West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1907-12-19
OUR washington LETTER
Politics Now Attracting Attention Of
The Public.
WHO WILL Be THE CANDIDATES ?
Doubtful States Hold Balanss Of Power.
Paric Will Play Prominent .
Part In Election.
From oar Regular Correspondent.

1
WASHINGTON. II. C., Dec. H.
The meeting of the national com
mittecs of lhc political parties has
focused public attention on politics
and led to conjecture about whom
the Democrats and Repubicaas will
nominate tor President, and who
will be elected. The unL, clue TO
the future, in politics as IN other
matters, is to draw conclusions fro n
the past Financial panic has al.
ways been followed by the defeat
OF the party IN power. The panic
ofIS7a resulted IN the election of a
Democratic majority ia the house of
representatives IN 1874, and Mr..
IiIden's popular majority in 1870.
The panic of 1893, although the
Democrats wve not responsib bic for
1t, resulted in the discrediting Of the
Cleveland administration and the
loss of the control of the house If
representatives in 1894. and the de.
feat of the Democrats IN 1906.
The present panic, if followed by
the usual period of business depres
sion, and there is no reason to he
lieve It will not be, may thus lead
to the defeat of the Republicans
next year. There IS, however, a
great difference in party loyalty now
and IN the past, so the panic pre-
cedent may not be an unerring
guide. There is wave of indie.
pendence amongst the voters that
must be considered in drawing con.
clusions as TO political results that
was not present in former cam.
paigns. The election of Gov. John-
son, Democrat, of Minnesota, in
1904 by a plurality OF 6,357, when
Judge Parker was defeated by I6I,- =
464, and Mr.. Byan four years be.
fore was defeated by 1850, is a
most extraordinary exemph6cation
of The independence of the voters of
Minnesota. This. was followed by
the re election OF Gov. Johnson in
1900 by plurality Of 76,633, al.
though the Republican state officers
were elected by large majorities.
Nor was Minnesota the only state
where this independence exhibited
itself, for Gov. Burke, Democrat.
was elected IN Norrh D4kota IN
1906, although all the Republican
candidates for state officers were
elected by The usual msiorites.
Similar results in Rhode Island and
Oregon show that this Independence
was widespread. All these instances
indicate that the voters in several
states, at least, voted for men rather
than measures, and should be a
warning 10 the political leaders who
arc now seeking to manipulate the
nomination for President.
In the doubtful states the indie
pendent voters hold the balance of
power and neither party can afford
to ignore factions that are opposed
to such candidates as a strong mi
norlty will refuse to cordiaiiy en-
dorse. That IS the weakness Of
Taft, # nominated, for the Foraker
iAcuon will give him but luke warm
support and many will secretly cut
him in his own state.
Likewise Mr. B,yan cannot ex.
pect the solid Democratic vote in
New York New jersey, sud other
doubtful states that must he carpft d
10 win The election. There is no
doubt that Mr. Bryan is the most
popular man Of all those mentioned
for the Democratic nomination, and
therefore may be selected.
But can Mr. Bryan be elected?
o answer that question the ptac
ticsl politicians aud party leaders
are now investigating political con-
dilions IN the doubtful states. The
Democratic party must gain enor-
mously to have any SHOW Of sue
cess. In the necessary doubtful
states it must be united aud receive
the support Of the independentvoter
to defeat almost any one the Repub.
licans are likely 10 nominate.
1t requires z47 votes Of the elec.
toral college for a majority. The
following table shows the certain
Democratic and Republican states
and those states that may be clsssed
as doubtful:
DENocRAric srATEs.