Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-09-25
Mli9eellanrous Rraaine.
REPUBLICANS ARE ALARMED.
Looks Like New York Situation Is
Verv Doubtful

What are you fellows trying to do
scare us this early in the campaign?'
inquired man who is conspicuous in
business circles here Of an officer Of
the Republican national committee this
evening.
What do you mean?" the latter
asked in turn.
why the newspapers are full Of
matter tending to show that Bryan has
Taft on the defensive, is stirring up
the middle west against the Republi-
cans, and expects to carry New York.
Is that true or not, or are you folks
planning raid on our bank accounts?"
The Republican politicians answer Is
immaterial, for the point to this little
colloquy is that a genuine scare'has set
in among the so-called big interests,
particularly those with Republican
leaning's. Most of the news that has
reached New York tells of Democratic
aggressiveness in the states which are
ebatable-Indiana, Ohio, Kansas, Ne
braska, Illinois, etc.
These tidings have been so consist
emily Of the same general trend that at
last Republicans have awakened to tine
fact that real danger confronts them;
that confidence begot Of former tri-
jumps may be misplaced and that DEM
ocracy is making headway which, If
unchecked, will sweep Bryan into the
presidency.
1t was pointed out in previous dis
patch that, as a general rule, the larg-
er business interests Of the metropo-
lis preferred the election Of Taft to
that of Bryan, and that this preference
was inspired by the belief that COM
merce and industry would more readily
be restored to normal conditions If the
Republicans continued in power at
Washington.
When Bryan came here he was quick
to discern this sentiment, and started
in at once to. attempt to counteract 1t.
In his speeches he repeatedly declared
that there was no reason for such dis
quietude in business circles; that DEM
ocratic administration did not signify
turmoil disaster, or hard times. That,
he assured his audiences, was a Re-
publican deception practiced with sue
cess in the past, and should not fright
en- the people any more.
In pursuance Of a definite plan to
conciliate business men who have been
opposed to him in the past, he directed
the national committee to send all rad
ical stump speakers to the middle west
and assign only men of proved conser-
vatism to proclaim Democratic doctrine
in the east. This is illustrative Of the
tactics this consummate political lead
er is employing these days.
Now that the excitement incident to
the Republican and Democratic state
conventions and the visit Of Bryan has
subsidized, the managers Of the two par
ties are beginning to take stock. The
Democrats find more cause for satis-
faction than the Republicans do, for
reasons specified in recent dispatches.
The Democrats have more to accom-
plish in order to carry New York than
the Republicans, because the state has
been in the control Of the Republicans
since 1894, and they have had plenty OF
time and opportunity firmly to intrench
themselves. But their adversaries have
succeeded in weakening their grip, and
now the Republicans must regain what
they have lost.
This means they have less an advan-
tage than they had a week or two ago,
but still some. If they prove their
ability to prevent further inroads by
the Democrats, to adjust their own diff
ferences, and to get into a position
where they will no longer be on the de-
fensive, the chances are the electoral
vote can be saved for Taft and Sher-
man. If incompetency characterizes
the management of their campaign, in
ternal dissension does not cease, and
much is left to luck and Providence,
Bryan will finally score a victory.
In summarizing the situation in New
York at this stage Of the campaign, 1t
may be said that Taft should carry the
state, if
First, the support of the business in
terests, whose disposition since 1886
has been to assist the Republican par
ty, is not alenated to a more palpable
degree than at present
Second, Governor Hughes maintains
his inherent advantage over Lieuten-
ant Governor Lewis Stuyvesant Chan
ler due to his services at Albany, and
his being the intiator Of various re-
forms to which his Democratic oppo-
nent has subscribed.
Third, the Independence party, .un-
der the skillful leadership Of William
r. Hearst polls the vote its friends
are predicting-between l7O,O0O ana
200, ,0OO-or, the Republican managers
anticipate about 100000.
Bryan should swing the state into
the Democratic column if
First, Tammany Halls professions OF
support and loyalty prove to be abso-
lutely sincere. and it does not trade
votes on the presidency for votes for
the state, legislative, and county tick
cts. There is still some suspicion as
to Tammany's pretensiOns in high
Bryanite circles.
Second. certain large business inter-
ests satisfy themselves that they no
longer need fear Bryan as chief admin
istrative officer of the nation, and that
his repeated assurances to this effect
are to be depended upon.
Third, Republican disorganlZatlon
continues in consequence of the inter-
ference by the national administration
last week with the Saratoga conVen-
ton.
These are the primary factors which
will contribute to the success of one
partv or another. BY the middle or
October-by the third week OF next
month at the latest-the campaign Will
have passed the formation stage, ana
the developments should be sufficiently
susceptible of intelligent interpretion to
enable one to judge in which direction
the tide is inevitably running.