Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-28
WANT CHANGE OF DIET
Plain People Not Yelling for
Roosevelt Policies.
APATHY IN BOTH PARTIES
N. o. M. Tells of Conditions on the
Firing Line.
MACK AND C0NNERS CLUTCH
They Hate Each Other Like Poison,
But Now When They Meet
They Kiss and Cry.
Special From a Stan Correspondent.

Special from q STAN correspondent
NEW YORK. August 2s-From reports
which come to national political headquar-
ters from every section of the country Il
is painfully evident to the managers that
the people at large are not giving that
deep and burning concern to politics
which, in the opinion of the managers. Is
desirable at this stage of the game. In
fact, there is said to be a deplorable dis
position on the part of the dear public
and the plain people to let the politicians
present, at least.
This feeling prevails without respect to
political creeds. It is found among demo-
ton to the prevailing condition is in the
case of the labor men. who are said to %
sitting up and taking notice.
Shy on Enthusiasm.
The managers realize this state Of
apathy as being partially the result Of
the way in which the campaign has been
framed Many democrats feel that their
candidate has been forced upon them
by circumstances and are without en-
thusiasm. There is similar lack of
emotional insanity on the part Of many
republicans, who complain that their
higher up, and that while he is in every
way acceptable as a man and citizen. his
candidacy becomes rather a cut and
dried affair, calculated to abate enthusi-
asm.
Another explanation of the apathetic
attitude of one class-the business and
commercial peoples said to be found
in the fact that throughout the country
these folk are more intent upon revtving
business than anything else. Crops are
Qi N
out, and men are devotfng their atten-
tion to trying to recover from the effects
Of the political agitation of the past two
or three years, to which great many.
whether justly or not, attach the blame
for the late industrial depression.
Back to Simple Diet.
Some of the republican scouts OF the
low -browed, close-to-the- people va
riety report that in these circles there
is not that greedy. avid desire for
pledges of continuance of the Roosevelt
policies which the heads of the party
might expect. On the contrary. a not
| able degree Of safety is found regard
ing that character Of pabulum. with
craving for a change OF diet. The
classes ungrateful enough to feel this
way are looking forward to some
promises Of conservative action for the
future.
OF course, this is rather a cold -blooded
way to discuss the situation. but I'm
point of fact this is the cold -blooded
stage of conditions.
1t therefore becomes the duty of the
managers to put some ginger into the
campaign and to try to fan the slum-
bering embers of political feeling into a
flame of ardor. 1t Is noted that Mr..
Bryan apparently has taken cognizance
of the state of the country and has
gone afield, to use his familiar arts Of
| Oratory on the masses.
He has beaten the republicans to it,"
Is the way one democrat expressed il
today while Mr.. Taft is enveloping
himself In mantle of dignity and
front-porch eXclusiveness Mr. Bryan is
going to visit the plain people on their
own front porch. figuratively speaking,
and jog them into taking notice of the
fact that presidential campaign 10
on.
Taft May Have to Talk.
Murmurs of dissatisfaction are coming
in from republicans in the west against
the Taft impersonal political policy and
it is prophesied that there will soon be a
change in the Taft program and that not
only the candidate himself. but perhaps
his foster father. the President. will have
to get out into the field.
Some discOuraging reports are coming
into the republicans from the west. 1t is
about time for a Bryan scare. however.
the republicans say. and one two cold
chiIls may be expected before election
day
Bryan always carries the country-in
August" they say. But just the same.
they are perking up right smartly at re-
publican headquarters, and as their or
ganization is at least three weeks ahead
of the opposition. they expect to begin to
get practical results pretty soon.
The democrats are in high feather. The
rooster. the democratic election emblem,
is typical of their attitude, only II ought
to be bantam. They are as cocky and
active as a fighting cock with a new set
of steel gaffs. Three more rooms were
added to headquarters today and the In
coming mail is growing heavier. Now Is
the time to subscribe, is the watchword.
The congressional campaign appears to
be tagging in both camps. The democrats
seem 10 be depending more upon the ma
tional ticket to pull them through. As
for the republicans. there Is closer anil
alton this year between the national ana
congressional organizations, with the re-
suit that the congressional fight Is being
made secondary. That condition VIII Do
changed before long, however.
Mack Boosts Gompers
Chairman Norman E. Mack of the DEM
ocratic national committee is wonderfully
elated over the assistance promised by
Labor. In a talk with me this morning
Mr.. Mack said:
Il found that Mr.. Gompers has a won-
derful organization. He Is in touch with
three million laboring men. His organi-
zation has been going on for thirty
years. and We are to benefit by IT. Mr.
Gompers is very much in earnest; he is
a practical man and a man OF ability.
and his organization ought to have far
reaching influence with the labor vote"
State Chairman Corners came In while
was talking with Mr.. Mack. There was
a meeting for you. when Greek met
Greek. You know they are factional
enemies. these two. up I'm Erie county.
and ,h hates the other. But this
morning they fell upon each others
necks as long-lost brothers. They are
working together for Mr.. Bryan. and the
personal hatchet is buried for the time
being That is a sample OF the way IT
is going all through the democratic
ranks.
Chairman Conners said that, in his
opinion Lieut.. Gov. Chanler is in the
lead for the democratic nomination for
Governor of New York. Mr.. Conner0
proposes to stake his own political repu-