The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-11-05
THE WEEKLY JOURNAL. Issued Thursday. One Dollar a Year.
4 VAR OF BALLOTS.

are being held to-day. While General Apathy Is by no manner of means without a considerable following, as is generally the case when larger politi- cal issues are lacking from a contest, there is still enough tangible concern Involved to make the outcome fairly indicative of the public pulse. If off, year elections could be introduced in- to all of the States of the Union it would be possible to separate more successfully than now is done general from purely local achievements.
 The largest election, in this section of the country at least, is being held in the State of Massachusetts There are the usual factional quarrels to consider, but in spite of them there is good reason to believe that the large questions at issue will determine the popular vote. It is probably too much to expect that MT. Whitney, the Democratic candidate for governor, can win. He is too hotly opposed by MT. Williams and his reactionary fol- lowers, but representing as he does the demand for broader national policy in the consideration of the tariff and the practical view of railroad consoli- dation between the Boston and Maine and the New Haven company it is possible that self-interest may rise above partisanship and eliminate from consideration the personalities of MT. Williams and Governor Guild. If the issue were narrowed down to them, the chances would overwhelm- ingly favor the latter, who has on the whole proved himself to be a repre- sentative citizen of the commonwealth. On the other hcnd, the need for a more expanded commercial life has so impressed itself upon the minds of the producers of Massachusetts that fur ther postponement of tariff reform ap- pears to them to sound the weaken ing of New England as a manufac- turing center. The shippers of the State realize that railroad consolidation is surely coming and it is believed that it would be better if the New Haven Railroad company did the consolidat- ing. So important in fact is an ex- presslon of public opinion upon these questions that 1t will be nothing short of remarkable if the influence of it is not detected in the returns, even though Governor Guild receives a po- litical vindication.
 The New York situation so far as public interest is concerned is con centrated on the contest in New York county, where the followers of MT Hearst have fused with the regular Republican organization for the pur- pose of defeating the Tammany ticket Had any other man than Herbert Par sons, the Republican county leader negotiated this political deal it would have been universally condemned. Be- ing man whose probity, political and personal, has never been questioned and whose general sincerity was sup. posed to have been determined wher he busted former Governor Odell ant his supporters, he has succeeded 1T bringing to the advocacy of the dea many of the more influential Republi cans of the county, including Setl Low. There is feeling, nevertheless that bargain of that character which involves the swallowing of th fierce condemnation visited upon MT Hearst by Secretary of State Root a the special command of Presiden Roosevelt last year, cannot be accept ed as pardonable political leadership At has at any rate made Tamman, confident and insured a marked in crease in the stay-at-home vote. Tn dispassionate portion of the press o New York agrees that all things be ing considered the attitude of Tam many is more to be approved than tn prolonged political life contemplated i the recognition of MT. Hearst for an purpose whatsoever. Upon no theor which has found expression durin the campaign has the fusion bee
 made to appear agreeable to those who, while detesting the self-centere methods of Tammany, can view wit no satisfaction at all the introductio of Hearst as a serious political leader If, as has been hinted, MT. Parson would never have closed the des without the approval of higher part leaders, it is at least strange that h should have been left by them | fight the battle alone. If Tammany other words should win the electio by a substantial majority a new side light will have been thrown upon ez isting political alignments and ar preaching political struggles. It woul seem in fact as if the conditions of tn