The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-10-23
GROSVENOR FORECASTS
OUTCOME IN INDIANA
Puts State in Republican Column in Presidential Race
But Thinks State Race Is Doubtful-Liquor
Fight Has Far Reaching Effect
INDIANA LETTER, No. !, by JOHN sNURE


INDIANAPOLIS. Oct. 22--"OId Fig
gers" GrosvenOr sat in the shadow of
one of the columns in the ClaypOOl
Hotel. bearing a likeness to a man who
was bordering deeply. When he was
asked what it was all about. he re-
Piled, Indiana. I've been around here
for q week trying to find out what this
State is going To do"
Have you forhd out2"
"Ees. believe Indiana viii be for
Taft
General GrOsvenOr has acquired. not
| undeservedIy eith'r. a wide reputation
as an oracle on political matters. IT.
| is true he wasn't able to hold on 70
his seat in Congress, but he has been
able to maintain himself in good stand
| ing before a large part OF the popuia-
ton as a prophet. His reputation in
! the matter OF political figures has put
! him into a peck OF trouble this year.
| however. He has been slower Than
usual in giving out his estimates, and
| this has led numerous folks to write
/ him jbing, jeering epistles, saying he
was afraid. that he knew Bryan was
going TO be elected, and, therefore,
! ''dassent open his mouth"
OF course. this caused odd Figgers
/ TO get his dauder up, and he has set
/ out to show that ne is not afraid. that
| he is not perturbed. and th3t he SUI
has some Republican mathematics I'D
! his sleeve. He came TO Indiana for the
particular purpose Of giving this State
| close and careful attention because he
/ was aware il is one OF the storm cen
| tiers Of the campaign, that its vote IL
( important, and because he wanted 20
] look into conditions for himself before
taking a stand. When seen he was just
/ about to catch train.
We can't see some things as clearly
| as we would like to in this campaign,
said General GrOsvenor. AS / have
figured it. Montana, Nevada, and Ne
| braska are abcrt the only western
| States that BryJn Is likely 10 get In
/ diana ill be for Tafr. do not see that
the conditions In this State are such
as TO enable Bryan TO gain enough votes
/ to carry the State. The liquor dealers
/ and brewing interests Of the State have
| made great mistake IN their enorts
| TO fight county option, and TO punish
the Republican party because a county
| option law was passed They have
made their mistake in this way They
have gone too far. and are carrying
| their antagOnism to an unreasonable
| degree What is the result2 They have
reused the people of Indiana without
regard TO party who are In favor Of
p
or who are opposed 10 the saloon
Brewers Fight.
''The brewers have go. out great post
ers and put them all over the State.
attacking prohibition. and assa.ung It
as an evil They are fighting the Re
publican tieze, from -op 10 bottom. but
are centering their efforts chiefly on
Watson. the Republican candidate for
| na ~hFrru
-. so far that they have stirred up a re-
, volt among the temperance people of
J the state, and this viii help the Re
publicans.'
General Grosveuor admitted that the
! goyernorship fight In Indiana was
dcSbtfuL He declared one factor work
inc in favor OF Taft was that many
intelligent organized labor men were
] opposed 10 the efforts or PrSsiaen'
. Samuel GOmpers. OF the American fe-l-
| Grafton OF Labor. 10 influence the laDOI
vote in favor OF Bryan. ..-,
Going in some detail over the HaIlOndi
field. General GrOsvenOr said ne old 10,
know from personal observation Nlai
| New York would do but that Ohio wound
be for Taft II do not know a slAgie
one Of Foraker's friends. and ] an a
friend Of his myself, who E VII EoIe
against Taft" General GrosYtnor
| thought the House situation close
, enough so that II Taft was beaten the
/ Democrats would get the House
, Predictions fly thick about indiana
y these DAYS. They are or an dlldZlhS
! variety. one can find any kind ne Is
{ looking for, especially on me FIesiItltl-
, CIV Enthusiastic Republicans say Idl {
will get the state by a safe plurality ana
| Democrats sit back as II they We're
, planted behind a pat flush and declare,
not only that Thomas R. Marshall ILlelT
candidate for gCVernCc. VIII deIedL " dt-
! son nv 2Q.GJO to 30 COZ. but that BTy an
| y-II also get the electoral vote Oh me
| HoosIer state As to hr. MaTShail,
there can be little question the cndlCes
Z are much in his favor As 10 BY an.
? the Democrats are either confident or
! are putting up an admirable BLUM Wnich
, has served TO carry CONVICTION 10 many
/ that have come in contact with IL On
l the part OF the Republican calnpalsi.
, managers, there is not such a snow OF
! confidence as the Democratic leaders eN-
! bibft The clearly have little nope OF
pulling Watson through and they TeAilze
/ that the Democrats are making a ire
/ ulendous effort 20 throw the state "a
20 BRYAN while the Republicans LABOR IN
~ der numerous disadvantages
Odds Favor Taft.
- an the whole. the best evidence is
mat Indiana is more likely 70 go fol
Taft than for Bryan. That is. Taft's
chances are slightly better than those
t Iar his rival. Viewed from any stard-
point the state IS close and doubtful
and YOU viii find plenty or shrewd pol
D iiticfaus who say that as between Bryan
l. land Tat I'm Indiana it is "a toss-up-'
2 In the betting the odds hitherto nave
% been in favor Of Taft carrying the
i STATE. and some bets of $500 to $50.
2 have been mace that the H0osier cleo
ltoral vote viii so to Taft In the last
lew days. however. believers in Bryan
Inave snapped up a good many OF these
u propositions and now the betting IS to
Trait and Bryan is about even When
y liz comes to Marshall and Watson, the
o odds are I'm favor OF Marshall Jim
Watson member o. the House from the
!Sixth district, long Republican House
Twin, and close friend Of Uncle Joe
= Cannon has the bitter antagOniSm OF
] ! Inc. ORGANIZED labor interests and also
1.-The opposition Of the brewers and salOOT
Interests because the Republican party
lin Indiana has taken stand for
: county option law which the liquor
| J forces and the liberal element consider
llmeans prohibition I'm a large part o.
lIthe state. Besides. Watson is heartily
1 \ disIi<ed by many Republicans for va
H.. ~ - 4.