New-York tribune., 1904-08-10
HUNTING FOR An ISSUE.
WITH HARD LUCK SO FAR.
BIT Democrats Arc Still Figuring
Ont a TictOry.
LERoN THE TRIBUNE BUREAU ]

Washington Aug O.-Democrats in Washing
ton are looking forward 70 the publication OF
their campaign book. which is to be out IN a
couple Of weeks, to define what they are expect
ed to regard as the issues of the campaign. Ihey
declare that they are now receiving different in
structions each day. They were first informed
that the personality OF the President was 70 be
made the issue The speeches Of Representa-
tives gitchin Patterson and Fitzgerald were
supplied 10 them and they were told 10 STUDY
them for epithets and opprohrious descriptions
of Mr. Roosevelt. This they did, but they ho
sooner found themselves loaded with tnis sort
CT material than they we're informed that Cie
personality issue gave signs or proving a failure
that Republican editors and speakers were ask
ing the Democrats to prove their assertions ths-I
the President was unsafe" and that they were
una bic to make good
Then Representative Gaines went on the war
path and promised developments with regard TO
the Tobacco Trust which would serve as destruc-
tive ammunition everywhere. but especially in
the Border States. Unfortunately just as the
Democratic editors and the few speakers who
have thus far taken the stump had mastered
the details OF Mr.. Gaines's allegations, informa-
ton leaked OUT from the Department OF
Justice which put the Tennesseean in a most
unfortunate light, and instructions went out to
drop the tobacco issue for the present.
Representative Cochran, Of New-York IN
duced the Congress Committee 10 believe
that his speech on the tariff furnishd the key
note for numerous campaign addresses, and
great quantities OF copies of that speech were
promptly printed and distributed. especially in
Massachusetts which Representative Sullivan
had described as the eve OF free trade land
slide. but Senator German learned OF the dis
tribution. and caused it to come to sudden
end, punctuating his comments on the subject
IL, N hos In
telligence was so diminutive that they were
unable to distinguish between the tenor Of Mr..
Cockran's free trade extravagances and the
tariff plank of the Maryland platform.
Mr.. Germans remarks on the upbuhding or
the navy and the increased military power of
the nation were next tried. but with equally
prejudicial effect Democratic editors from ell
over the country wrote to the committee. adj
vising It that the more that was said about the
upbuilding of the navy and the reorganization
of the army the more Republican votes there
would be III their sections. The Democratic
faithful. therefore, are in a quandary, and
anxiousy await the issue OF the campaign book.
hoping that It VIII define some issues which
Will not prove harmful 20 the party.
1t is announced at Democratic headquarters
that Representative Cowherd's alleged refuta-
tion of tho recent bulletin Of the Bureau OF
Labor wages and the cost OF living Will re-
ceive wide circulation, but when IT IS reflected
that Mr.. Cowherd unblushingy repudiates the
testimony OF retail prices indication OF
the cost Of living and asserts that the consumer
is more concerned with the wholesale prices OF
the commodities which he Is obliged 10 purchase
than with what he pays for them. the effect OF
that document can be appreciated.
notwithstanding the discouraging experiences
which have thus far attended Democratic efforts
TO create enthusiasm for tho Parker-Davis
ticket, tho leaders are claiming victory with an
admirable stimulation % confidence in their pre-
dictions.
According to Representative Clark's forecast
for instance. the Democrats are sure 70 carry
the Presidency. lie figures on 253 electoral
votes fourteen more than necessary. Mr..
C7a-k's table gives the Democrats these States:
Solid South. 15l; New-York. 80: New-Jersey. u:
Maryland. s; West Virginia, 1; Connecticut, 1;
Delaware. 3; Indiana, IS: Colorado. ., Montana,
3; Nevada, >: total, 203
OF course. If he should slip up on Indiana,
that alone would spoil his table and leave him
short or majority. If he should miss 1t
as 10 New-York he would be away or his course
and against strong headwind. but Mr. Clark
does not admit that there IS danger OF losing
New-York He admits that 1t might be possl
BILE TO lose Indiana, but says there would stil be
Wisconsin to for IL votes. Idaho for >.
Utah for 3. and maybe Illinois for - which
would be a total OF 40 with which TO make up
deficiencies.
But when Mr.. Clark gets down TO rock bottom
figures his table shows a majority OF one. and
that with the inclusion of three States which the
opposition regards as absolutely rock ribbed Rc-
publican, namely. Indiana, New-Jersey and Con-
necticut with a total OF thirty-four votes. and
three States which the opposition think are more
likely Republican than Democratic, namely,
Colorado. Montana and Delaware, with eleven
votes. Mr.. Clark did not give his Democratic
friends in Washington any definite assurance OF
Democratic prospects. but spoke in a general
way Of the outlook. Democratic success seemed
to him to be ain the air.; there were labor
troubles in Colorado and Illinois and factiona
fights in Wisconsin that ought to hurt the Re
publicans. and he found general underlined
feeling that the Democrats would win. At least
he hoped