The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-09-06
THE POLITICIANS CLUTCH AT STRAINS Vermont Election Gives Both
 Sides Comfort THE AlRSHlP PROSPECTS The Danger That Lurks In the Com mon Drinking Cup-Transfers Ds-
 ease From One Person
 to Another.
THE AIRSHlP PROSPECTS

New York, September 1.-The politicians are busy these days clutching at straws The Vermont straw seemed to give comfort to both sides. Norman E. Mack, chairman of the democratic national com mittee, declared that the Results there augur we'll for democratic success throughout the country" Then comes the strenuous Hitchcock, the steam roller pro- peller of the Taft forces, with the asser- tion that the Vermont figures presage re- publican success in November. The opin- ion of the average voter probably is that the side that has the most votes will win
 According to the straw" the repub- licans have already carried Maryland. The straw in this particular case sprouts from the fact that the Baltimore Sun has wheeled into the Taft column. and this straw" may be taken more se- riously than some of the rest. The Sup is the most influential paper in Maryland, and it's change of heart leaves the dem ocrats without 8 single newspaper organ of any importance in the state. The Richmond News-Leader, however finds consolation in the prediction that the loss of Maryland by the democrats will be offset by the gain of West Virginia, where the republicans are split and MT. Bryan's friends are more united, enthus- iastic and aggressive than they have been in 12 years"
 Another straw that the republicans find comforting Is the declaration by the Cincinnati Enquirer that it does not look so favorable to the democrats In the west as it did one month ago, fortnight ago, nr- a fO this tho Omaha World-Herald, recognized Bryan authority, says: "The plain truth, as it is known to every reasonably close ob- server of political conditions in the west, is that MT. Bryan's candidacy Is today much stronger than 1t was the week of his nomination, and is growing stronger every day.
 And here are more friendly "straws" for the democrats to clutch Secretary Garfield is quoted in republican news papers as admitting that hard work will be needed to save Colorado from the dem ocrats and that Montana is in doubt. The New York Sun. which Is supporting Tart, reports that in Indiana and Wisconsin "conditions look bad for the Taft can didacy."
 There are many democratic leaders who declare that the republicans are fright ened out of their boots. This may or may
  the republicans are taking no chances. That they are making a very careful campaign Is proven by the forcing of the renomination of Governor Hughes of this state. As long as President Roosevelt thought it possible for some other man to carry New York he did not interfers with the machine bosses, but when he became convinced that it was Hughes or the loss of the state he said, Hughes"
 -4w he
 'The universal boss has spoken and Governor Hughes will be renominated. The bossll1ins and bosslets have had to take their medicine. They are justified in making faces. Hughes Is not their Kind of man. No doubt some of these mean to knife him in the fall. But what else was to be done? Once in while the people have to be 'placated.' The politi- clans have to let them have their way. Hughes had to be nominated to save Taft. Hughes will help Taft in every state and not merely in New York. So with a sigh the universal boss accepts him."
 Enough of politics. Now to airships. Mechanical flight is no longer mere as- piration, but a mighty serious reality, according to an expert who has an ar ticle in Van Nordens magazine. An in- VSnlOT WHO'LL llic WIilci Hc|o HUI FtSNSN declares that 'it is just as certain that aeroplanes will soon be built to carry four or five persons 200 or 900 miles as that men will live to build them and ride them" Peter Cooper Hewitt is even more optimistic; in the next decade he 'expects to see air craft crossing the Atlantic with perfect safety" These predictions are made doubly interesting by the fact that the United States government is now making it's official trials of the Wright flying machine for army work The gov ernment has specified that the machine must carry two persons having com bined weight of 360 pounds, and sufficient fuel for n flight of 125 miles. It must be constructed so as to be assembled and ready for operation In one hour, or taken apart and packed in an army wagon in the same period of time. It must have a speed of 40 miles an hour in still air, and if it makes less than 36 miles per hour it will be rejected The speed is to be de- termined by taking an average of the time over a measured course of more than five miles, against and with the wind.