Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-22
VOTERS STIRRED UP
TOURS OF MAYOR TOM JOHNSON
AND SENATOR HANNA.
Politicians of Prominence Unwilling
to Make a Prediction as to the Out
come on Election Day.
Correspondence Of The Evening Star.

oeiAS a ~ colucutAd3 ycdN, WIN lo 6OSSAhos
to elect, with no legislative candidates on
the ticket. and with the interest In candi-
dates purely local. 1t is always expected
that the vote will be light and the cam
paign is supposed to be very much of the
milk-warm variety. But this is an excep-
tional "off year. in Ohio. and the cam
paign, short though 1t has been. Is raging
fast and furious. and promises to wind up
in blaze Of glory that Will make presi-
dental year look dull. A campaign with
many unique features Is drawing to a close
with members of both parties in some doubt
as to the outcome and with the voters of
Ohio stirred up as they have not been since
the campaign Of 80. when free silver, like a
prairie fire, came forth from the plains of
the west to sweep Ohio.
Stirred Up by Tom Johnson.
The eyes of the nation are usually turned
toward Ohio at election time, no matter
what the ticket Is. first, because of the
prominent part the buckeye state takes in
national politics. and because, as a barom-
eter. its representations of events political
are usually accurate. But this year un-
usual interest is aroused from the fact that
there has arisen new Lochinvar of DEM
ocFacy, new leader from whom great
things are expected, one who may be. two
years hence, the candidate for the preSi-
dency representative of one of the two
great parties. Mayor Tom johnson of
Cleveland has done more, perhaps, than
any one man or set of men to add vigor to
the present campaign. And everything,
seemingly, has played into his hands.
The attack on the federal plan of govern
ment of the city of Cleveland the calling
into extra session of the legislature because
the laws relating to Ohio municipal gov
eminent had been declared null and void,
the discovery that many Of the laws made
or YYo{S-
takes, and last, but by no means least, the
forcing upon Ohio cities of board plan of
government which was not desired by the
majority of Ohio citizens, all have been
like clubs placed in the hands of Tom John
son, and he has not missed an opportunity
to rap the republicans over the head
wherever and whenever he got chance.
And johnson, to add to the uniqueness of
the campaign, rugged up his circus tent
and made cross-country trip in his red
devil automobile, to the delight of the
Johnson adherents and the terror of the
county auditors, whom the Cleveland man
was always happy to attack because of
their penchant for riding on passes and
assessing the railroads for about one-fifth
of their value. He added another strange
feature T. his tour by boldly denouncing
several democrats in the Ohio legislature
who had deserted the party and voted with
the republicans for the curative act"
street railroad franchise measure that was
particularly obnoxious to Johnson.
Senator Hanna Arouses Enthusiasm.
On the other hand, Senator Hanna made
tour of triumph over a part of Ohio. ad-
dressing large crowds wherever he stopped
and being greeted by admiring throngs as
the next President All this has had
tendency to stir up the people, and the ex
tensive literary battle that is being waged
by the campaign committees has awakened
the voters to a sense of the Importance of
the fight until the indications point to
very large vote in November.
Home Rule for Ohio Cities and Just
Taxation for AlI'' is the battle cry that
there is no denying the fact that many have
Joined his army. If the immense and enthu
sastic throngs that nightly fill the big cir
tent can be taken as an Indicator. On
the other hand. Senator Hanna's apt ad-
vice. stand pat has seemingly struck
responsive chord in the hearts of thousands
who believed they did right two years ago.
when they voted to leave well enough
alone" and continued an era of prosperity
Yet the great cry of the trust evil, which
has opened the eyes of republican and dem
ocratic leaders alike ;the coal strike, that
has affected to degree every man, woman
and child, and the evident need of some
change in tariff schedules, all have a tend
ency to injure the republicans because that
happens to be the party in power, and the
party in power has to be held responsible
y
weather to the price of calico.
All Of these things enter into the present
campaign in Ohio. making it almost ma
tic nal in Importance, and. at the same time
shadowing the result in a maze of doubt.
For, while Ohio Is overwhelmingly republi-
can, its voters have an independence that
is likely TO swing victory just to the OPP
posite extreme. and it is on this that the
democrats base their hopes of a victory
this fall
Some Political Pointers.
Cuyahoga county. that formerly was good
for about 5000 republican. will go demo-
cratic. Hamilton county is an uncertain
quantity. Owing to a dissatisfaction among
the Mclean followers. the republicans may
make large gains. But Johnson claims that
many republicans in Cincinnati. glad Of
chance to give Mclean slap. will vote
for Bigelow. the preacher candidate for
secretary of state on JOhnson's ticket. In
Montgomery county and Dayton bitter
congressional fight between Robert Nevin
and Thomas Seize is sure to make the con-
test close. and the same condition prevails
| in Franklin county. where Columbus holds
the balance Of power. Lucas county and
Toledo republican, but local dissatisfac-
tions there are likely to give the democrats
a majority.
Thus 1t is clearly evident that in the
large cities. with the vast population of
mill workers and laboring men, the demo-
Gratis have the better prospects. while in
the rural counties and towns the repubi-
cans look for support.
No Predictions Made.
Yet all guesses may fall short and up
to date no politician Of prominence has had
the temerity to make a prediction. Not
even General Grosvenor has been rushing
into print. He has troubles Of his own. for
when they tackled on a democratic county
to his republican district they gave him
grounds for doubt of the result. and the
coal strike has not added to his peace Of
mind. Though he has several thousan nd
votes to the good. he Is worried. His oppo-
nent is a miner and his district is largely
made up Of coal miners.
Over in the third district Bob Nevfn Is
having fight for existence and the demo-
Gratis saw that Tom SELF, present treasurer
of Montgomery county. will win in a can
ter. I'D in the thirteenth. rook-ribbed with
democracy though 1t Is. Norton Is scared.
A. Fl Jackson. n Fremont manufacturer.
has copied after Mayor Johnson. and in a
tallv-ho and four is making complete tour
OF the district. preaching the doctrine of
repnblicanism and trying to show the peo-
pie why Norton should not be returned
The latter admits that he is being given
the race of his life. g.
Outside Of these districts the fights are
not very warm and no changes In the po-
Ss~nt