The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-10-07
COLD COMFORT FOR REPUBLd-
CANS.

1t Is mighty cold comfort the rank
and file of the republican party get
out OF the announcement by the man
ages of the campaign as to the cond:-
ton In New York state. They say THAI
state wiz go for Roosevelt beyond a
doubt-so Ear 80 good from a republic
can viewpoint. Bsf when they add
that Nh. Higgins viii not be more than
thirty thousand votes behind the nat
ional ticket they stagger the faitnful.
Ii republican politics in that see
are so rotten and the party has put a.
the lead of its state ticket a mar SO
unpopular with his own people that
his campaign managers admit that he
will run thirty thousand votes behind
their presidential candidate they arc
in a slim row for carrying the state
for the latter. 1t shows that there is
a tremendous upheaval in the politics
in that state.
This admission by the republican
leaders takes New York out of the
doubtful column and places it in the
democratic. Non-partisan, conservative
men will say this declaration by the re-
publicans amounts to an admission
that New York is lost to them. 1t is
their way of letting themselves down
easy. 1t virtually amounts to giving
up the fight for Mr.. Higgins and ad-
hitting his defeat.
II a month before the election, Nj.
Higgins campaign managers admit
tina he will run thirty thousand votes
behind the national ticket, what will
his shortage be by election day?
This declaration will have tremeh"
dous weight with that voting elemen..
which belongs to no party, but tries
always to be on the winning side AMI
will turn many a voter to Mr.. Herrick.
Not only this, but it will influence
many thousand voters of the antional
ticket. They will argue that if thu
republicans have lost so tremendously
on The state ticket they must have lost
much ground on the national also.
They will feel that Mr.. Roose-
velt's chances for carrying New
York are much Simmer than
campaign managers are willing to adj
NIT They will see in this admission
bright and increasing prospects for
Judge Parker's success in that state,
and. consequently, will join the side
which conditions point to as the most
likely to be the successful one.
The influence of this condition in
New York will be felt beyond the limits
of that state. 1t will have wonderful
effect in all the doubtful states. AS
New York goes SC goes the nation. This
is a saying in which many believe, and
Independent voters in the doubtful
states, pinning their faith to this say
ing and believing that the republicans
have already in their secret hearts
given UP hat state to the democrats,
will hasten to get on the winning side.
This will mean an increase Of demo-
cratic votes in those states where there
is d large independent and floating
vote. The republicans may claim hat
Mr.. Roosevelt can be elected without
the vote of New York, but they will
ilu IL iidio I lidhc lAoSc Sotols liiliih
so. The records are too decidedly the
other way.
There can be no doubt that the con-
ditions in the Empire state are hurt
ing the republican cause, and once
start the tide against their candidate
on the cry that New York will go
against him and there is no telling
what the result will be.
1t is evident that Judge Parker's
chances have improved daily ever since
the publication of his letter Of accep-
lance.