Omaha daily bee., 1908-10-09
NORMAL MAJORITY In IOWA
Democrats Make No Inroads Into
Republican Ranks.
HARD TO DISTURB THE FARMERS
Workers Make Few Predic-
tiOns as to Outcome, hut
Spend Their Time at
Work.
(From a Staff Correspondent.)

DIES MONIES, Oct s.-(Special.)-NoW
that the campaign in Iowa is well started,
It can be predicted with every degree of
certainty that the republican majority in
Iowa this year VIII be about the normal
majority. There have been all sorts of
claims on the part of the democratic
managers on the quietad Some republicans
have even been faint hearted at times.
There were reports that eight-tenths of
the travelling men of the state were for
Bryan and that the same per cent of the
labor vote is for Bryan. There have been
other reports hat Bryan men were very
numerous over the state, and the demo-
Gratis are now claiming that Iowa will
go democratic and elect democratic presi-
Dental electors.
Whether the democrats really believe
this or not, they are working as though
they did and are sending Bryan to many
points In the state and much literature
from the national committee is being
sent out. The democrats started their
speaking campaign, early. as they always
do, which has made some republicans a
bit nervous.
As to the real conditions in Iowa, though
the republican speaking campaign began
only this week and is not under full
sway yet. there are very hopeful reports
reaching this city from everywhere in
the state. In the first place. travelling
men are not agreed that eight-tenths Of
their fraternity in Iowa are for Bryan.
There are representative men in that
profession who claim that three-fouTths
of the men In lowe are for Taft. The
fact that the democratic claims are dis
puted Is one hopeful sign If nothing
more.
LabOrine Men Not Solid.
One Of the other claims was that the
laboring men of lowe are almost solidly
for Bryan. There are a6out 10000 labor
ing men, that is trades lnion men. in the
state OF Iowa. and half of them have al
ways been more or less democratic. A
careful inquiry has disclosed that there
are a great many ~laboring men in the
state who have always been republicans,
who are still republicans and will vote
for Taft, so at the worst the party can
not lose a great many votes among the
laboring men.
But there is every indication that the
farmer vote of Iowa, which is the big
vote, is as solidly republican as ever, and
has, furthermore, made gains from the
democrats. Senator Maytag of Newton
was in Des Moines yesterday. He told Of
several farmers of his county who have
voted the democratic ticket for years and
this year are going 10 vote for Taft.
Then there is the business element of
Iowa, which has Away shown a major
ity republican. There are no reliable re-
ports but that the business men are go
ing to vote about as they have always
done. There are reports of gains for
the republicans among the business men
Of the state that are decidedly encour-
aging.
Republican leaders who are qualified Ia
speak, are rot making any predictions
particularly. They say that at this stage
Of the campaign the thing to do is 70 work
They are urging that the republican work.
ers in every community get busy. They
point 10 the fact that in 1896 in the early
stages Of the campaign II the election had
been held Mckinley would have been de
feated. but the f~arsighted work of tn
committees swung the election.
The largest vote ever pOlled at a presi
Dental election in lows was In 1900, whei
the total vote was 55O.S55, and the mex
largest was in 1896. when il was 1,54l
The question Of what Is the normal republi
can majority Ia Iowa is one on which al
are not agreed. Governor Cummln mad
!, tho statement at the Auditorium in thi
city when Taft spoke here, that the ticke
would be elected by 5000 majority.
!, IOwa's Record OF Votes.
The presidential elections for some cam
, paigns back in Iowa show the followin
votes:
lsls-Hayes. HISS; THden. i12,l21; tOta
iSsEGarfield. s,sO4; Hancock, lo5,sE
! Iss4-Blaine. IS7lOSs; Cleveland, 17,si'
, isGHsrrisOn. al.ss; Cleveland. l7s.Sr