The Washington times., 1904-09-06
VERMONT VOTERS
CASTING BALLOTS
TOday's Election in State
Holds Political Attention.
FORECASTS NATIONAL FIGHT
Booker T. Washington Again Promi-
nent-Arkansas Democratic PIu-
Tality Reduced.
FORECASTS NATIONAL FIGHT

All political eyes are turned to Yer
mont today, with the usual Republican
confidence tinged with an unusual ap-
prehension about the size of the plurality
for the ticket. Politicians are sometimes
mighty superstitious about how the ear
~ autumn winds are blowing. and moth
ing tells them so well as the way an
early State election sends the ballots
whistling into the ballot boxes
The extraordinary interest in the Yer
mont election in each campaign comes
from the fact that for thirty years past
the vote there has been the unfailing in
dication Of the national result In Novem-
be-.
A Political Barometer
In these three decades past 1t has been
found that whenever the Republican
plurality has fallen below 5000 the Dem
ocrats have carried the country, as in
1876. 1884. and 1882, and the greater the
fall from the 100 mark the more sweep
ing has been the Democratic victory for
the Presidency. This decline was small
est in 1876. when the national result was
close enough to cause a contest, and
largest IN the tidal wave year of 1892.
This readily explains the present anxiety
OF the Republicans TO show a plurality
IN excess of $4,000 If they can do that
past experience, in believing President
Roosevelt's election TO be fully assured.
The only condition which might be in
any way relied upon to change this Oft
repeated custom is the recognized preva-
lence Of unusual apathy amono the peo-
pie regarding the Presidential canvass
Apathy usually tells against the party
IN power, but II may not work so this
year. That all depends upon whether
the indifference Is not more pronounced
among the Bryan Democrats than
no - ~, g~-r~-
exceptional year in Presidential politics
presenting characteristics Of a marked
transitional order.
Hurrah Methods Dead.
This apathy Is not because the voters
feel no interest in the election itself
but is due more especially to the
decadence Of the old-time ''hurrah cam
paign." Even Candidate Fairbanks
could not attract crowds of a thousand
in his recent appearance there. Many
of his hearers were summer visitors
The farmers and tradesmen refused to
attend, declaring that they were too
busy
SO it has been all through the Yer
mont campaign. 1t was this apathy of
the Republicans that caused Senator
Proctor and others to rush to Presi-
dent Roosevelt and have him direct that
the party's greatest men be sent to
The Republicans are confident Of Sc
curing the votes OF about 1900 of or
ganized labor men. through the efforts
OF state Organizer Jones who has been
working in Republican interests for
several months. The Republican candi-
date for governor. Charles J. Bell. is a
farmer The farmers have been for
years demanding that one Of their class
be chosen for the States executive, and
II Is believed by many that he Will get
a few hundred Democratic votes which
In November viii be cast for Judge
Parker. This. il is said. is realized by
the Democrats and their candidate. Eli
u. Porter. a business man. In this cam
paign the Democrats have stuck to
State issues because they know that in
Vermont. which in this respect is pc
culiar. they cannot in the least weaken
Republican strength by talking OF the
tariff. reciprocity, or National Govern
ment reforms.
Studying Vermont Figures.
Because OF these conditions. Republi-
can observers have looked carefully into
the record OF past elections, 10 get a
line on what the opposition is likely
TO do this year. Every vote the Demo-
Gratis gain viii count heavily, because
their party had almost disintegrated in
1900 IN the gubernatorial election. This
fall the Democrats have a good organi-
cation, are working hard and are receiv-
ing substantial encouragement from
New York city.
Of