Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-03-14
THE ARITHMETIC MEN.

Figures, they say, viii prove anything you
desire TO prove, and strong proof of the
truth of the assertion is afforded by the ar
duous labors Of The arithmetic men who are
now glccfully tarkling the Presidential prob
lem. Thcy triumphanly cleo (ou paper /"
Republican or Democratic President, &C
cOrding to the political creed Of tic cOurput
ers, and the reader can pay his No ncy and tax,
his choice. Some of the tables, however, are of
| considerable interest. y while ago the New
York Hcrdld published ouc showing on one
side a "sold Democratic SOUTH with 153
electoral votes, and % the other Il 'solid
| Republican NORTH with l54 votes Be
tween them stand the sis doubtful States Of
California, Indiana, Nevada, New Jersey,
New York aud Ohio with o. electoral votes
SO Of which, from Indiana and Ohio, may
to the Republicans and 20 to the Democrats
without giving either party 4 mai nifty. BE-
cause neither includes the 30 electoral votes
Of the State of New York
The New York World chsersn It's rcndcl!
with some figures goipg 70 show thu
the Democrats have every chance o.
success in the coming campaign. Il start.
out with the Southern column Of 1913 clecn
raj votes, and, adding 10 tAi7 n votes from
four Northern States which went Democratic
last ycar-New York, Ne, Jersey, Ohio qrC
Michigan--iGures out with neatuees anl
despatch Democratic ina. oii'y Of SO votes il
the Electoral College, But the dililuliY wild
this calculation ia thai the Democrats csr %
claim New York, aad without that Stat tn
81 votes above mentioned can not give
majority in the Electoral COLLEGE.
The World, however gives GONE figure
showing diminulon of Republican alrcpgl'
which deserve serious consideration. OF lh
fourteen States which haldr'fctions las year
seven were carried by the Republicans
Iowa, Massachusetts, Minnesota NCJmsh1
Pennsylvania, Rhode Island aud Connect
cut. But while the aggregate Rcpu1li
can majority in these States was last yea
only 73s47, in 1880 il was 245, 72l. In re
spect 10 this showing. however, it 5 t. b
remembered that the majority III 1880 wa
on the Presidential vote, which WAS ofcuurs
much heavier than The guhernatolial vote /
, au off year. Thus IN this State. for instanc
+ Garfeld's majority was 2G,03G, while Gov
> ernor Barstow's majority was only 10,S20
. but of course no one claims, and it would
the height Of absurdily to claim. that Il
=, Democrats had gained the difference betwCC
. the two majoriies. And in the sccon
:, place, the Democrats ought to have lcalnc
# by this time that it is one thing
r use the Democratic party as club wit
g which TO beat ideas into the heads of X
p publican leaders, and quite another thing
q accept Democracy as political creed
Il But after all, it is plainly necessary to 81
10 cess that the Republican party put its be
10 foot forward, in the coming campaign r.
-, Brooklyn Union well says;
There are enough who think ard act (
themselves in the North, and particularly
{ the pivotal State of New York, to hand I
government of the country over to the
5. mocracy ii the Republican, party allows
te self to be dominated, not 10y the intellistn
and moral sense which Chlrscterlzc the gr,
" body of It's membership, hui by the self,
AT ness ana greco Il an Olnct-hnlulrgNnd uln'
Il seeking minority, There is dispositi
Ic. among Republican members Of Congress
believe that the party can win this year
nc The aid OF Democratic discussions and I'll,
if d,rs. The fact is that It's only chance
ng success depends on the making Of uuusani
~, HE rominaiOus--un tue scGulOus avuidau
~ in fact, Of blundtrs by itself The elccli
ue of President and Vice President will be
Ar lowed to go by default il the nominate
al made at Chicago are clearly the result
- machine manipulation.