Evening star., 1938-07-18
CO. P. Encouraged by Reports
On Congressional Campaigns
attempt Is Being Made to Win Back
Those Districts Lost in 1886
by Scant Margins.
Ry WILL p. KENNEDY.

encouraging reports from many
States for Republican success in the
November congressional elections have
reached headquarters here and in New
York
AS fast as State nominating pri-
maries are held the Republican Con-
gressional Committee swings into ac-
ton under leadership of Representa-
tive Joseph w. Martin of Massachu-
sets. The State and county forces
are already receiving cooperation
from Mr.. Martins committee in the
l3 States where the primaries have
already been held-Illinois, South
Dakota, Alabama, Indiana, Florida.
Pennsylvania, Oregon, North Carolina,
Iowa. Maine, Minnesota, North Da-
kota and Oklahoma. In all Of these
except Maine and Minnesota there are
also senatorial campaigns, and in all
but illinois, Indiana. Florida and
North Carolina there are also guber-
material campaigns.
The congressional campaign organ
ization will be extended into two other
States this week. Montana after the
primaries tomorrow, with no sena-
torial or governorship contest, and
Texas, after the primaries Saturday,
where Governor is also to be elected.
Drive Especially Strong.
The Republican congressional drive
is especially strong this year, not only
to win back very substantial number
of seats (perhaps between Is and 1000,
but to indicate q dissatisfaction and
swing of sentiment against the New
Deal that may discourage the Presi-
dent from seeking third term.
Fourteen more State primaries are
to be held in August-Kansas, Mis-
souri,, Virginia, West Virginia, Ten
nessee, Kentucky, Arkansas, Idaho,
Nebraska Ohio. wyoming, Mississippi.
California and South Carolina.
Pennsylvania and Ohio promise to
be special storm centers-in the for
mer promises have been made to head
quarters that the Republicans will pick
up II to 20 seats. The Democrats
now have 26 and the Republicans
Z. In Ohio gain of to 10
seats Is promised, where the Demo-
Gratis have 81 and the Republicans
2. Reports from Minnesota are
very encouraging. A pickup of
couple Of seats in Iowa is indicated
and in California three, in Indiana
three, Rhode Island at least one and
Connecticut three, in Washington one
or two and in Oregon one. The party
strategists are extremely reluctant to
say where they expect to make their
gains or their most persistent drives
Generally speaking an attempt will
be made to win back three districts
lost in 1896 by scsnt margins.
Some ChronicalIy G. o. p.
As an illustration of how some of
these districts are chronically Re-
publican, take the first Ohio district
with Representative Joseph A. Dixon
the Democratic incumbent. 1t is
claimed that he is the first Democrat
from this district in 81 years, which
is not true because Representative
Stanley E. Bowdle served in the SD
Congress. which was the only break
in the tenure Of the late Nicholas
Longworth. Before that brief vaca-
ton Longworth had served 10 years
and afterWard served 16 years until
his death. He was succeeded by Rep
resentative John B. Hollister, who
served from November 3, 1881, until
defeated for the 18th Congress by Mr..
Dixon. But to go back more than
100 years, to the oath Congress, a great
uncle OF Longworth, Bellamy Storer,
was elected as a Whig in 1884. His
son. Bellamy Storer, served as q Re-
publican in the SD and SD Con-
crosses. He was succeeded in Congress
for one term by Charles P. Taft,
brother Of the late President and
Chief Justice. Then came Represen-
tative William B. Shattuc for three
terms, followed by Longworth.
AS an example of the swing back
to the Republican column, there is the
18th New York district, where the
late Representative Theodore A. Pey-
ser served three terms, until his death.
This district was held by q Democrat,
Michael F. Conry, in the 6lst and
three succeeding Congresses until his
death. He was succeeded for two
terms by another Democrat, Thomas
F. Smith. Then 1t was captured by
Ogden Mills for the Republicans, who
served three terms. Then came Rep
resentative William w. Cohen, Demo-
crat, followed by Mrs Ruth B. Pratt,
for two terms, and in the
1882 elections Peyser was successful.
Representative Bruce Barton, Repub-
lican, was elected a year ago.
80 Most Vulnerable.
The 38 districts which on q strictly
basis would seem to be
the first objective of the Republican
drive this fall are, in the following
order according to vulnerability, mar
gins of victory in the last election
running from 02 per cent to per
cent:
Twelfth New Jersey, incumbent,
Representative Frank w. Towey. jr.,
Democrat, won by or per cent from
Representative Frederick N. Lehlbach,
who served % years consecutively and
was chairman of the Civil Service
Committee.
Seventh Ohio. Representative Ar
thur w. Aleshire, Democrat, won by
o.4 per cent, previously held for Repub-
licans by Simeon d. Fess, chairman
Of the Republican Congressional Com
Charles Brand and L. r.
Marshall.
Fifteenth Illinois, Representative
Lewis L. Boyer. Democrat, won by
0.5 per cent, previously held by Edward
J. King, Burnet M. Chiperfield. Re-
publicans. but captured in 1882 and
1884 by j. Leroy Adair, Democrat.
Seventh Iowa, Representative Otha
D. Wearin, Democrat, won by 0.6 per
cent a new district including part of
the former Cassius H. Dowell, Repub-
lican, district.