The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-08-05
Thus the Democracy En-
ters the Campaign.
SIGNS OF THE TIMES
1t Does Not Take a Political Seer to
Behold the Hand That Has Be-
gun to Write Upon the
Wall of The White
House.
Especial Correspondence

Especial Correspondence
Washington, ID. c., Aug. 4.-In a
| few days the national campaign of
1904 will open in earnest. From all
| the indications here-and Washington
is an excellent point of observation-it
Will open in Il manner flattering to the
Democracy. For the first time since
1892 the Democratic party is united
and hopeful in all sections on the
contrary, the Republican party, in pos
session of power, and still backed by
the greater portion of the syndicated
wealth of the land, is torn by faction
in some of the strongest States and
divided in counsel as to the true win
ming policy. In such States as New
York Maryland New Jersey, Connec-
ticut and Delaware, where, in 1896,
and again in 1900, lamentable differ
ences existed among Democrats and
opportunities We're lost, that party is
cordially reunited and even enthusiast
tic in its harmony. In the great States
of New York the counsels of the Re-
publican party show traces of recent
pickering between leaders (bosses)
and of present dismay at the prospect
of defeat. Some of the reasons for
this discouragement will be stated in
a moment In the important and
nearly always sure Republican State
of Wisconsin there is an open schiSm
the party being conVulsed by internal
quarrels and split wide open into two
Irreconcilable factions, which fact
both imperils the congressional dele
cation and threatens to cost the loss
OF the State to the presidential ticket
while l do not regard Wisconsin un
der present circumstances as very
likely to be lost to Roosevelt and Fair
banks, it may be if affairs take the
turn later of u tidal wave of Demo,
cracy. Again, in West Virginia the
candidature of ex-senator Davis
stimulates the Democrats beyond all
precedent and the factional troubles
which existed in the Republican party
on the tax issue have not been COM
posed but have been intensified since
their State convention. With the old
sort of Democratic leadership in New
Jersey, that commonwealth would be
sure to return to the Democratic fold
With labor alienated from the Re-
publicans, both Connecticut and Rhode
Island, will go Democratic. At pres
ent that alienation exists.
have thus taken gllnCe at the
battlefield. Suppose we look more
carefully at SCI me OF the points OF
greatest interest and go somewhat into
details.
How New York Will Vote.
l am in possession OF personal Data
that impress me forcibly. The vote
in New York city, or more accurately,
in Greater New York, from all ac-
counts received here from private
sources entitled to respect, is going to
be larger than ever before, aud the
Democratic majority nearly twice as
large as the highest ever cast in Il ma
tional election. one statement ueriV-
ed from a high source by a friend of
mine, who was in the sbg metropolis
4 day or two ago, is that the majority
III the greater city will reach the
astonishing figure of 200, 600! 1t al
most took my breath away. The cal
cuatiun was a cold-blooded one, and
came from Il practical politician to my
friend.
But 1900. McClellan's majority,
would do. | believe on evidence the
figures will overshoot that mark by at
least twenty thousand. Nevertheless.
122,000, or perhaps a few thousand
less, would suffice if what is known to
some of the practical politicians on
both sides is speedily availed Of by
the Democratic campaign managers,
as / think it will be. 1t is this: The
Republicans are afraid they will lose
their state ticket in New York and |
only hope that money and the general
trend "ill help them To carry the ma
tional ticket. There are two troubles
yes, three. The license law all over
the State has alienated he hotel IN! |
restaurant keepers. The R"puIIican |
Of these establishments |
will generally vote the Democratic /
ticket this year. They carry with them
the bulk of their employees. Then the |
everlasting canal question comes up, |
and Governor Odell and the Republi- |
can legislatures policy in that regard |
is sternIy condemned all up the State, |
where the Republican vote comes |
from and only approved in the city, |
while there is no hope of catching any |
votes on that or any other ground. |
Added is the general personal unpopu-
larity of the Governor. These things
are not all. Stanchfield whom the |
Democratic convention may renomi-
nate for Governor-he was the candi-
date four years ago, but not in the last |
one of the confesSedly |
most popular men in the upper coun-
ties. Republicans here who know the
situation admit that he will poll Il con-
siderable Republican vote in his own
section Of the State and lose no votes
All | have here stated makes me
feel reasonably secure as to New
York. / know that leading Democrats
regard Indiana as likely to cast its
vote against its own favorite son in
November, They think so for these
reasons: the most important of which
lrs.-f fras,l l<ly a omitted by the Republi-
1sS ued on Page Fivc.)