Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-17
FONDLY NURSING HOPE THAT
UNEXPECTED WILL HAPPEN.
Parker Not Popular With Influential
Masses-Lacks Virility on
Homely Questions.
Special From a Staff Correspondent.

no. prepared at this time to go further and
suggest that Higgins will be in the lead
but you can bet your bottom dollar the re-
publicans are almighty thankful that the
signs point to it being even horse and horse
between Higgins and Herrick. Ten days
ago they would not have thought such a
condition possible let alone probable They
are willing to heave big sigh of relief and
let it go at that for the moment.
1t may as well be stated at the outset
that conservative observers of New York
conditions predict that Roosevelt will carry
the state on the national ticket. l am only
stating that which is a fact, although not
acknowledged by the democratic leaders,
that the wise ones at democratic national
headquarters have abandoned confidence OF
carrying New York for Parker, and only
are dwelling fondly upon the hope that the
unexpected will happen.
Democratic State Ticket.
The democratic national managers have
not however, been shaken in their confi-
dence of carrying the state ticket. If the
elections were to be held tomorrow the
chances are just about what the election
bets show, 10 to and 10 to ~. that Her
rick would win, but the election is not to
subscriber has been very sadly misinformed,
there will be some doings in the republican
campaign before then which will put anoth-
er face upon the outlook.
The confidential estimate of the republi-
can national managers is that Roosevelt
will carry New York on the national ticket
by $4,000 plurality. They talk for public
consumption about 10000, but the first
mentioned figures are the bedrock calcula
tions They really believe that such plu-
rality is now in sight for the President.
That forecast is based upon careful in
auiry into the state of public feeling on
national questions.
Parker Has Not Enthused Them.
There is no Disgusting the fact that Judge
Parker has not made headway with the
influential masses in this state in his ma
tional campaign. Regarded an estima-
BILE gentleman, undoubtedly SAFE" if you
please if there Is any question of safety,
yet lacking in a certain vital spark of
virility on homely. everyday questions of
economies and government which are well
understood in this great community of
thinking wide-awake people, he has not
enthused them.
1t is a sad commentary, therefore. upon
the status of the republican state ticket
that, with the national ticket promising
such brilliant and decisive victory. there
should be question, yea, at this outlook al
most certainty, that the national ticket
might fail to pull the state ticket out of the
abyss of defeat But republicans who
know the game admit frankly that such is
the case at this hour, and those who are
aware of what is going on and what is to
state, after all, will be pulled through.
Odell Working Hard.
Gov. Odell, chairman of the republican
state committee, is moving heaven and
earth to save his state ticket Do not
make any mistake about the political
sagacity and political executive ability of
Benjamin b. Odell, jr. Whatever may be
charged against him in other respects. his
bitterest opponents will admit that he is a
great political manager and wire puller.
Some OF his friends say that as a manipu-
lator he Is worthy successor of Zach
Chandler, Matthew Stanley Quay and Mark
Hanna Given man of admitted ability
as political wire puller, which he is. with
ample campaign funds, which he has, and
put him with his back to the wall, in a,
fight for life. which position he occupies.
and you may look for results
1t is not necessary even If were permitted
to go into every detail of the plans which
this virile and resourceful young leader is
carrying out to lift the republican state
ticket from its present apparently hopeless
situation, / am not even prepared to saw
that he will succeed, but be contented with
the prediction that the next fortnight will
show a marked Improvement in republican
prospects.
Extreme Measures.
Just as an indication, however. OF the
lengths to which he is willing to go, it may
be said that he proposes to call upon every
republican voter In the state of New York
who is suspected of intention to cut the
ticket for an explanation of his reason and
to argue ii out with him. All that of course.
by proxy. The statement that the repub-
1ican managers expect to carry the national
ticket by $4,000. and yet fear to lose the
state ticket, means of course that they ap-
prehend cutting of the state ticket
Now the practical politicians know that
tampering with the Australian ballot is
ticklish business, and they realize that the
voters know 1t. They expect that a great
deal of steam will be blown off before cleo
ton day by the voters who are shaky on
the state ticket. Then they reason thus:
Here comes the insurgent into the polling
booth; he is a busy man. or an unhandy
man at such things as marking ballots.
There is a long line behind him and he has
only limited number of minutes to remain
in the boNth. His mind is made up to vote
for Roosevelt.
Many Markings for Ballot.
There are fifty-nine separate markings to
be made on that ballot, IL he wants to
scratch the ticket. and il he makes mis-
take In the scratching he yitiates his vote
for Roosevelt. How many of the men of
this category will just vote the plain old