The Washington herald., 1907-11-07
MEANING OF VOTE
Politicians Busy Figuring
Out Election Significance.
NO BEARING ON NEXT YEAR
Results Generally Attributed 10 State
and Local Conditions, Having No
Relation TO National Issues-Causes
N Plenty Ready at Hand TO Ex-
plain the Several Surprises.

All kinds OF causes were found In
Washington yesterday for each Of the
election results Throughout the country
Tuesday in an effort to couple the out
comes with national politics, for the pur-
pose Of getting a possible line on the
general elections next year
Observing politicians, however, seem to
agree that local conditions must be con-
sidered in figuring UP the probable re-
suits Of the balloting. and insist that no
particularly strong showing is made for
either the Democratic or Republican
parties
Possibly the greatest surprise of all was
the majority that Wilson. Republican.
rolled up against Hager, Democratic
gubernatorial candidate, in Kentucky.
This while taken by many Republicans
10 mean that the principles of that party
was gaining strength, was caused, II is
generally agreed. by the fact that the
Democrats espoused the cause of prohi-
bition in State that has closed up prac-
tically ali its rural counties and 70 the
antagonisrn Of the old-line Democrats TO
the methods of Gov. Beckham's organi-
ZatiOn. Beckham, as governor. succeeded
in overthrowing the power OF Senators
Blackburn and McCreary two repre-
sentative Kentucky Democrats, by getting
himself chosen by primaries as the Sen
atorial candidate From the returns at
hand. It looks as though the Democrats
will have enough votes IN the legislature
10 send Beckham TO Washington in the
place OF Senator McCreary. Men VINO
wore the gray in the COS and who have
ticket until this year, took occasion Tues
day to enter a protest at the Beckham |
programme Of substituting young and un-
tried men for those who have given their /
time and their lives TO the affairs of
State.
Effect on TayIOr's Case.
One thing in which the whole country
IS interested as a result Of the election
of Wilson is whether or not he will bring !
former Gov Taylor back TO Kentucky
10 stand trial for completely in the case
of the murder of Gov Goebel Taylor |
has been in Indianapolis ever since the
murder, and incoming Hoos!er governors,
themselves Republicans, have consistent !
ly refused to honor extradition papers
from Kentucky calling for Taylors re-
turn for trial Wilson has. all through
his campaign. promised that he would
have Taylor come back to Kentucky to
stand trial, and his promises have been
made in such way that it is practically
certain he must at least use all possible |
means to carry out his promises
Taylor has been one of the countrys !
pathetic figures. an exile from his own
State and, for a number OF years, in
danger Of being Kidnapped. A number
or attempts were made 10 get him fOrci- |
bly, out Of the HOOsier State. but for a !
number of years he has been unmolested: |
in fact. has practically dropped out OF |
sight. He has continually said that he |
would return TO Kentucky II assured of /
fair trial. but has feared that the Bit I
terness engendered by the shooting OF 1
Goebel would prejudice any jury and !
court that might have charge of his case |
Result in Cleveland.
Interest in the Cleveland mayoralty con- /
test, of course. was the absorbing fea- /
ture, with the exception Of the New York 4
contest between Tammany on one side /
and the Parsons-Hearst combine on the /
other That Johnson was elected came /
as no surprise 10 those who have kept in /
touch with the Cleveland situation. al !
though even these admit that the Burton .
traction programme. if carried out. would /
have eventually brought about as good /
conditions as will Johnson's ideas. His /
scheme, however, was 70 bring about "A I
gradual change, and the voters, unable /
20 fathom the technicalities Of the propo- /
sition. did as il was generally expected /
they would do-fiocked to the support OF .
Mayor Tom, who promises 3-cent fares /
right now Whether the public will get
its immediate advantage remains TO be I
seen, however.
The action of the Cleveland Traction
Company in Immediately reverting TO the
old price Of eleven tickets for 50 cents. in
the place Of seven for a quarter as had
been sold before election, will not add 10
the popularity of BurtOn's lost cause, be-
cause Horace Z. Andrews, president of
the company, was one of BuTtOn'S
stanchest supporters.
That the ROoSevelt-Taft supporters are
not jubilant over the reelection Of John5i
son goes without saying. That Burton
was induced by the President to enter the
race has been conceded. and the popu-
larity of the President was one thing that
was expected TO count for Burton. That
his defeat means the political death Of
Burton is believed in many quarters. and
in these. same places It IS taken TO indi-
cate that Taft and Roosevelt will not be
able 10 overcome the power OF Senator
Foraker and his cohorts in the Buckeye
State. Whether this be true or not Is a
question that the next few months will
tell. but in many other places, and this IS
not only in Che Taft ranks, it is said that
the result Of the election will have no ef-
feet on the Presidential election.
Laid to Local Conditions.
1t was a local condition that beat
Burton" say the unprejudlced ones. "and
the fact that he was able TO cut down
Johnson's former pluralities is indication
enough Of not only his popularity in the
city. but Of that of his hackers as we'll
With any other man and any other sup
port FOR that man. the Johnson margin
would have been much larger than it Is"
Mr.. Burton IS credited with having
had his eye on the Senate, and expected
the mayorality to be a stepping stone
Whether his prestige has been sufficiently
affected as to make him unfit as a can
didate remains to be seen.
johnson had the support OF W. J. 4
Bryan, and his part in the campaign. by (
the way. is also commented on by those
who would make capital out Of Republi-
can victories. Attention is called 10 the
fact that in all the causes for which ne
spoke, he was defeated. yet none OF these
same people pretend to say that Bryan's
position is IN any way impaired
That Brand Whitlock will be a can
didate for the Ohio goYernorship now
seems assured since his reelection as
mayor OF Toledo He ran on a liberal
platform. backed by a record Of having
refused special favors TO municipal cor
porations. He has the support of Mayor
Tom johnson in his nilhnrr,n anrial .sr.i |