The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-19
Indiana Sure for Bryan.

inuiana Sure TOT Bryan.
 Walter Wellman in Chicago Record
 Herald.
 ianapolis.-Unless something like @ miracle happens during the next fort night Indiana will give her electoral vote to Bryan this year. As tho cass TOW stands, the only doubt is as to the size of his plurality. This is nor likely to be large-from 1o,0O0 to 3O0O0-and on that account the republicans have not entire- ly abandoned hope. They will, of course, continue the brave struggle which they have made against heavy odds since the beginning of the campaign. Even now, with all the facts against them, the re- publican leaders do not openly admit de- feat. They still try to hope that some lucky turn of events some accident, may enable Taft to squeeze through. They are fighting politicians, these hoosiers. and they do not always know when they are whipped; and when they do know it they do not confess it. Dowa in their hearts those of them who know the truth, in so far as 1t can be known, feel that the game is about over and the score against them; but there is anothsr in- ming to play and they go on with ihe struggle bearing as brave an outward front as they can under the circum- stances. It is discouraging situation which they face. If one dares tell the plain truth it is not so much the loss of the state on the presidency that gives them grief as the fact that If Taft goes down the governorship goes with him, the state ticket. the legislature, a United States senatorship.
 It is probable this announcement that Bryan has Indiana today with every prospect of being able to hold 1t to the end, will come as shock to the man. agers of the republican national cam paign and to many thousands of loyal members of that party. Many political leaders and newspaper writers have print ed statenrnts that Indiana is for Taft by a reduced plurality President Roose- welt included Indiana in his list of states safe for the republican ticket At Gin cnnati a few days ago I found Judge Taft quite confident of Indiana, passing his conclusion, of course, upon the re- ports mdQe to HliH Dy HIS houlcidits' Under such circumstances, naturally one feels great reluctance to set his informa- ton and judgment against those of others. all well worthy of respect One does not like to be the messenger with i'll tid- ings, the destroyer of pleasant dreams. But the first duty of the independent ob- server is to tell the truth as he sees it, and the truth about Indiana. according to my lights, is that Taft has about one chance in a dozen of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat. It Is barely pos sibIe that if President Roosevelt were to take the stump, appealing to the labor i men and the masses of Indiana to rally ] round Judge Taft, and this were to be supplemented by a big republican cam- paign fund, the verdict as now made up might be changed. though even that is extremely doubtful.
 l Indiana is now for Bryan, not through any one cause alone, but through long list of causes Indeed, rarely. if ever, have I visited state where there was 1 such an extraordinary combination of cir l cumstances and conditions tending to af- l feet an election result, and all of these without important exceptions working on | one side.