Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1908-08-21
Conditions There Much the Same as
Prevail in Ohio.
REPUBLICANS FEEL SURE OF STATE
General Outlook Favors Taft for the
Presidential Choice.
SOME FACTORS IN THE SITUATION
Two Proposed Liquor Laws, the state
I1ckets, Farmers and Labor vote
All Figure In the
Outcome,

INDIANAPOLIS, Aug. 9O.-Cspecial Tele-
graml-Indiana resembles Onto in the
dominance OF the liquor question as po-
ltical issue. At this stage of the campaign,
nothing is heard Of the tariff or trusts or
anti-injunctlon. The problem Hoosiers pro-
pose to solve. from the way they talk at
the present time, is whether brewery con-
troll in politics shall be endorsed As to
Taft or Bryan, well, they say the state is
close, with the chances strongly In favor
of Indiana continuing to occupy its usual
place in the republican column.
Indiana is conceded both by republicans
and democrats to be fair fighting ground.
1t went democratic by a small majority In
1892 opposed Bryan by 5000 in iSs6, and
by 5000 in 1900, and gave Roosevelt ma
jorty of $4,000 in 1904 But two years ago
the majority dropped on state candidates
back to 31OOO and the democrats assert
they would have carried the state then
had not many of their faith been discour-
aged by the vote given to Roosevelt. This
time, they say, every thing Is funning in their
direction; that they have the democratic
candidate for vice president, as Mckinley
did in 1900 and Roosevelt in 1904; that the
republican friends of Fairbanks are dis
gruntled by the way in which he was
treated at Chicago; that there are many
unemployed in the state; that while farm
values are higher, the farmers have to
pay more for what they need and have
higher tax rates to meet, and finally, that
the labor people are heartily in favor OF
the anti-injunction plank of the Denver
platform.
As their representative said at the demo-
cratic headquarters here: I'VE have as
good an organization as the republicans
we expect to have as much money as we
may need, and finally, there is as much
enthusiasm for Bryan now as there was in
1885, and that is saying a great DEAL He
added that the anti-Bryan crowd had dis
appeared. and that there was no detection
to be expected from the democratic ranks.
From Republican viewpoint.
Now. let us look at the situation from
the republican point Of view. There is no
doubt that among the friends of Mr.. Fair
banks there was a feeling of dissatisfaction
at the way in which the contests were
settled at Chicago and for time It looked
as though this feeling might have bearing
in the campaign But the vice president
since his return to Indianapolis, has dls-
countenanced anything of the kind. lie
has said II is the duty of republicans to
support the ticket as earnestly as possible,
and he most certainly intends to do 50.
Moreover, he is urging his friends to get
into line.
With respect to John w. Kern, who Is
the democratic candidate for the vice presi-
dencv. his record is not such as to give
much promise for the coming election. he
has been beaten for every office for which
he has ever run. He was a candidate for
the governorship in 1900 and beaten by
o0OOO He ran as candidate for the same
office in 1904 and was defeated by more
than $4,000 1t is asserted by the demo-
Gratis that his defeat on both occasions
was due to unusual conditions and should
not be accepted as an indication OF the
amount of strength he will lend to the
ticket in the present campaign.
But the republicans are looking upon
Kern's participation in the campaign with
considerable equanimity. Nor are they con-
| cerned about the farmer, who is expected
| to do in November what he has done In
! the past Sixty per cent or the vote OF
| the state lies in the rural districts ana
| the republicans claim the majority or this
vote. The democrats admit the farming
class naturally is conservative and Will
be inclined to regard Bryan with disfavor.
| but they insist that the feeling is not as
strong as It was and will be entirely over
come by this argument relative to In
creased cost Of living.
About the Labor Vote.
| There is no question that the labor vote
| is an object of anxious attention on the
part of the republicans. Edgar A. Per-
! kins. an indianapolis labor leader, is seek
! ing to organize labor In the interest of
the democratic party. The influence Of
| Mr. Gompers In the state II not proving
J potent. there being an unwillingness evinced
! by the man who works with his hands to
permit the American Federatonist to de-
| liver his vote as he secs fit. This same
attitude was expressed by labor In Ohio
! and West Virginia, In Indiana, at least
| the attitude of Mr.. Gompers is not ex-
pected to affect the way labor votes. Curl
! ousy enough, though the railroads gener-
ally have put their men again to work and
/ the administration has been urgent In its
| efforts not to permit the wages OF this
class OF employees TO be reduced, there is
a spirit OF discomfort prevalent among
them. Both the national and state COM
mittees propose to do what they can to
bring these voters to the support Of the
| former secretary of war.
The opposition OF labor to Mr.. Taft also
extends to "Jlm" Watson, the republican
candidate for the governorship. Watson
| recommended to the present governor the
appointment as factory inspector OF man
who was not a member Of a union. AS or
ganized labor had been instrumental in
securing the creation Of this office II took
J affront at Watsoh's action and fought him
/ vigorously before the convention. 1t failed,
! however, to prevent his nomination. Wat
! son is making an excellent campaign. He
has been on the stump for the last forty
| days and has delivered between sixty and
seventy speeches. He feels, and rightly
that he must make strenuous campaign
in order to win. He has as his opponent
/ Thomas X. Marshall a lawyer OF educa-
ton address and distinction, whose sole
draw back so far as the situation at pres
| ent appears is the support OF the brewery
interests. In view OF the importance OF
this issue II may be interesting for peo-
pie outside the state to understand It.
where Breweries Come In.
Neither the republican nor the democratic
party is seeking TO impose prohibition upon
the state. They have announced their nur-