Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-01
THE MIDDLE WEST
States of That Section Ali
for Roosevelt.
ONE SIDED CAMPAIGN
so FAR AS THE NATIONAL TICKET
is CONCERNED.
But fractional Differences May Affect
State Ohicers-Reorganiza in
Both Parties Needed.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

the middle west. The people are somewhat
interested in New York and the east. They
also show a little curiosity about the re-
ports from the mountain states. But con-
corning affairs at home they manifest no
concern.
The states of this great section week
before election are where they have been
all along. They are for Roosevelt have
noted the campaign in all its stages The
uniformity with which public sentiment has
developed has been regular to be
dull. Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Wiscon-
sin, Minnesota, the Dakotas and Iowa are
all going for the republican national ticket,
some of them by majorities which will rival
the phenomenal pluralties of Mckinley. /
base this statement on what have seen in
the several states.
In spite of the one-sidedness Of the cleo
ton and the apathy of the public the de-
velopments of the campaign have many
interesting features, though most of these
will not become plain until after Novem-
Der s. Yet 1t is already apparent that
there Is no reorganized democracy In the
west and that in spite of the heavy MAORI
ties for Roosevelt and Fairbanks, reor-
ganiZed republican party will be necessary
In many of the states. Never have been
so many fractional issues allowed to run
riot within the republican organization as
since 1t became clear that by hitching to
through. But for the Immediate present
the question is chiefly the failure of the re-
organized national democracy to show it
self a live political force.
Illinois Conditions.
Here in Illinois the lapse is best under
stood and a forecast of the future is more
easily obtained. Six months ago many
democrats believed, and some republicans
feared, that the democrats would have
fighting chance for the state. 1t was then
that the proposition to take the candidate
for vice president from Illinois was broach-
ed by the eastern leaders and received some
support here But by the time the st. Louis
convention met no democrat In the state
was willing to risk his reputation by pledg-
ing Illinois to the democratic national tick
ct 1t was known that the state would go
republican and the only question was
whether a live opposition could be got to-
gether and the republican majority kept
down so that Illinois would occupy a COM
handing position in the contest of 1908.
With reunited democracy very fair con-
test might have been given the republicans.
But there has not been even the semblance
of democrattc campaign in the state and
the Illinois democracy by the showing 1t
makes at the polls will have little claims on
the party in other sections of the country.
Two causes have brought about this con-
dition. One is the distinct failure of Judge
Parker's candidacy to impress his own fol-
lowers and his inability to find an issue
which would hold good over night. The
other cause is deeper. 1t is the old struggle
for supremacy between the Bryan influences
and the conservative elements.
With regard to Judge Parker no shade of
partisan bias enters into the opinion that
his candidacy has been misfit, so far as
relates TO making an impression on the
west. 1t is the judgment of democrats who
in private voice their bitter disappointment.
For the democrats, the closing days of the
campaign are as lfeless as the opening
weeks.
Like Robust Politics.
Western people like robust politics. That
is one secret of President Roosevelts popu-
larity. Democrats would like more of it in
their own candidate and they do not seem
to look upon the spasmodic outgivings of
Judge Parker during the last fortnight as
genuine evidences of virility in public af-
fairs The canvass closes with the person.
atty of the democratic candidate almost
unknown to the great mass of his party in
the west. 1t is a fair statement to say
that Tom Watson has made a deeper inn
preston in the west than has Judge Par
ker. and with that statement the influence
of the personality of the candidates for
President may be dismissed.
The other phase of the campaign relates
to the Bryanites. Substantially there is no
democratic party in Illinois, because MI.
Bryans followers decided that there should
be none. The peerless leader, though he
passed through the state several times
made no speeches. The party machinery is
In the hands of the opposition. Ex-Mayor
John p. Hopkins and Bank President James
II. Eckels have control of it. Under iron
clad instructions they voted as delegates at
st. Louis for Hearst but they were the
mainstay of the reorganizers in beating the
Bryanites on other questions. At that time
1t looked as though Hopkins plan of going
for Bryan with a meat ak and hacking him
out of the party might win, but the expec-
tation has been disappointed. Bryan is still
strong in Illinois. and it happens that the
way to show his strength is by keeping
down the democratic vote.
Democrats Supporting Republicans.
Democrats are going it wild supporting
many republican candidates, but apparently
with a clear understanding among them
selves that they will help the republican
majorities specially on the state and ma
ional tickets. With this feeling so wide
spread. it is not difficult to believe that
Roosevelt may carry Illinois by 100000 and
that Deneen will have a similar majority
for governor. The Bryanites and Mr.
Hearsts friends think that in this way they
can eliminate the Hopkins ckels faction.
which has control of the state machinery
Though Mayor Harrison has been called to
Esopus two or three times to consult with
Judge Parker, he is not much of a factor in
the situation
Some doubt might be thrown on the size
of the republican majority by the uncer-
tainty which always attaches to the vote of
big city. Chlcagos pride had fall in the
registration figures which showed an act
ual falling off of nearly 1900 registered
voters since 1900. This must be taken
either to mean that the city's population
has been stationary or that the apathy was
so pronounced as to make 1t dangerous
Apathy is probably the real exnlanatJon
but 1t is likely that more of II existed
among the democrats than among tho re-
publicans. The labor conditions. which q
lew months ago were threatening the re-
publican majority. have improved right
along. president Roosevelt's hold on the
foreign nationalities. which form SO large =
part OF the Chicago population. has NOT
weakened in the slightest degree When air
the conditions are passed in review Chica an
may be considered republican city in tSe
national election az TIC
In Other States.
The republican luxury of factiona, s,.t.
issues is found outside of Illinois. n 10 a =
extraordinary condition. In Iowa the ,r,-
umphant faction which got Governor Cur,
minis down and pounded him because ~
his support of reciprocity and tartfr rev,-
sion has been compelled to moderate ito
zeal. In spite of all that has happened tha
sentiment for which Governor Cummins
stands has not been choked out of the To,,a
republicans. But the question is NOT enter
ing into the national campaign, and ahort 4
the only matter of interest in Iowa 10
whether the republicans will succeed in