The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-08-02
POLITICAL sIzE-UP OF COLoRA-
DO, IDAHO, MONTANA AND
NEVADA.
Democrats Have the Better Chance in
Only One of the Quartet. Viz. Ne
vada--Rooseyelt Stronger Every.
where in the West Than the Local
Candidates.
BY w. w. Jermane,

with three. ~
Under conditions that may possibly
prevail in the east, these western
votes might decide the presidential
tremely improbable, it is wise to
look at the states in question and
see what light their past throws on
the immediate future. Such an in
curry will show that the republicans
have much the better chance for vic
tory IN Colorado, Idaho and Montana
ana that the democrats have the bet
ter chance in Nevada. So excellent
Is the republican outlook in these
three states that early electoral tables
should place them in the republican
column. Nevada, for similar reasons,
shou!d Tor the present be conceded to
the democrats in these tables. Sep
TENDER and October may bring about
a change in this alignment, but it is
unlikely, save possibly as to Colorado
and Nevada. In the former state the
labor situation is SO strained as to
make definite expression of opinion
dangerous. And yet in Colorado, the
n re up a;I, seem to have the. better
OF the situation, even after allowing
Tor the labor detection. as the an
a!ysis Of conditions in that state will
show.
IN 1876 Colorado cast it's electoral
vote Tor Hayes, in 1880 for Garfield,
ana IN 1884 for Blaine. In. 1892 it
went for Weaver, the populist candi-
gate, by $1,000. In 1896 it went for
Bryan by the phenomenal majority of
$4,000 in total vote of 1851. That
year marked the high tide Of it's po-
Utica! folly, and it has since been
WORKING its way back to reliable re-
publ1canism. In 1900 1t was still dem
ocrat1c, but by a margin Of only 29,-
Oo0.. In 1902 it elected a republican
governor by 1000 plurality and three
republican congressman by pluralities
OF $40, 2,792 and 2,312. In 1908 it
elected a republican justice of the
supreme court by 1856.
There is no doubt In the minds of
impartial men, familiar with the ia cts
that the Colorado legislature elected
IN 1902 was republican. The political
scandals Of the winter of 1923, in
Denver, revolving around the election
of United States senator, are well
remembered. BY force a democratic
majority was seated and Senator Tel
Ter thus continues as one of the
states representatives at the national
capital.
Governor Peabody, a republican,
has declared martial law on various
occasions in the past six months at
Cripple Creek and Victor. The gov
ernor, because Of that act. has been
denounced by great many, but his
defenders are equally numerous and
yvociferous Neither the democratic
ho s,sz me republican national managers
Peabody's policy will be on the Colo
RADIO presidential situation. The dem
| ocrats are hopeful that enough labor
republicans will vote for the Parker
electors to give the state to the demo-
Gratis. The republicans are just as
Il no III
cratic defections.
At the same time, the steady trend
| In Colorado for several years has been
back to republicanism. Roosevelt is
very popular there. He is personally
acquainted with many Coloradoans.
In 1900 he campaigned thru the state
as candidate for the vice presidency.
subsequently he made two trips thru
the. state as president, and his recep-
ton was Of that sincere western char
acter, which admits of no dubiety.
Aside from the presidents personal
popularity in Colorado, his entire pol
Icy has met with the cordial approval
of Colorado people. He is much
stronger In that state than any purely
local candidates can hope to be- He
Willstlais;year receive more votes there
than the republican candidates for
governor and congress and unless
these candidates should be defeated
O,U
he will certainly carry the state. He
has refused to permit himself to be
mixed up In the Colorado labor
troubles, and whenever he has spoken
on the labor question it has been in a
way to command respect and conf
dence of all the Deople.
The republicans Of Colorado may
easily lose their state ticket this year
and yet win the state for Roosevelt.
He Is much stronger than his party
In all the great west of which Col
orado is type.
Idaho cast her first presidential
rality of 1901 for the weaver
electors. In 1895 she was for Bryan
by margin Of 16,87S, and in 1900
for + 7, Bryan again by margin 81
1902 she elected a Republican gov
ernor by 1858, a republican con-
gresham by 1856, and a republican
legislature which chose republican
United States senator. What change
in sentiment the state has undergone
since 1902 has been In the direction
ascendency The party is united, the
people are prosperous, and in com
mon with all the mountain and Pa
cif1c coast states, save Nevada, Idaho
lnOOTSeS the Roosevelt administration
and is presumably fond of him, and
there is no logical ground for hoping
that Parker will carry it this year.
Roosevelt is known personally all
over the great west, and he has GER
tain characteristics that endear him
to western people. He is closer. to
these people than any president has
ever been, and his life among them
has made him thorolyl familiar with
their habits of thought and ways of
doing things. His popular vote all
thru the mountain country will proba-
bly, be larger than that ever cast for
a presidential candidate. Judge
Parker, on the other hand, is not
known in the west. He is complete
obstruction to western people,
and besides, his telegram to the
st. Louis convention put him in the
attitude Of flying into the face of the
one issue which carried the mountain
states twice for Bryan. These re-
marks are made with particular refer
ence to Idaho, but they apply with
equal force to both Colorado and
feet the result in Nevada.
Montana.
Montana's first presidential vote, in
1882, gave the state to Harrison by
1900. In 1896 Bryan carried it by
/ $4,000, and in 1900 by LIP, d falling
/ off of more than one-half. What has
been true in Colorado and Idaho since
/ 1900 has been true in Montana also
Enc 1902 it elected a republican, JUS
| tfce. of. the supreme court by 1O,4S6,
and a republican congressman by
/ 5,066. In the same year it chose, a