Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-08-26

up OF the voters OF the state
The sporting elements in the large
cities and towns. regardless of previous
political affiliations. will oppose him
while in the country districts, and
among moral people generally, it is
believed that he will poll a practically
solid vote also regardless of previous
political affiliations. AT this distance
it is difficult to see how he can be de-
feated by any machine candidate the
democrats will nominate.
The Hughes candidacy will be ex-
on the presidential ticket in New York
But Independently of Hughes, as al
ready has been suggested, Bryan is to-
day much stronger man in that state
than during either of his former cam
pagns This is a statement which
neither side disputes. The only dispute
lies in the direction of whether that
strength will be sufficient to make the
state democratic.
The presidential campaign, therefore,
promises to have two focal points
one in New York, and the other in the
middle west, and each of absorbing in
terest The republican party since 1896
has been electing its candidates for
the presidency with scarcely an effort.
1t has not had an old fight since
the three Cleveland campaigns, but it
seems likely to have one now. This
explains the numerous conferences
which Chairman Hitchcock of the re-
publican national committee is having
with state leaders, and at Oyster Bay
and Hot Springs with President Roose-
welt and Mr.. Taft, respectively. 1t
explains the unusual work of organiza-
ton which Hitchcock is undertaking.
1t explains various statements which
MIR. Taft has felt impelled to make,
statements which in some quarters
sounded like admissions of weakness.
1t is a fact that thus far Mr.. Bryan
has been forcing the fighting. and that
Mr.. Taft, on several occasions, has APP
peared to be on the defensive.
But the campaign is young-in fact,
it has scarcely begun; the issues
which will determine the outcome have
probably not yet been formulated. 1t
is therefore too early to say that Taft
will not be elected. But it is not too
early to say that the democrats seem
to be getting the best start
Where G. O. P. is Stronger.
The only spot in the east where TIC
view here set forth as to Bryan does
not prevail is in Maryland where the
Sun, its leading democratic newspa
per- has bolted him. This is a sure
sign that thousands OF the old-lina
conservative democrats of that state
will vote for Taft. Whether their
number will be large enough to give
him the state is question, but the
republican outlook there at present is
most encouraging.
New Jersey. Delaware and Connec-
ticut are affected by their proximity
to New York. and should that state
go for Bryan it would be reasonable
to suppose that the smaller ones
named would follow suit, or be so close
as to make the result uncertain until
the votes had been counted.
1t would thus appear that the out
look for an old-fashoned red-hot pres
idential fight is excellent. The odds,
of course, are decidedly in favor of
Taft, to begin ssvith. 1t will be the
purpose of Chairman Hitchcock to
keep them SO, which, being the case,
explains why he and the other repub-
lican managers are watching the de-
velopment of the Bryan candidacy
with so much interest.