The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-10-09
GENERAL OUTLOOK
VERY ENCOURAGING
Preliminary Work of Demo
cratic Campaign Finished
FIGHT WILL BE IN OPEN
Everything Has BEN Done According
to Programme and From Now
on Contest Will Be Short
and Decisive.
FIGHT WILL BE IN OPEN

| ~fNW 1OTkt OClODcl A'RSeAHA'/
there are democrats in the south who
| have become disheartened at what they
nave been pleased to to term democratic
| apathy" In the pending campaign, they
should not overlook the fact that the
same apathy has prevailed, and to an
equal extent, in the ranks of our oppo-
nents. But to jump at the conclusion that
this apathy" or Whatever one may
choose to call 1t, is forerunner of dem
ocratic defeat, is not merely foolish and
unwarranted, but is asinine. Just what
1t means and portends no one can tell at
this time. Senator German has taken
note of 1t. and, in substance, has said:
DO you remember the presidential cam
paign of 1892? l do. and very well. Dur
ing the first two months of that campaign
the people appeared to be Indifferent;
they would not talk politics; they would
not say how they intended to vote. The
republicans We're ready with an explana-
tion. They said it indicated that the peo-
pie were content to let well enough alone.
1t meant a republican victory. Well,
early In October, the people woke up
You and | know what followed"
Inc campaigns of 1896 and 1900 were diff
ferent, for obvious reasons, but chiefly
because the democratic candidate took
the stump early and attracted crowds of
listeners. One Of the most eloquent ora
tors the country Las ever produced, he
could do 1t. His campaigns were unique
IN our political history
With the exceptions of the Bryan cam
paigns the present one does not differ
The fact is, the managers OF the demo-
cratic campaign Of 1904 have been as dill
gent, as enterprising and as tactful as
were any Of their predecessors. They
have followed the plan of campaign as
originally mapped out, with perhaps some
minor changes, and the future must tell
with what degree of success.
| The letters of the standard bearers
have been made public; the campaign
books have been sent out; an army of
| speakers has been modified; campaign
funds have been collected and many
other Things, all necessary and important,
| If victory is te be achieved, have been
done.
The democratic managers are now ready
for the short, sharp. aggressive fight of
| which the newspapers have had so much
| to say. 1t begins just when 1T was orig
nally intended 1t should The heaviest
artillery will be brought out in the So
Gained doubtful states. In New York,
New Jersey, Connecticut, Indiana and
certain other states where, in the judg-
ment of the managers of the campaign,
a winning fight can be made, the demo-
Gratis Will put up fight such as has
never been seen In those states, barring
no presidential year whatever People in
the south or elsewhere who have been in
| fluenced by the general apathy" and by
| the betting of Wall street gamblers, may
| now recover their nerve as well as their
calmer judgment. This fight is no more
| won by the republicans than was the
| fight of 1892 at the corresponding period,
| although, let it not be forgotten, at that
same period the republicans claimed
| everything, the apathy was so thick
| you could cut it with knife, and the
| Wall street gamblers were betting that
| Cleveland would not be lin it,"
Indiana and West Virginia.
| The most important news received with
| in the past few days relates to conditions
| In Indiana and West Virginia and comes
| from the special representatives of the
| New York Herald. 1t is hardly neces-
| sary to say that the Herald, while sup
porting Parker and Davis, is strictly in
dependent, and prints the news as it
the drift in both of these states appears
to be democratic, In Indiana it is said
that tine democratic meetings in point OF
| attendance and enthusiasm are far in
| advance of the republican meetings. The
| party is united Very significant is the
| statement of the correspondent that 1.-THE
| first voters this year all seem to be lin
| ing up for the democratic ticket" He
also notes republican detection in the
section where many Quakers live, due
to Roosevelts contemptuous allusion to
people of their faith in one of his books.
Republican speakers have been trying to
smooth the trouble over and in some in
stances have apologized to their hearers
for the statements of their chief. In so
doing the speakers have made bad mat
ter worse, and now orders have come to
them from headquarters TO defend the
president, II necessary, but under no
consideration to apologize Finally, the
Heralds representative in Indiana says
the democratic managers there are ap-
parently absolutely confident of winning
the state on the electoral as well as the
state and legislative ticket.
West Virginia, according to the Her.
aids man, looks equally as favorable for
the democrats as Indiana. He does not
say that the republicans admit a proba-
bility of democratic victory, but he says
the democrats are very confident of
sweeping triumph. "All the unusual ele-
ments in the campaign" says the cor
respondent, ''are favorable to the demo-
Gratis" He adds that the campaign of
ridicule directed against Henry G. Davis,
because of his advanced age, has proved
disastrous to the republicans, and that
republican speakers have received orders
to refer to Mr.. Davis in terms of pro-
Na h.
views of an independent observer, serv-
ing an independent newspaper, which
would not color thee news. even If 1t be-
lieved that by so doing it could elect its
favorite.
New York Going Democratic.
The tone and quality of Judge Her.
ricks speech, accepting the nomination
for governor of New York, was such as
to add to the already confident feeling
that the Empire state was about to re-
turn to the democratic fold. 1t was clear,
strong, frank and timely, devoted to state
issues, and already has made votes for
the party. Judge Herrick is no novice
In New York politics, however, and cher
ishes no illusions as to the character, and
magnitude of the task before him. He
knows full well the cleverness of Boss
Odell and he appreciates the fact that
he has an enormous corruption fund at
his command, as well as an army of
trained and constituencies henchmen to
do his bidding. When it is understood
that the election of Odells man, Higgins,
means that Odell will control the ex-
penditure of SOL 100000 appropriated for
canal improvements. who can doubt that
he will put up the fight of his life? Judge
Herrick is familiar with the situation and
his friends helieve he will in due time