The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-09-16
RURAL VOTE AS
REPUBLICAN, HOPE
Results in Maine and Vermont
Used as Basis for National
Estimate.
DEMOCRATS EXPECT
GAINS IN THE CITIES
Sixty Per Cent Of United States
Population Is in the
Country.
BY w. w. Jsrmane.

BY w. w. Jsrmane.
Washington, Sept. 16.-The fact that
the democratic gains in Maine were all
IN the cities and large towns, and that
the republicans made their gains in
the rural communities, is Intimately
connected with the fact that the. pro-
h1plt1on question was the chief issue.
The republican party is responsible for
prohibition in Maine. The farmers,
who are everywhere additionally in ia
Vor OF strict temperance, supported that
party In increasing numbers, while the
voters in the cities and larger towns,
where prohibition is always less in ia.
planning the election figures than any
partlzan statement.
prohibition was more of an issue in
Maine this year than for long time,
and it did not come out Of the encoun-
ter with flying ,colors. On the contra
several counties the people are tired of
the attempts to enforce the law. This
rebuke to aggressive illiberalism was
directly felt in a falling off of the
republican vote in the urban centers.
IN one county a Clergyman was sew
eral years ago elected sheriff, and he
has been enforcing the law against the
sale OF intoxicants harshly and to the
letter: In a neighboring county the
sheriff has been advocating a wise SUI
pervlsion Of the places where liquor was
sold following the famous "policy'
adopted by Mr.. Eustis when he was
mayor Of Minneapolis), and there have
him, the rabid supporters of the law
contendlng that he was unfit to asso-
ciate with decent people. Strange to
relate, this sheriff has been reelected
by largely increased majority, while
the parson sheriff has been defeated
for reelection.
No Index to Nation.
For the reasons here stated, it Is not
wise to regard the Maine vote this year
as shedding any important light on the
state Of public sentiment the country
over. In Vermont, where there were
no, overshadowing local questions, the
voters in both parties seem to have
thought more of their one local issue
than they did Of national questions.
The Maine reports indicate that for
every 100 republican votes cast when
Bryan was the issue, in the cities and
towns, lI5 votes were cast last Monday,
and that on the same basis, for every
100 democratic votes cast four years
ago, 131 were cast at the recent cleo
ton. With the prohibition question out
of the way, these ratios would be strong
ly suggestive, when applied in the sew.
ito were applied to New York, that state
would surely be for Roosevelt, as would
New jersey and Connecticut, while In
diana would be for Parker, as would
Nebraska. Such q contemplation, of
course, can have only speculative in
terest. Maine is not q typical state,
and its great local issue this year has
made it's September election figures Of
even less value than usual.
RuraI and TTrh,r yyo+a
The politicians are taking much inter-
from the urban. This is due to the cleo
ton in Vermont, where the rural vote
outnumbers the urban vote almost in the
ratio Of three to one. In other words,
1913 per cent Of the total vote of Yer
mont Is in the country and in towns of
less than $500; In Maine only $50 per
cent Of the voters are in the rural COM
mun1ties. These communities, in both
states, have shown an increased liking
for the republican party by radically
increasing their republican pluralities.
The question now being asked is, will
large in November7 IF it is, the result
will favor the republicans in some of
the close states and the democrats in
others.
a majority Of the people Of the
United States, 60, per, cent, according to
the country towns which are directly
dependent on the farmer. It is general
ly conceded that the farming sections
have been the largest benefciaries Of the
last two republican administrations
The farmer has fourished under the era
of high prices and many urban citizens
have cried out because Of it.
Indiana as Example,
Indiana is one of the close states In
the present campaign. Approximately
Sc per cent of it's people are rural resi-
reports from that state are that Roose
welt and Fairbanks are more than hold
ing their own in these rural sections
and that where there has been any dem
oeratic, gain it is in the cities, ant
Gently completed by the republicans, in
publican gains in certain counties
mainly devoted to agriculture.
While only 343 per cent of the voter
Of Indiana are jewellers in the cite
and towns. $50 per cent Of the voters
reason that many prominent democrat
have thought that Illinois was this yea
O more inviting field for democrati
endeavor than Indiana. This feelin,
has been emphasized as the result O.
the Vermont and Maine elections, ant
IL IS IuSC possible tnaC chairman Tag
CART, who is to spend several days i
Chicago in the near future, may go bacl
to New York with the recommen datiol
that more attention be given Illinois
It was the urban vote which CAV
Illinois to the democrats in 1892, mucl
to the surprise of all the politica
prophets That vote this, year, it j
contended by certain democrats, Sena
tor German among them, is in bette
condition to be influenced for demo
cratic. candidates than it was twelv
years ago.
Wisconsin Rural.
In Wisconsin, where some democrat
profess to see hopeful sign in the ar
tagonisms within the republican party
61.9 per cent of the voters are in tn
rural districts In West Virginia,
doubtful state this year, $3.50 per cen
of the voters are jewellers in til
country.
In New York, however, the proportio
of rural voters to the voters in the cite
Is very small. In that state almos
hree-fourths of all the people live i
the cities and larger towns. Only 81.
per cent are rural. In the upstate rura
counties Of New York, which adioi