demo-
Gratis and Independents. that a better
balance between party strength in
Congress would make for more healthy
conditions of Government.
Careful surveys made all over the
country show that on a reasonable,
conservative estimate we are reason
ably sure of gaining 60 to 70 House
seats" he said. If the depression
continues, and the reaction against
the reform policies of the present ad-
ministration increases. we should do
much better" Some members of his
committee predicted a Republican
gain of at least 100 seats.
Shift of 1873 Required.
The present House lineup is 333
Democrats ian unprecedented number
for any party, 80 Republicans, S
Farmer-Laborites and Progressives.
AS between Democrats and Repub-
licans, it would require shift of 1913
from the Democratic column to the
Republican column to give the Repub-
licans control of the House.
The Republican campaign studies
show this control could be won with
shift of only 10 per cent of the
votes in 137 of the 435 congressional
districts. There are approximately
so districts in which S per cent
change will give the Republicans VIC
tory and something like 35 districts
"AACAe oll.y q Pel Selt CiAduSc ID
necessary.
Although the Republican leaders
will not admit any fear that President
Roosevelt will seek third term, they
hope to gain at least enough strength
in this years elections definitely to
discourage any possible third-term as
pirations.
Under Mr. Martins leadership, the
Republican Congressional Committee
has been busy for months developing
a strong party organization. The en-
tire country has been canvassed Ral-
lies have been held in various parts
OF the country.
At monthly dinners, members of the
congressional committee have heard
representatives of different States
outline the local political situations in
their regions. This study enables the
leaders to concentrate their efforts on
improving Republican prospects in
"close" districts.