The Saint Paul globe., 1904-10-23
I'm THE FIELD OF POLITICS.
SPOONER SHOCKED
HIGH REPUBLICANS
His Statement That Wisconsin
Is Not Safe for Roosevelt
Causes Serious Thinking
Globe Special Washington Service

Globe Special Washington Service
14f7 G Street
WASHINGTON, D. c.. Oct. 22.-No
event IN politics has attracted so much
attention or caused so much comment
among members of the administration
during the last week as the declara-
ton of Senator Spooner that Wiscon-
sin is 'in danger" of going for Parker
and Davis. AT first an attempt was
made by leading officials of the admin
lstratlon to persuade themselves that
Mr.. Spooner was misquoted, and then
TO cheer up on the assumption that
the interview, if it really was genuine,
was given in moment of petulance on
the part of the senator.
Upon more deliberate reflection,
however, the feeling has become gem
eral that perhaps Mr. Speoner was
telling the plain truth after all, and
that the only remarkable thing about
the utterance is that so prominent a
member of the Republican party
should have allowed himself to ''speak
right out in meeting at critical time
in the campaign. Altogether, the incl
dent has induced some very serious re-
heetions on the part of President Roose-
Veit and his admirers. The extreme
bitterness Of the Wisconsin factionai
troubles is only just beginning to be
realized In Washington. The admins
tfation now realizes that, despite the
loud protestations of prominent Wis
consin Republicans In both factional
camps that the quarrel within the
state viii not jeopardize the success of
Roosevelt and Fairbanks, neither side
Will consider the interests Of the ma
tlonal ticket if any local advantage Is
to be gained by sacrificing it. This
state Of affairs naturally does not in
duce placid Contemplation Of the Wis
consin situation by the men who are
running the national campaign for
Roosevelt.
New York Looks Democratic
In the statement given out the other
day by the Republican national COM
mittee forecasting the electoral vote,
New York was not put in the doubtful
column. 1t was claimed as sure for
Roosevelt. The latest information from
the state, however, in view of the Bit
ter factional troubles there. does not
insure the state for the Roosevelt cleo
tors by any means. The size Of the
Democratic majority in the city dis
tr1cts may be SO tremendous as to over
come the Republican majority up the
state
Ine RepubHcan leaders admit that
West Virginia is doubtful, a fact which
is extremely significant in view of the
alleged sureness of New York. The
Democratic leaders are absolutely con-
fident that Parker will carry West yir-
ginia. In view of these facts, the pros
poets Of a possible Democratic victory
in Wisconsin becomes highly important
and causes a lot of anxiety on the part
of the Republican managers.
1t is more than an even chance that
Colorado. Idaho, Montana and Nevada
will be found in the Democratic col
umn. They went against Mckinley in
1900, and the situation in at least three
Of these states is not a bit more favor
able from Republican standpoint this
year than it was four years ago.
In the meantime, despite the great
show Of confidence on the part of the
national Republican managers, the ad-
ministration thinks it worth while to
consider the exigencies of the situa-
tion by shaping certain acts to po-
1itical ends. An example of this is seen
in the order that no more presidential
postrnasters be appointed until after
election. The administration will do
nothing that can possibly give offense
to any Republican faction or individual
anywhere until the votes are safely de-
posted in the ballot boxes two weeks
from next Tuesday.
Walter E. Clark.