, 1908-08-26

he political situation at the presen;
line h are worthy Of more than pass
ing notice. From the calm, Gispassion-
ate viewpoint. OF a strictly non-parl.san
magazine he elucidates some features
writing Of some Of the leading think
ers of the month. MT. Page does not
hesitate to say what he things and Ia
evidet4y impressed with the idea that
he may consider the two men-Taft
and Bryan-from the plane OF q man
speaking Of men. He says. In part:
Very early in most campaigns
land IL has been 80 In this one. In par.
icular) the platforms and the speeches
of acceptance and all the oftciL ex-
pressions Of the parties are practically
forgotten. They become merged In the
personalities CT the candidates. For =
few days, perhaps for a few weeks.
men discussed the injunction planks,
for example. and each candidase In his
speech Of acceptance gave much space
To them. Already the sharp points OF
the controversy are lost In the genera
feeling that Mr.. Taft knows more
about the courts and holds to their
inviolabilty more strongly that Mr..
Bryan; and that is all they do recall.
And that Is enough to recall; for the
election will turn on the general judy.
ment that the voters make of the two
men. Their characters and their TEN
peraments are the platforms.
Moreover, the labor vote and the
negro VOTE and the vote Of most
other special classes are bugaboos.
With few exceptions, the men who be-
long to labor unions are going to vote
as they would vote If Mr.. Gompers had
never been born; and most colored
men will vote as they would have
voted If there had been no Browns
vile incident.
The big act Is, the great mass OF
voters are democrats or republicans;
and as a rule they vote with their
parties. Consider these figures of
the popular vote at recent presidential
elections.
1896 1900 1904
Repub. ..7,104T79 1907, 923 1928, 1876
Demo. ..6.502, 925 6,35s.133 5.077,971
The great republican vote in 1904
was exceptional; but even this land
slide hardly showed such a wholesale
detection or gain as some men always
think may happen at the next election.
And 1t is the large Innuences-not
this plank. nor this vote nor that
that local Of displeasure or or
popularity-that determined the cleo
ton. The big facts this year are the
popularity throughout the country
(outsire the corporation centers) OF
the present administration and Its pol
Ices and of Mr.. TAFT AZ a represents
tive Of them. the general feeling Of
confidence in his courage and his Mt
ness, his personal popularity and the
pride that the republican masses feel
in the party's control OF the govern
mem On the other side are the per.
sonal popularity Of Mr.. Bryan, and the
strong habit of democrats to vote the
democratic ticket. Side issues and In
cidental 9 will count for little
under such nearly normal conditions.
and the stronger party and the strong
81 personality will win--for these
large reasons and In obedience to these
large laws.
The dominant desire Is for rest and
safety Moreover, Mr.. Taft-and the
Roosevelt policies that he has helpel
to frame and to which he IL pledged
Is quite radical as the present mood
of the country.
Such incurable radicalism as exists
will express itself In votes for the Ave
minor parties, especially for the indie
pendence part. Mr.. Bryan's radical
tendencies-toward the government
ownership of railroads, for example,
%andtoward guaranteeing bank deposits
me toward surrendering to Mr.. Com
pers-wiil repel more democrats than
they will attract republicans. 1t is no
a veal OF great discomfort, and there
fore not a year OF waves of feeling"