Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-22
Herrick and Higgins About
Even in Governorship Race.
BETTING IN NEW YORK
REASONS FOR CHANGE OF SENTI-
MENT TOWARD HIGGINS.
Practical State Polls Predict Roosevelt
Plurality of Over IS, ,oOO-Ef-
feet on Higgins.

Special From STAFF Correspondent.
! NEW YORK, October 22.-Last Mon
| day these dispatches predicted that within
| ten days the odds would change on the state
| situation and that 1t would be pretty near
| ly an even race between Herrick and Hig-
| gins. In New York the betting odds are
| quick to reflect the state of public sent-
| ment. and II may be OBSERVE that today the
| odds were even and better on Higgins. Now
| this change may not be permanent.
l am not prepared to predict on the out
| come yet, and will be satisfied if | can only
| show the swinging of the pendulum from
day to day. But the game chalks up
at this writing the republican prospect is
very much brighter
| Within the past twenty-four hours | have
busted myself with trying to get some sub
stantial details to explain why the outlook
for the republicans is improving Of
course. the confidential statements of men
high in the management of the party might
serve as a tip to the man who has con-
fidence in their judgment and who pos
sesses their confidence, but l have looked
for something more specific. The explana-
ton given might be set forth in these words
and for latitude of expression, if you please
l will quote ad lib:
Reaction in Sentiment Explained.
The growth in republican prospects may
| De set down to the natural reaction from
the strained situation of a few weeks ago
The republican insurgents have blown off
their steam and are beginning to settle
down to the normal attitude After the
Saratoga convention there was great deal
or unrest, dissatisfaction and, perhaps in
dfgnation The democrats had set IN a
great howl about Odellism. On top of that
1here was wave of resentment against
Odelis treatment of Senator Platt But.
dIter ALL the latter was sentimental prom
osltlon Now as to Odellism the opnosition
having fired their biggest guns. they may
nave scored on Odell, but already the peo-
pie are beginning to ask is Higgins a fair
target"
Higgins Not Fair Target
Mr. Root, at the Union League Club the
oeher night, voiced the sentiments of many
| repuphcans when he protested against Hig-
gins belng made to bear the brunt of all
.iiat Is charged against Odellism. But to
leave the quotation marks and come down
TO summary of conditions as tbev amman
To-Day, 1t may be stated that there GER
talnly is a reaction. Most prominent in II
is Roosevelt's personality.
Doubtless people will get tired .ftor
awhile of hearing on every hand ,oth,no
but Roosevelt and his prestige but ubot
can you expect when that is all tbera &, =.
the situation whichever way Won turpo
Out west they have a term which t.,-
Apply 10 anythlng or anybody that iS r.
yond being reasoned with. They saw If Is
+tis locoeu. II does seem that the people of
lHis Sectlon are plumb "locoed'' over Rooso
velt, and that is about the only wav to mt
it or to explain it. ~ Po'
Practical Polls of the State
According to the politicians. who b.,-a
made practical polls of the state. and #
might be added by way of parentbesis +ba+
this description does not applv to tho do,oo
Gratis, Roosevelt stands to carry New yorl,
by 5000 to 100000 plurality. That is the
way 1t looks now, and goodness knows bo
II Will appear when the last secret noII is
mace. The upset figure of republican dis
today. ''0''
1t is evident to the most casual ohser,.,
tfat the republicans are depending mainly
on Roosevelt to pull the state ticket out Of
tne Dog. But minor considerations are also
pelns taken into account. They might he
classified In this way: W
First, the natural reaction from the orig
inal outburst of dissatisfaction and the
tendency OF republicans to do lot of
grumbllng beforehand and then go nm ana
vote the straight ticket at the last minute
Out In Oh1o we have seen that time and
again. You would think a week hefore
election day that the republicans were
ready to tear each others hearts out. and
on election day they go to the polls as
peaceable as lambs. 1t is true thny resume
their tomahawking the day after election.
and 1t is safe to predict that there will he
some of the bloodiest tomahawking in this
state after November that has been seen
in years.
There is solid basis for stating that there
will be cessation of factionalism on cleo
tion day. Letters are beginning to come
into New York from all over the state in
reSDOnSa to recent inUniriaS
ject. 1t is significant that many of these
replies go at length into grievances fam
cied or real, and wind up by saying that
the writer intends to vote the straight
ticket anyhow and resume his complaints
later. There Is only one inference to be
drawn from that, and of course it makes to
the benefit Of the state ticket.
Increased Sympathy for Higgins.
In the next place, there is a steady in
crease of sympathy for Higgins. Odell has
very sensibly and wisely eliminated him
self far possible from the campaign.
He does not permit the republican speakers
to talk about or defend or even refute the
things said about him. He is standing up
and taking every brick that is thrown at
him. That's all that he can do now.
Mr.. Higgins has the Endorsement of
Roosevelt in a personal letter written by
the President Men like Root who pos
sess the confidence of republicans every
where. indorse Higgins. The whole re-
publican campaign now is directed in ad-
vocacy of Higgins, not a defense of Odell.
That is bound to tell in the long run
Odell's Masterful Campaign.
Then you don't want to lose sight of
the campaign conducted by Gov. OdeIl
as a politician among politicians, a mas
terful manager AS stated in previous
dispatch to The Star, he is waging a
campaign in which individual voters are
considered He has money and he will
spend it to send half across the state to
see that John Smith, who is reported as
wavering is brought into line
The governor is on hand twenty-four
hours of the day. No political considera-
ton is too small to receive his attention