Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-16
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.
ROCHESTER,. N. Y. August IA. 1904.
Upstate politics in New York Is not, as
in the big city. mystery to the stranger.
1t Is hardly a puzzle. One can get the
drift without serious trouble.
I made few passing inquiries In going
across the state and also In returning.
What wanted to find out was the average
sentiment in both parties. The republican
majority depends upon this average senti-
ment. If it is not favorable to the repub-
lcan candidates the party does not go
down to the Bronx with votes enough to
overcome the Tammany majority in New
York city. But the majority seems to be as
solidly fixed as in former years.
Up on the edge of St Lawrence county
at one of the little way stations asked a
group what the political prospects were.
we are mostly republicans up here" the
spokesman said. I knew that. but l wanted
ing this year. We'll" he replied. well
do about as well as usual. perhaps little
better" 49,.
This was interesting. because a fellow
that he was democrat had replied to
similar question by saying. humorously:
We'll do about as poorly as usual
Little Doubt as to Outcome.
I'd
With the democrats in the republican
strongholds feeling that they'll do at least
as poorly as usual. and with the repub-
tcans expecting; to do little better. there
does not seem to be room to doubt the out
come in November. The political revolu-
ton which the democrats profess to think
Is working away down deep and will elect
their candidate is SO deep that a trace Of
1t cannot be found among the farmers or
the rural voters generally
Ihs Is IN spite of the fact that Judge
Parker Is himself a countryman and the
assumption that a farmer jurist would
take among the farming classes. But his
personality does not seem to impress the
very people on whom 1t was hoped to make
an impression.
This confirms what one of the newspa-
per reporters stationed at Esopus told me
OF the lack OF the psychological element in
the candidate. I was through New York
In 1885 with Mr.. Bryan. and in spite of the
organized democratic opposition to him he
certainly excited more interest and de-
Judge Parker has been able to bring out
The answer may be that while there was
interest in Bryan 1t was chiefly that of
curiosity and did not bring him demo-
cratic votes This is partly true, yet II
Judge Parker Is to- bring together the scat
tered remnants of his party in the country
districts he has got to awaken at least the
semblance of enthusiasm which Bryan was
l,d
were not going to support him.
Comment on fudge farker's Speech.
After Judge Pafker's speech of accept
ance was printed, j talked to eight or ten
people at ,tone ,ofs ths resorts In the Thou
sand Islands, Nearly all Of them were re-
pun publ. ans, hyt tEH we're t outspoken demo
great spseeff:fa sssiderfdP sbeech' Ana: That
Parker was e9othefp rhomas Jefferson. The
other one lfstlessly remarked that the
judge hadn't made any bad breaks, but
that be didn't see anything in the speech
to warm up the boys He ;Yas; himself one
of theHyounger democrats. and told me he
was a member Of the local rcpmmitts = in
his home town.
The republicans. of course, didn't see any
thing In the speech. This might be, laid to
partisan prejudfces. yet If they had found
anything In 1t which they thought. would
hurt them they would have been apt to get
eAcitea and, perhaps to show a little par
tisan feeling. But they discussed it calmly
anu tpdjnerently, and on the following day
l found that most Of them had forgotten
what was in the speech. IL
tartly out Of curiosity and partly AS a
test sought out the two democrats and
brought up President Reosevelt's speech of
acceptance. They knew all its points.
Though they were bound to find fault. the
significance was that two weeks after the
republican candidates. speech was delivered
members of the opposition party were still
talking about it. while two days after the
democratic candidates speech was made re-
publtcans were forgetting 1t.
Outside Of the country districts proper I
made effort to learn something about
the number Of gold democrats who were GO
ing back to the party. Unquestionably
some Of them are going back Yet in a
number of instances where names were
given re I found that these democrats had
gone back four years ago. The number Of
gold men who voted twice for Mckinley
and who now are going to vote for Parker,
appears to be exaggerated. So far as I
can make out most of the politicians got
back under the tent in 1900 under the guise
of opposing Imperialism.
There are few conspicuous instances
otherwise. such as Mr. Charles w. Good
year of Buffalo. who Is seeking the demo-
cratic nomination Tor governor apparently
on the ground that he is a republican in
national politics. If that Is not the basis
of his campaign don't know what else
is. for the positiveness with which he pro-
and his two votes for Mckinley could only
be meant to secure republican votes Per-
haps. unintentiOnally 1t brings out very
strongly the contrast with Judge Parker's
two votes for Bryan and his placing party
regularity above the gold standard to which
he processes to be devoted.
As to the State Ticket
Concerning the state ticket found that
the local political. leaders in both parties
made with view.to the effect on the. ma
tional tickets. There is yet no over
shadowing interest shown either in the
national or in the state campaign. The
republicans do not expect to do much until
the Saratoga convention which meets Sep
TENDER IA, hasdifnade the nomna tons.
There is no APATHY rbdtisimpiy waiting till
the time comes troopers the, campaign. .sl
There Is surprisingly little discussion
among upstate Republicans over the can
didate for governor 1hey seem to have
settled in their minds that notwithstand-
ing; his personal s alsinslFna = Elihu Root
ment to those waso have announced that
they will be. eanaidatesain case Mr.. Root
cannot be prevailed on ito accept to say
that their names are rarely mentioned I
have heard Incidentally of the chances of
Lieutenant Governor Woodruff, of the
ambition of Mayor night of Buffalo and
of two or three .otherssa but not with the
emphasis which sepmesg when there Is a
real fight. The situation Az appears to be
think that the uQFaiaatjon is settled. and,
therefore. no one should get excited. In
this state of mind it b difficult for any
receptive candidate to stir up his followers