Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1908-10-29
DUTY OF THE FIRST VOTER
May Change Results in Certain
Doubtful States.
Should Carefully Examine Record Of
Two Leading Parties and Start
Right-Real Americanism.

1t is not beyond the range Of posi-
bility that the first voters in this presi.
dental election may hold the balance
Of power in "A few Of the doubtful
States. 1t Is difficult to ascertain the
exact strength Of this vote, hence it
offers q fertile field for speculation.
An intelligent estimate arrived at by
the only authentic data available would
seem to establish the number of first
voters In the United States ut this pres.
idential election somewhere near three
million. These young men are to cast
their first ballot for President in early
November.
There is also no accurate way Of
knowing just how these votes are pro
rated to the different States. 1t Is
probably true that the safely Democrat
IT, States and the safely Republican
States have something Of a similar
quota, ana to that extent, OF course, the
votes IN the electoral college will not
be Influenced either way, but how about
the effect Of this unknown vote in the
doubtful States!
Past experience shows that In these
| States al increased suffrage in favor
Of one party or the other, from ] to
1 per cent, may change the results and
mark the defeat OF victory of either
party. 1t is the first votes in doubt
iul States that Is of supreme impor-
taucc. How will they be cast? For
democracy, nrgatiOn-a policy destruc-
tiy" of all that is good, and obstructive
"f all that is progr"Ssive-Or shall they
hc for Taft and Sherman, who repre-
sent the great constructive business
league in America, known as the Re
publican party?
Performance vs.. Promise.
The performances Of the Republican
party may well be contrasted with the
obstructive tnctics Of the party Of Slav-
cry, State rights, secession, anti-cXpan-
sion, free silver, free trade, government
ownership OF railroads. and numerous
other foolish and impossible makcshift
experiences. From tn" immortal Lin
coin to the renowned Taft, there Is one
long line Of brilliant achievements to
the credit of the Republican party.
Foremost among these many victories
will forever stand the abolition Of
human slavery. Lincoln gave his life
that four millions OF human beings
might be- set free. He washed the stain
Of human slavery forever from the
stars and stripes. The Republican par
~ saved the Union and made this a
free republic forever.
Thirty seven years later the cry Of
the oppressed went up from Cuba her
people had been ground into the dust
for four centuries by Spanish greed and
oppression. Another Republican Presi-
dent, another American martyr, came
to the rescue OF the Queen OF the An
TILES, and William Mckinley, acting for
the Republican party, freed Cuba and
put her feet upon the solid rock of
peace and hope. lnvincible In war, the
Republican party has accomplished
great things In time Of peace. Only a
generation ago n Republican Secretary
Of State purchased from DEF, otto Rus,
sia its only possession on the NORTH
American Observation-Disclosures in
stead OF II being Il menace, MS 1t for
merly was, 10 the peace OF our land, i
now stands as a sentinel guardin.
American interests in the Northern Pa
cihc and Atlantic oceans.
Another great Republican Secrctar,
Of State secured for the United State.
the open-door policy in China and thu.
guaranteed equal commercial rights FOL
America in the Celestial Kingdom FOL
nil time. Through a Republican Pres
ident and a great Secretary OF War
tho Hon. William Howard 'raft-th,
United States Is to-day building tn,
Panama canal-the realization OF tn,
dream Of ages.
When we acquired the Philippine
and Porto Rico we set about to estah
fish public schools and make education
possible TO all those strange peoples
Now hundreds of thousands OF Filipino
and Porto l,lcan children are spcalinI
the English language and singing tn
songs Of patriotism and freedom wit
their faces turned to the future an