The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-11-06
MUCH INTEREST SHOWN IN VOTE OF SEVERAL CLOSE STATES.

New York. Nov. s.-with . sensational
and dramatic exchange OF charges and re-
plies between the candidates. one of the
most remarkable presidential campaigns
Of recent times was practically brought to
q close tonight. 1t is moi expected that
much Of Importance will take place before
the election. though a few belated meet
;ngs will be held and some statements Ind
claims may be issued.
Tho whirlwind finish predicted two
months g has been realized. The I'M
usual features OF a candidate attacking
his opponent in ONCE, and forcing him
into making a direct reply, followed by d
rejoinder from the candidate, is a novelty,
and furnished the main topic of converse
lion where politics was discussed to-day.
The appearance of Judge Parker on the
public platform marked an epoch in the
political campaign Of 1904. for Ut to that
rime Il had been apathetic and uninterest-
ing. From his first speech to the last he
rs been growing more n more vtgor-
and more direct in his assertions. to
he citation Of the Democrats, who ave
'clamored for more life and ginger IN the
The Republican canvass lacked interest
until Cabinet ~oficers. Senator'S and men
ciose to the President began making re-
plies to judge Parksrs charges. but their
part In It was Insignificant compared TO
the bomb exploded bv Mr.. Roosevelt in
his statement printed this morning.
l REPUBLICANS SILENT.
Silence has marked the management OF
the Republican campaign. But one pro-
nouncement or claim has been mad by
any oficfal Of the Republican National
COMMITTEES. and In that nearly every de-
batable State was placed In the Republic
an column. This was promptly answered
Acy the Democratic managers with a claim
Of the same debetabie States. n a sure
majority In the electoral college.
Tomorrow there Is the promise OF q
summing up by the two committees and
q final estimate as to the result. The
wide difference In the claims has fur
nished suficient doubt to give followers
Of both candidates confident hopes Of suc-
cess. and keen the interest Of partisans
keen until the result fs known.
Up TO within three weeks OF the election
tllC C6luko&8A Voc Al AhAStO Aob 49,
apAthy, and the seeming lack of interest
which the voters were taking in the can
vass. There were manv meetings, but. as
g rule. they were not largely attended.
nor did the people show the intense inter-
est that has marked other campaigns.
There has been also an absence Of monster
meetings, ail-day parades. theatrical dis
play. noise and red fire that a charac-
terizsd the closing days OF former cam
paigns.
HAD A LATE START.
The campaign started late. 1t was weeks
after the national conventions had made
their choice Of candidates before the COM
mittee charged with the conduct OF the
political campaign begun active work.
More than this, the early work Of the
committee consisted largely in distribut-
ing literature and efforte to ascertain the
drift Of public sentiment The fact that
heither candidate, one because he was
in The presidential chair and the other be-
cause his judicial temperament was antag-
onistic to tbs idea. made a great speech
making tour of the country, is account
able to some extent for the apathy which
was apparent in the earlier stages of the
campaign.
interviewer closely with the presidential
canvass has been the campaign in New
York State. FOR many years the pivotal
State, the arbiter OF presidential elections,
the Empire State, this year has been re-
garded as absolutely essential TO the sue
cess OF one party. and has been believed to
be necessary to the other, because Of the
Impression that q public sentiment which
will carry New York will carry the coun-
try.
On this account the eyes of the country
have been turned toward New York. Its
conventions and nominees. the strife
among its leaders and the active work OF
all its politicians have attracted attention
far greater than that warranted by its
ordinary importance or the merits Of the
State issues. In some localities the State
fight overshadows thai OF the national con-
test, and the Atter is regarded as the
auxiliary instead OF the principal in the
campaign. :
Tho same II true IN some other States,
and an Interesting feature Of the canvass
is the o-ften-expressed belief that. whatever
may be the result upon the national ticket
next Tuesday, In many States there will
be a change In the State governments.
State issues have been put forward most
prominently in New York, New Jersey.
West Virginia and wisconsin. which were
classed as doubtful on the presidency.
The iwueS upon which the campaign has
been fought have changed. The person.
atty of h President and his public acts.
and the policy OF the Republican party
on the several questions before the peo-