Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-31
REPORTS TO HITCHCOCK
Strength of the Opposition Recog.
nized by the Managers.
TAFT THOUGHT TO BE IN LEAD
New York Politics in a Turmoil.
Prospective denomination of
Hughes Causes Controversy.
Special From a STAFF Correspondent.


NEW YORK. July 21.-The optimistic
reports of the republican campaign out
look which are said to have reached
President Roosevelt at Oyster Bay
do not agree with the confidential
opinions of many of the big repub-
licans who assembled at Cincinnati
this week 1t is probable that when
Chairman Hitchcock sees the President
today or tomorrow he will modify some
of the rainbows. Mr.. Hitchcock talked
with republicans from all parts of the
country and asked for facts, not hopes.
1t should not be understood from this
that these later reports are of a de-
spairing character. On the contrary.
they indicate that Judge Taft is in the
lead at this time. But they further in
dicate-and this is the important fea-
ture-that the republicans will have to
work for their victory and that at no
stage of the game. especially at the
outset. should they delude themselves
with overconfidence.
Belief Of the Managers.
1t can be stated authoritatively that
Judge Taft is of this opinion himself,
and in his talks with leading republi-
SohS a. SAhSthudtI CdIlicT III tHe "cSh
he made it plain that the enemy's
strength must not be underestimated,
and, least of all, scorned Of course
every republican politician talking for
publication f1outs the possibility of any
thing except a sweeping victory. But
for the purpose of these dispatches 1
propose to tell what 1 know to be the
real belief of men who have their hands
on the political pulse.
Probably some cynical minds will recall
that these alarming intimations usually
precede a visit of the official hat passer'
of the party. Well there is something in
that too; we usually have about three
scares In the campaign.
The managers of the republican con-
gressional campaign are not deluding
themselves with any idea that they have
walkover. but are buckling down to the
hardest work of many years. Persons ia
rpiliar with the work of the campaign
committee since 1894 will admit that this
is to be one of the hardest-fought battles
In the intervening years and that plans
the campaign. Not a bet will be over
looked, pot a corner of the political field
left unscanned. No chances will be taken
on any republican candidate for Congress,
but every voter in his district will be ac-
counted for and argued with before cleo
tion day.
Turmoil in New York.
New York politics is in a terrible tur-
moil. The discussion over the prospective
denomination of Gov. Hughes is exceed
ingly active and takes a wide range The
opposition to him from some of the poll
ticians. who can hardly be classed as
altruists, is. something fierce. They think
that the allied forces of the sporting ele-
ment can certainly overwhelm them. But
they take the view of the city man in the
cafe with his "highball'' before him On
the other hand. the upstate politicians
who know the sentiment of the rural
voters and of the dwellers in the small
towns where the home influence is strong
contend that Gov. Hughes will prove a
winner.
Situation in the West.
1t is notable fact that the situation
in Ohio. Indiana and New York. doubtful
states if you please. or at least claimed to
be SD by the democracy, is in a measure
similar. strong moral movement, in
dorsed by the republican party, is to con-
tend on state issues with an opposition
which is allied with the democracy The
presidential and congressional tickets
must of course be, to a certain degree,
helped or hindered by the interest of the
state tickets In the mooted issues.
Farther west you find continuation of
the same spirit, after a fashion. There is
the strong Roosevelt sentiment based not
alone upon his personal popularity. but
upon his espousal of reform. and progress
along various lines. The republican party
is allied with this feeling from New York
to Iowa.
Sentiment for Reform.
The situation is in a sense national,
though based upon considerations peculiar
to the states. respectively. There is no
question that Roosevelt. Hughes. La Fol-
lette and Cummins are the popular men
in their party, and one can trace the popu-
larity back to their identification with re-
form and progress. varying in expression
to suit the popularity of their people,
ranging rom the comparative conserva-
tism of Hughes to the extreme radical
ism of La Toilette. The politician who
fails to note these facts makes a mistake
The managing politicians of the republi-
can party are not overlooking them at
this time. y. O. NJ