Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-07
Both Parties in In diana Get
ting Ready for a Split.
THE RESULT ASSURED
NO DOUBT ABOUT THE STATE
GOING FOR ROOSEVELT.
Credit for the Victory Will Be Disputed
and Attempts Will Be Made to Fix
Blame for Defeat.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.
INDIANAPOLIS, November 8. 1904.
1t is an unusual situation which presents
itself in Indiana in the last days of the
campaign. Both parties getting ready
for an internal split over the result. With
the republicans the rival claims will be
concerning the credit for the victory.
Among the democrats it will be to fix the
responsibility for defeat.
No one who knows the state believes that
any combination of circumstances now can
take its electoral vote away from Roose-
welt and Fairbanks. The only uncertainty
relates to the majority. Democrats in pri-
vate are sincere in thinking that it may not
be very large, possibly under 1900. Re-
publicans themselves are puzzled whether
to make their wagers on not less than 1000
or to take the longer odds of 25.OOO and up
ward The figures of the state COMMITTEE
show thoroughly the information of
any political committee can show that the
republican national ticket is 25,OOO votes
ahead of the democratic national ticket.
But there are experienced men on the COM
mittee who quietly say that politics is un-
certain and that they will be satisfied with
the majority Mckinley had in 1896, which
was about 10000
Mole Republicans Than Democrats.
Though the democratic factions after cleo
ton will be making charges and counter
charges as to the responsibility for defeat,
these recriminatons will be unjust. There
are more republicans than democrats in the
state, and that is the pith of the situa-
ton. The democratic campaign manage
ment has been all that could be asked and
the organization has been better than at
any time since 1892. But political commit
tees are useful chiefly in getting out the
party vote. They do not form the convic-
tions of the voters, and the majority OF
Indiana voters for months have been OF
the conviction that President Roosevelt's
administration should be continued. The
Presidents personality will cause him to
lead the state and the congressional tickets
by several thousand votes, but even then
the republican plurality will be a substan-
tial one on the other tickets.
Indiana people are very sensitive over the
black flag brigade or the mercenary vote.
They resent the reputation the state has of
being shifted by venal considerations and
point to the large Independent vote the
real influence which has changed it from
one party to another. Whatever the num-
ber of the mercenary legionaries may be,
it is quite certain that they could not have
changed the result this year. Chairman
Taggart might have brought out all the
funds collected by the democratic national
cured majority for Parker.
Aside from the gold democrats, who never
have been classed strictly as independents,
the independent element in Indiana this
year is for the republican national ticket.
1t is not fully satisfied, especially in regard
to the tariff and has given notice to that
effect. yet 1t prefers Roosevelt and the
republican policies to Parker and the demo-
cratic uncertainties. l have found this
from talking with some of the men who
have been most pronounced In their inde
pendence in former years and whose In
tiuence is recognized.
The republicans hope for majority, or
rather for plurality, upwards of 25,OOO
In order that they may make good their
claim that the state Is absolutely repub-
lican on national issues and Is not to be
considered doubtful ground hereafter.
doubt myself whether the size of the
plurality will have much to do with future
politics of the state, but 1t is proper to say
that this is not the common opinion. Ny
own notions about the Bryan vote also have
differed from the views of the republican
leaders They continue positive in their
belief that Bryan has not solidifed his fol-
lowers. My observations made in different
sections of the state where the free silver
sentiment was strongest have satisfied me
that Bryan has brought the disttnctively
free silver elements into line for Parker.
But when this is done, and when the gold
democrats are added the democratic vote is
still a minority vote.
President Roosevelt has the three definite
factors in his favor. These are the farm
ers the new voters and the coal miners.
The democrats have not succeeded in stop
ping the detection among the labor people.
Some of these would have voted for Bryan
not on free silver grounds but on general
principles He has not been able to swing
them for Parker, and their ballots are like
ly to be cast for Debs. the socialist candl-
date. They have had an organized CAM
paign with regular committee. This COM
mittee now estimates a total vote for Debs
of 81 900. This estimate is too high, though
republican and democratic party managers
will not be surprised If the socialist vote
aggregates from 14,e00 to 1900.
Successor to Fairbanks.
The troubles of the republicans, which
will begin Immediately after the election,
relate not only to the senatorship, but to
the control of the party organization
Though uncertainty yet exists regarding
the legislature the republican plurallties
seem likely to be large enough to insure
working majority. If this should not hap
pen It would be due to the loss of Indian
apolis and Marion county with the twelve
members of the legislature. While the re-
publican organization in Marion is unsatfs-
factory. and while Chairman Taggart is
putting in his personal work here, an over
turn compete enough to give the democrats
the county is not likely. Senator Beveridge
is reported to be nervous over the outcome
but since his reelection is at stake that is
natural.