Durango semi-weekly herald., 1904-10-17
DRAWN TO ROOSEVELT.
Indiana First Voters Add Largely to
Strength Of Republicans.

tWalter Wellman in Record Herald }
INDIANAPOLIS. Oct 12-ln this
state the machinery OF practical pol
tics enables us to measure with
something opproximating accur-
acy the effect OF principle which we
know to be working throughout the
country. | speak OF the tendency OF
young men to the Republican party.
That there is such tendency gener.
ally every political observer knows
But 1t is only in this state, so far as
we know, that rarty machinery has
enabled ne 20 get what may be called
census of the effect OF 1t. In Indi-
ana. according to the Republican poll.
there are about 5000 first voters OF
Democratic parentage who will this
year cast their ballots for Roosevelt
First voters Of Republican parentage
Tor Parker do not form an apprecia-
tive quantity. That young men who
tne DeInOcratic eicrv.-.rr,aa ...----
welt the Democratic mana. not
deny They assert. however. that the
number is much smaller than the Re
publican poll indicates. The Republi
can reports show that Roosevelt
first voter from Democratic family
the 3.4O0 election precincts In the
state. In some precincts there are
four or five. Three thousand Is con
servative estimate of the total. or
about one to the precinct. Since the
Democrats question the accuracy ol
the Republican figures, we need not
split hairs about the number. The
| important point Is that the principle
| Is established--there is such tend
| ency of the young men.
To me this seems one Of the mos
| interesting phases Of the campaign
Looking at 1t purely from the non
partisan standpoint. curiosity is arous
| ed as to why there should be such a
tendency among first voters. just as
we should be curious were the tend
ency the other way. that is. from the
Republican families towards Democ
racy. 1t is a feature Of public opinion
well worthy the study of the impartia
observer.
have made inquiries as to the
cause of this tendency among th'
young men, and will state the resul
as briefly as possible:
| Many of the first voters of Demo
cratic families who are now TO
Roosevelt are the sons OF gold Dem
ocrats Of the campaigns of 1896 an
1900. The fathers temporary divere
ance from the straight path OF Demo
cracy exercised an influence upon tn
boys at the critical and impression
able stage At the time they began Z
take an interest in politics they foun
their fathers voting for Mckinley.
was natural and easy for them to Civ
their sympathies to the party thei
fathers temporarily favored. N
Democratic traditions or habits wer
operating in their minds as In tn
minds OF their fathers. And when tn
elders turned back finally to the oil
faith they found the youngsters ha
become Republicans pure and simple
There are plenty OF examples. cite
to me by name. OF former gold DEM
Gratis who are now for Parker br
whose sons are for Roosevelt. Th
polls show that there Is large nun
ber of such cases throughout th
state.
Senator Beveridge. with the trr
instinct OF leader Of public opinio
has made a. speciality OF the first va
ers He breaches to the young mer
he strives to get In touch with ther
Young and ardent himself. he strike
responsive chord In the minds
other young men. In his tours Of II
t state he has met hundreds OF FIR
C voters and talked with them. Thoni
o bearing In mind that he is partiss
IS and enthusiastic, nevertheless h
d Testimony as to the cause Is accept
q BILE. And Senator Beveridge says Il
ID chief cause Of the tendency OF so
Is Of Democratic families to the Repu
N lican ranks is their patriotism. the
r love for achievement and progre,
IL their admiration for all the recent a
n. ors In the country's service and the
sentimental devotion to the army q