The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-07-20

the mine owners have become identi-
fed with the Republican State ticket
and the Western Federation of Min
ers with the Democrats, Will affect
national contest. Before this strike
began it was acknowledged by leading
Democrats of the State that Colorado
would support Roosevelt. It's three
Congressman are now Republicans, as
are the county officers nearly every
where in the State. The Republican
majority in 1902 on the State ticket
was 1000.
1.-THE "three-Vote" States of Mon
tana, Nevada, Idaho and Utah were all
Republican, except Nevada, when their
political photographs were last taken.
They change their appearance fire.
quently, however. The labor issue or
the Morgan issue between now and
November might turn their faces
squarely round.
Going Wider AfeId.
"Other groupings will, of course be
made by enthusiastic claimants. Many
Of them may be described as possible.
hut not probable. Wisconsin, for eX
ample, will be claimed by the Demo-
Gratis on account of the fractional war
fare between the two wings of the Re
publican party and the difficulty in
marking the Australian ballots cor
rectly under the existing complica-
tons. No one SuppOSes that in
straight fight between Parker and
Roosevelt with other issues complete
~ removed, that Parker would stand
any large chance of success In these
circumstances it would seemingly re-
quire heavy laundering on the part of
the Republicans to permit the Demo
Gratis to take it now, but that it is of
course, possible.
illinois has 81 electoral votes,
enough to upset the balances COM
pleteIy should it get over on the Demo-
cratic side. But conditions there are
today unfavOrable to the Democrats.
They are badly manned locally. Their
recent State convention instructed for
Hearst. 1t was run by the Hopkins
ring of "reorganizers' with defiance
to fair play and decency that has sell
dom been equalled in the politics of
this country. Independent voters are
not likely to be attracted toward a
party whose State organization is in
such hands, unless they think that
Parkcr's election would mean an over
turn and a restoration of better lead
ership.
Twelve years ago, with Judge Ait
geld making an appeal to the labor
vote such as few men of this genera
ton have ever made, with Cleveland
at the head of the ticket attracting
the high-grade vote; with the genuine
strength of the tariff reform issue
among the independents, and the fight
OF the German Lutherans over the
school question: the State was swung
into the Democratic column by a plu-
rality of about per cent of the total
vote. That is the only time the State
has ever gone Democratic on Presi-
Dental vote since 1856. 1t does not
yet appear that there is today any
sufficient approximation to the condi-
lions of 1892 to bring the Parker cleo
toral ticket near enough to the level
reached by. the Cleveland electoral
ticket in 1892 to insure Democratic
success But if the campaign is pitch
ed on a high plane, prospects may inn
prove before November.
Republicans Fight For New York.
"The Republicans intend to centre
their fight squarely on New York. turn-
ing their heaviest artillery upon the
Democratic stronghold of the urban
end of the State. If it becomes clear
that they can bring out a sufficient
up State majority for Roosevelt to Off
set what will obviously be a very-I
strong Democratic tide in the city,
the election will be over But if the
Republicans lose New York, they viii
still require the opposition to show one
of these 34-vote combinations, and
that may not be an easy thing to do.
"a study of these groupings shows
that the Democrats must put their
best foot forward if they are to stand
any chances of winning. If they rest
content in getting out the Democratic
vote which has habitually gone to the
poles for the last ten years, they will
be hopelessly beaten. 1t is only by
lifting the campaign on a high plane,
appealing to the independent vote of
the country, that they can hope to
overcome the odds against them at
the start. That the campaign will be
pushed along lines resembling those
or 1902 there is considerable evidence.
The same class of people who support
ed Mr.. Cleveland then are, with almost
as much unanimity, falling into line
for Parker now. This means new
alignment of States and of electoral
votes. Without this new appeal, the