The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-08-12
OHIO REPUBS
 FRIGHTENED Democrats Will Capture
 the State. NOT MERELY IDLE GOSSIP Prominent Ohio Politician Let's Cat
 Out of Bag. Eimer Dover. Secretary of National Repub Committee. Was Asked to step Aside Because He
 Told Truth.
NOT MERELY IDLE GOSSIP
BY ALFRED J. STOPPER.

Washington, August 11.--(special.)- surprising as the statement may seem. the political situation in Ohio is un- certain for the Republicans.
 From the inception of the campaign, the managers of that party will have to fight hard to prevent the Democrats from getting the upper hand in the contest. This is not merely idle gos- sip. The statement is based on news brought to Washington by we'll known residents of the State. Of course. there are many Republicans who can be heard to talk in the Washington hotel Hobbies as if they really thought that Candidate Taft would roll up the usual Republican majority in Ohio. They bank great deal on State pride, and the personal popularity of the candi- date, and so intense is their opposi- ton to Mir. Bryan that they just take for granted that 1t is not in the cards for him to win. and necessarily he Will once more go down to defeat. But there are other Ohio Republicans who have a great deal to say privately and they are compelled to admit that things are in laundering fix for their party out there.
 In the first place, Judge Taft Is an- tagonized by several classes of citi- gems. Union labor lis not only oppos- ing him in all of the industrial cen tres. on account of decisions rendered by him while on the Federal bench, but the followers of Boss Cox in Cin- cinnati have never forgiven him for the speech he made several years ago which Is believed to have resulted in a political uprising which drove from power the Republican ring in Hamilton county. Boss Cox and his gang lost control of all of the big offices in the county, and they have not ceased to berate Judge Taft for the part ho played in that game.
 Ohio is Gone.
 One of the most prominent Ohio poli- ticians who holds now high of1ce and has been compelled to put out state ments to the effect sthat he Ia just bulging over with enthusiasm for the national ticket and will later take the stump for Taft and Sherman, tells me privately that Ohio is gone. "The lead CTS in Ohio cannot possibly carry the State for Taft" he said. we have heard from the counties, and every where there Is feeling of unrest and dissatisfaction. Republicans all over Ohio resent the methods by which Judge Taft was nominated at Chicago. They are also incensed over the out ragsaus attempt that ts being made to hnmilate ana defeat Senator Fora ker. And I am frank to say that the Democrats are practically united this year. In Judson Harmon they have a strong and popular candidate for Gov ernor. Harmon and his friends are loyalty supporting the national ticket. and I know 1t to be fact that the closest friends Mir. Bryan has in the State are giving Harmon their cordial support. It simply looks as if the Democrats see their opportunity and are going to make the most of it. Tn the old days the Democrats when they stood together gave us Q close fight. Now that they are united and the Re- publicans torn asunder by factional strife-to say nothing of the hard times, which the Democrat have been shrewd enough to let the world know is a Republican panic'-it will surprise me if my party is able to pull out a victory this year. The situation may possibly improve, but there will have to be wonderful improvement between now and the daysof election to prevent Bryan coming out ahead in Ohio."
 The Ohio Republicans are also great