Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1904-03-30
PRESIDENTIAL PREFERENCES.

The Toledo Weekly Blade has
probably as large a circulation
throughout the United States as any
other political or family paper.
In its issue Of Jan. 81 the Blade
asked this question of Its readers:
who Is your candidate for the Re.
publican presidential nomination."
AT that time" says the Blade,
there was a most vigorous warfare,
apparently. waged against the can
didacy of Mr.. Roosevelt. It was said
that his popularity is waning with
the Republican masses: that he has
shown himself too strenuous that
he is an unsafe man as chief execu-
tive of the nation: that the business
men of the country prefer someone
else as president. and that the rank
and file of the party are beginning
to think that perhaps it might be
better to choose some other candi-
date"
The Blade readers were asked TO
send in promptly their preference
for the Republican nominee. More
than one,third of the total number
received were sent on postal cards,
either the preference OF a single read
er. or of a large number. many cards
containing the names of a dozen 10
thirty voters, with their preferences.
The remainder came by letter. being
the results of by business
men of their Republican customers,
Dr. a poll of the Republicans of a
township or district. made by some
energetic Blade reader.
Almost 80 per cent of the total
number of preferences were received
prior to the lamented and unexpected
death of Senator Hanna. The Blade
had previously announced that the
time for the reception OF preferences
would close on March /. The let.
tiers received after Mr.. Hanna's de.
mise all tell the same story-that
there was an immediate cessation OF
all discussion of any candidate for
the nomination other than Mr.. Roose.
welt.
The Blade gives the figures receiv.
ed from each state and the result
simply shows an almost unanimous
sentiment for President Roosevelt.
Out of l39,475 preferences he gets
1873. 1863, leaving only 1916 votes to
be scattered throughout As states. In
many states no choice is expressed
for another candidate. In New York
state 2,470 express a choice for Roose,
welt and go for Mr.. Hanna. In Ohio
| 1892 favored Roosevelt and 100 the
dead senator. Even in the south a
strong preference is shown for Pres.
ident Roosevelt. The preferences
came from over 1900 different post.
offices In the United States.
In thousands of letters and postal
cards, reasons for supporting Mr..
Roosevelt were given. often in brief,
pregnant sentences. The most fire.
quent were of this tenor: I'VE like
a man who has nerve to do things"
Roosevelt is a man who determines
what is best for the country, and
then does IT," I'VE want him be-
cause he is not afraid to fight the
trusts I'VE believe he prefers the
interests OF the common people to
those of Wall street" And very
numerous were expressions OF sup.
port because of his handling of the
Panama canal business, and in AT
last forcing the canal project to a
finality.
One remarkable feature of the ex-
pressions of opinion in favor of Mr.,
Roosevelt was the determination to
bolt the ticket II. by manipulation,
he should be deprived of the nomina'
ton at Chicago. One list of names
was of employees in a manufacturing
establishment in Ohio. which said,
IF Roosevelt is not nominated we
will vote for the Democratic candi'