The Washington herald., 1908-09-06
D 4 CORREsPnNnENT


have been for many years. and although
they have some troubles Of their own.
the Republicans appear 10 have more
than their usual share
They fully realize this. and they are
fighting earnestly and hopefully 70 over
come their difficulties They expect TO
succeed-and probably wfl-but there is
no ''cocksurenessT in the atmosphere
around Republican headquarters at this
stage Of the campaign. It's q case of
work with them, and they are plugging
at it hard
Il is a striking fact that it is not a
national campaign that IS being waged
this year. although the Presidency is in
the balance II is a series Of local fights
In twenty or more States. with national
issues largely subordinated-
Hughes on Every Tongue.
In New York. for instance. no one talks
Of Taft or Bryan Il is al Hughes. one
might perhaps. attribute this to the
proverbiaI provincialism Of the Manhattan
islanders were it not for the fact that
the same condition exists in so many
other States Local issues are 10 the front
everywhere
one very good reason for this is that
there is no real national issue at stake
other than the personality Of tbe two
leading candidates. In the West. the real
live question is that Of the guaranty OF
bank deposits. Here the issue is the re-
turn Of prosperity. which doesn't interest
the West as IL has already arrived there
But it is the very fact tnat this IS
campaign Of local issues that makes il
so troublesome for the Republicans. That
kind of issue breeds factions, and in fac
tious there IS danger
In this State the denomination OF Gov
Hughes would probably insure the state
Tor Tat, though il is pretty certzIn that
Hughes himself would be beaten. II
the governor : not rerominated. many
far-siglted politicians believe that both
the national and State tickets VIII be
lost
Hughes represents a moral issue, and If
that is repudiated thousands of indenend-
ent votes VIII be lost 10 the Republicans.
without counting the defections that viii
occur from their own ranks The anti
Hughes men VIII undoubtedly control
enough delegates 20 the state convention
20 defeat him. and II national ~onsidera-
tious compel them 20 accept him. il wiz
b. bitter pill and lead o. much scratch
ing at the polls The fight on Hughes has
been made so personal however. that the
independents may be relied upon 20 turn
out iu strength Tor him. and they may
be able 10 pull him through. The trouble.
however, leaves New York a doubtful
state
Claim New Jersey.
New Jersey may be regarded as safely
Republican for the national ticket.
IN Connecticut and Rhode Island there
is much disaGection beca=se the mills
are running only part time and paying
reduced vases This condition. however.
IS not regarded as serious politically. and
the Republican leaders put these States
confidently in the Taft column.
West Virginia had a factionaI hght.
with two Republican candidates for the
governorship in the field The same Taft
electors will go on both tickets. how
ever. 50 It is hoped that Tsft's prospects
Of carrying the state VIII not be endan-
gered
The situation in Delaware Is not salts
factory 10 the Republicans. The Du Points
are in control there. and former Senator
Alice has not forgotten how they turned
him down. and now they have defeated
Burton for denomination 10 Congress Be
sides these disorganizirg factors there
are some remains Of the old Addicks
trouble
Republicans Claim Maryland.
Conditions in Maryland are such that
the Republicans expect 10 win there In
the normally Democratic States Of Mis-
souri, and Kentucky a strong fight viii be
made by the Republicans. but without
much hope OF success. The temperance
and local option issues. which are promi-
nent in Ohio, are expected TO help the
Republicans. because they are the au-
thors OF the existing laws in restraint Of
the liquor traffic
But in Indiana. where those same ques-
tons are equally as much in evidence,
the issue is likely 10 be hurtful 10 the
Republicans. because they have failed to
provide legislative restrictions and local
option laws
\ belated effort is now being made 10
meet this situation. but it is bound to
arouse animOsitjes- Then. too. Fairbanks
New. and Hemenway are running little
factions Of their own. and are apparently
too intently occupied with their own in
terests TO pay mach attention 10 national
affairs.
The facuonal ,I5les in Ohio seem TO
be yielding TO trea -,nent.- and Taft viii
carry his own State
Socialists to 'Ontend with.
In Illinois there "a the Yates and De-
neen factions. besi- IS the fact that there
is a large socialisesc sentiment to contend
with Wisco~sin is in the hands of La
Toilette and the Republicans are trusting
TO his loyalty.
The denomination Of johnson for gov
ernor OF Minnesota. and his announced
determination 70 fight for the Democratic
national ticket as well as his own cleo
ton. have given the Democrats strong
hopes of carrying that State. and the Re
publicans viii have 10 make a hard fight
there
The feud in South Dakota between
Senator's Kittredge and Gamble viii not
affect the national ticket, as both factions
are for Taft
The Democrats believe that the holding
Of the national convention at Denver and
Bryan's popularity in what. was a free
silver State. viii assist them to carry
Colorado. but the Republicans take no
stock in that preteasion- Senator Penrose.
who has just returned from Montana
says that Republican affairs there are in
good shape
Reports from Oregon are quite unsatis-
factory. principally because Of the mix
up resulting from the defeat of Senator
legislature was chosen pledged TO elect
Democratic Senator.
That situation has created many heart
burnings in the Republican ranks which
may affect the national candidates. Wash
iUgTnu and VTvo-7f0a~ may he f,o,,,+.z