The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1903-05-09
THE 1908 OUTLOOK.
lica ms Appear to Have the Lead
Even in Doubtful States.

In the strict sense, there are no OF
years in American politics. Although
theoretically there is a lull for two
years Immediately before the presiden-
tial contest, except as regards the
maneuvering of each party in congress
for position in the big campaign, yet
actually elections of great Importance
take place a year in advance of the
quadrennial roundup. In November
of the present year Ohio, Iowa, Mary
land, kentucky, Massachusetts, Rhode
Island and other states of considerable
Importance will elect state officers.
The contest for governor in Ohio and
Iowa are always exciting. They will
unquestionably be SO this year. The
fact that Senator Hanna is to name the
candidate for the republicans for gov
ernor, and that he is candidate for
reelection to the senate from the legis-
lature which will be chosen next No
vember, will be sure to give this con-
test a great interest for the whole
country, and the interest will be
heightened if, as seems probable john
son heads the democratic ticket, says
the st. Louis Globe-Democrat-
Probably the democrats will carry
kentucky in 1908. They have an cleo
ton law which leaves nothing to
chance, and it may be relied on to
count a majority for the party which
framed it, and which intended'it to roll
up democratic margins irrespective
of the relative number of republican
and democratic votes actually deposit
ed at the polls. In Maryland the con-
test will be much more exciting and
uncertain. The republicans carried
MARYLAND in the two latest presiden-
tial elections, and they won, in the
contest last November, four of the
states six members to congress. The
republicans began showing strength
in MARYLAND in the election of 1895,
when they carried the state tor gov
ernor. Then followed McKintey's VIC
tory in the state in 1896 and in 1900.
But Smith, the present governor, won
the state in 1899. 1t is believed that he
will be nominated this year. The Leg
islature to be elected this year will
choose United States senator to sue
coed McComas, republican. Moreover,
German, who has just pulled himself
out of obscurity and secured new
term in the senate, is now the tltular
leader of the democrats in his cham
Der, and he aspires to lead his party
in the presidential canvass. His fate
in the latter role will be decided by the
vote of his state in 1903.
Rhode Island elected democratic
governor in 1902, and that fact gave
the democracy some aid and comfort
at the time. In the election this year
the democrats are understood to feel
considerable confidence. Rhode Is
lands vote does not bulk very large
in the electoral college, but if the dem
ocrats win Little Rhody again they will
say that they are making gains in New
England, and will begin to think thai
they have some chance in Connecticut
and New Hampshire. On the face OF
things, the situation seems to favor
the republicans in all the states this
year in which they are normally
strong. The only point in doubt in re
Iation TO Ohio, Massachusetts aud
Iowa is as to the exact republican lead
It will be long in all those states. In
Ohio in 1902 the republican candidate
for secretary of state, who headed the
ticket chosen that year, had lead Of
10000. There will be no special incen'
tive to make the plurality as large as
that this year, unless johnson gets the
nomination for governor, in which case
the republicans will put up the bes1
canvass of which they are capable. II
any case, there will be some very in
teresting politics in 1908. Several O.
the states which will vote will furnish
a very fair barometer of the direction
and force of the partisan currents al
that date.