Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-10-22
TAFT LOOKS LIKE WINNER
New York Herald Says He Is
Reasonably Sure Of 204 Votes.
Bryan Has Lost Ground the Past Week
only 3s More votes Needed by
Taft and es Lean His way
Fight for New York.

From its Washington bureau the New
York Herald says: There are political
conditions in the West indicating a land
slide. There are signs in New York pre-
saying political chaos. Obviously, II Mr..
Bryan is to be swept into the presidency
II must be landslide, or rather an
avalanche, In the direction of the Demo
cratic party. He con do nothing under
conditions that are normal OF near nor
NAL.
On the surface Mr.. Taft Is creeping
nearer and nearer the goal of 22 cleo
toral votes. According to the Herald's
calculation, based on straw votes, polls.
reports, opinions. wages and general evi-
dences on which newspaper must de-
pend, outside Of political committees
that are always biased. Taft Is sure to-
day Of 2O4 electoral votes. Bryan Is sure
of 16l. A week ago Taft seemed sure II
lSs and Bryan 16S. Thus Mr. Taft in
probability has made Q gain in one week
of sixteen electors. while Mr.. Bryan has
refrigerated five electors
states that the Herald feels Justified
In CHASING as doubtful with republican
leaninss have 6s electors, while States
that are doubtful with apparent demo-
cratic leanings have 80 electors. States
that are regarded by the Herald experts
as doubtful and In the balance, number
but two and have II electors. Both of
these, sinRularly enough. are In the East.
One OF them. Delaware, was last week
classified as republican. while the other.
Maryland. was last week classified as
democratic.
Mr.. Taft In order {, win must get IS
doubtful electoral votes. Mr.. Bryan 10
win must get 81 electoral votes.
To be more specific in describing the
shifting of States that has taken place
In seven days while Delaware, with
| three electors has been dropped out OF
the republican column, Idaho and Utah,
with three electors each. and Wisconsin,
with I3. have been added to tho Taft
string" Maryland. with 8 electors has
| been lifted out OF the Bryan column and
Nevada. with 3. has been added.
Indiana. Kansas, New York and South
Dakota. with 6S electors, have been
classed as doubtful. with republican lean
| .nps and Colorado. Montana. Nebra ska
| and Ohio, with 80 electoral votes, have
| been classified as doubtful, with demo
cratic leanings.
The above distribution Of electora
votes has been made entirely on surface
| Indications. 1t Is In no sense predic.
| ton. tho Herald not yet entering the
realm OF prophecy. II there is land
| slide for Mr.. Bryan IN the middle West
! and In New York OF sufficient proportions
| to upset all calculations--such land.
Slide for instance. as occurred in 1892
Mr.. Bryan will be elected. II, on the
other hand. there is landslide for Mr.
Taft. Mr.. Bryan on election night Will
scapcely run better than he did In 1sv)
| 1t seems as II a large percentage OF the
negro vote is going against tho republican
national ticket-then indeed the men who
have been betting on elections are al
astray and all surface signs of republican
success will be dimmcd by the Bryan
bonf1res on November g.
But It would really seem that Mr.. Taft
for the present at least. has struck {
winning gait.
New York is TO be the great centre o.
the conflict at the very end OF the cam
paign. Mr. Bryan, II Ia said. now realize,
that he must have the thirty-nin'
electoral votes Of New York or he can
not be elected to the presidency. Judg,
Taft, It is understood. realizes that II h,
| ioscS new iOIk ne Will IpSe MS OWL
State of Ohio largo number of states
In the Middle West. Delaware Maryland
and perhaps New Jersey and Rhode Is
land In the East and will be defeated.
The New York Herald OF Sunday give.
tho lineup as follows:
| Total vote in electoral college. ....... a.
Necessary to elect president. "a
Republican. reasonably sure............co
| Democratic, reasonably sure ...........l6
Doubtful, republican lean!nGs. 6
Doubtful. democratic leanings. ......... 3
| In the balance....,.. ........... ......... I
Taft TO win must get. doubtful vote. :. 3
Bryan TO win must get. doubtful votes. S
REASONABLY SURE REPUBLICAN.
connecticut .......... ....... ........'...'.,
Idaho ............. ....'..... ...,.....-....
iHIiOis ..'-.''.''' '''''''''''' '''''.'''.'-'' :
Maine .....,..... ...,.... .................
| Massa chusetts. .......... .............. !
MlchlEan '.''.'...'..'... s'.'..'.' .......
hiHiltSoN" '''''''''''''s s''''''s ''''''''''''
New Hampshire NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
New jersey ........... ........ .........
North Dakota $500. .,........ ..............
oIcSoH .'''''.'.'''' s.'''.''''' .'''''''''
ieHHhS INdiia ''.''.... '''''''''''' ''''..' D
| Rhode Island