The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-11-05
AS THE VOTES WE'RE CAST.

AS THE VOTES WE'RE CAST.
An analysis of the presidential vote
in the various states is plainly conclu-
sive of one of two things. Either the
Republican party as it is now con-
stituted has estab lished its foundations
in the country on such a firm basis
that they are able to Withstand all as
saults; or. majority of the voters in
decidedly controlling majority of
the states of the union will have moth
ing to do with Organism, either in its
original form of advocating the free
and unlimited coinage of silver, or in
the modified and more conservative
form with which 1t was presented in
the campaign just closed. From the
present status of the returns. with
few states still doubtful but without
influence as to the final results no
matter which way they go. Mr.. Bry-
an will have practically the same cleo
toral vote that he had eight years
ago, except that he has lost Idaho,
with her three votes. which he then
won. and has won Nebraska with her
eight votes which he then lost.
But there is another and far more
important conclusion to be drawn
from the recent contest. 1t is the
showing in many of the states that
the voters are more generally discrim-
mating between state and national is
sues and are voting more independ-
emily of party ties than ever before.
This is patent in many localities. For
instance. Indiana went for Taft by
majority of $1,000 and at the same
time a Democratic governor was elect
xxyhf n
indicated a change from the national
to the state vote of more than $4,000.
A Republican governor was elected
in normally Democratic Missouri by
a good sized majority while the con-
test between Bryan and Taft in that
state was much closer. This same con-
dition of affairs showing the indepen-
dence of the voters and their keen de-
sire to manage their internal affairs
for what they believe to be the best in
terests of their communities regard
less of how they stand on national is
sues can be found in many other COM
monwealths by a glance over the re-
turns. But there is a no more illum-
mating and satisfying instance of this
than right here in Shawnee county
where the Republican county ticket was
elected with varying but good large
majorities except as to the county at
torneyship. And for this office the
Democratic candidate was successful
with a majority that is really unusual
for size under all the circumstances.
One of the great surprises of the
election was the way the New York
voters did their work. Even a few of
the well-informed Republican leaders
were doubtful as to the outcome in
the empire state and the Democratic
leaders one and all were well nigh
certain of success. But Mr.. Taft swept
everything before him in this state
even to accomplishing the unprece-
dented feat of walking away with a
surprising majority of nearly $4,000
in that hot-bed of Democracy. New
York city, the home of Tammany
hall. And this same old Tammany
hall, despite its protestations of un-
swerving loyalty to Mr.. Bryan and
the national Democratic cause, evil
IDENTIFY handled it's knife with its ac-
customed agility. New York city is
normally Democratic by from $4,000
to $4,000 votes and yet Mr.. Taft re-
ceived a 10000 majority in it. On the
other hand Mr.. Chanler. the Demo-
cratic candidate for governor secured
majority in the city Of a little less
than $4,000. This could be accom-
plished in no other way than through
the treachery of Tammany to Mr..
Bryan. 1t was Tammany's fond hope
that Governor Hughes would be de-
feated and 1t bent its energies to this
end and probably secured Chambers
big majority in the CITY by trading
votes to Taft for Chan1er votes. In a
New York campaign where local is
sues are involved as they were in this
one, there is ever a considerable trad
ing OF votes between the Tammanyites
and interruptions Republicans of
which there are quite a few in the
new worlds metropolis Before cleo
ton day arrived stories were afioat in
New York that Tammany was knitting
Bryan and trying to stab Hughes by
trading Taft votes for Chanler votes.
The Tammany leaders protested much
that this was not so. Events would
seem to have proven otherwise. But
what else would be expected of Tam
many. 1t has no principles except
where plumber is concerned.