Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-09-05
TIE DOUBTFUL STATES
Lists Of the Two Parties Dis
agree as to Various Local
tiles
NEW YORK CHIEF UNCERTAINTY
Democrats Claim Many States Which
Republican. Claim as safe-Repub-
licans in Turn Have Chance to Carry
Former Democratic stronsholds -
Tho Battle Ground.

w oVRS. w nav GIG Sh~
really doubtful states this year?
A republican and democratic list,
placed side by side for comparison,
suggest some Of the uncertainties Of
this campaign at the present date The
truth is that it has not so far taken
shape that there is any basis Of agree
ment as to the states which in the lat
ter weeks Of the contest will constitute
the debatable ground.
The republican list Of doubtful states
at this time is headed by Nebraska:
then In about the order of their adj
mitted uncertainty come Indiana, Ten
nessee, Kentucky, Missouri, New York,
Illinois and Ohio. Colorado appears in
some lists, and SO does Montana. But
they are not considered important, on
the republican side, because they are
not exactly necessary for. success, in
any ST the republican calculations.
On the other hand the democratic
list places Indiana first, New York sec
ond, and includes Wisconsin, Ohio IL
linois. Nebraska Colorado, Maryland
West Virginia, California New Jersey.
Iowa, Minnesota, both Dakotas and
Idaho Connecticut and Utah appear in
some lists, and In all discussions.
The republicans admit that Nebras-
ka Is uncertain; the democrats insis.
that 1t is certain to be democratic. Re-.
publicans admit some uncertainties
about Indiana; democrats confidently
claim it. Republicans claim chance
Kentucky; democrats rank that trio Of
border states as certain for Bryan.
Democrats say they have a good
chance for West Virginia; republicans
laugh at the idea Democrats are con-
fident Of Colorado and Montana; re-
publicans count Colorado safe for Taft
and Montana really uncertain. Both
sides talk with apparent confidence -
for publication about getting New
York by 100000; and both sides In pri-
vate conversation admit that the state
is very uncertain.
California is rated by the republicans
as a rock-ribhed Taft state: the demo-
Gratis always list it as one Of their
promising prospects. Wisconsin is
claimed by the democrats to be one Of
the most uncertain states in the union.
while republicans say it is good for a
big majority for Taft. Republicans
list Maryland as certain for Taft. while
the democrats say that when Bryan
has made his tour of the state it will
line up for him safely. Illinois and Ohio
always cause mirth among republicans
when they are mentioned in a doubtful
list; democrats persist in regarding
them as doubtful, and declare that the
candidates fort governor and senator.
on the republican side, are even now
appealing to their national committee
for aid. That Senator Hopkins is
either worrying OF. else crying wolf in
assurance doubly sure. is well known.
The senator has not made any virtue
of overwhelming the situation. He
has been admitting that as to state aft
fairs the state was in bad shape, and
that unless something were done for it
the national authorities might present
ly awaken to realize that the national
ticket also was involved in the uncer-;
tainty.
Out Of all this list of alleged doubt
full states, it is impossible at this stage
to make one on which a ,disinterested
observer would care to stake his repu-
tation as a prophet But granting that
conditions later may change present
situations, it seems fair to say that
these states are really doubtful:
Nebraska, INDIANA New York. Ten
nessee, Colorado, Montana and Wis
eonsin.
& In making this restricted list it is
assumed that unless a landslide such
as is hardly to be expected from any
manifestations thus far shall change
the situation, Ohio, Illinois, New Jer-
sey, West Virginia, Iowa, Kansas and
Minnesota will he republican. 1t is
lucky and Georgia will be democratic
lucky and Georgia will be democratic.
Perhaps Georgia is as safely demo-
cratic as these three; but news from
there has been giving informed demo-
Gratis considerable real concern. Cali
fornia is set down as altogether likely
to be republican, especially in view OF
the fact that there is nothing in pres
ent democratic plans to make an es-
pecial struggle for the state. If Mr..
Bryan and his managers had serious
hopes Of the far western states, it is
suggested, he would probably find
time to make a trip to talk to their
people. He used to he very strong out
there. Any REASONABLE confidence that
his strength has been revived would
seem to justify visiting them in the
course of the campaign.
Mr.. Bryan is conceded to be playing
his politics cleverly and with intelli-
gence this year. He is going to talk
in ebraska, Kansas. Iowa, the Da-
Minnesota Wisconsin, Illinois,
Indiana, Ohio, New York, Rhode Is
land. The developments of the cam
paign may increase the list, but thus
1t stands at present, and it is 9. pretty
good testimonial to Mr. BryaI's idea
Of the fighting ground.
The republicans are no longer de-
nying that something very like the
Bryan scare Of August and sSeptem
Der, 1896, has STUCK their ranks within
the last fortnight. They set out
blithely from chicago, to go thru the
motions Of campaign, but most of
them regarding bit as pretty much
they swould win in
walk. The trend Rf things since that
time has been calSplated to increase
democratic and decfease republican
confidence that it viii be no such easy
1ictory
y