Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1908-09-21
STATES that
ARE DOUBTFUL
Where Partizans Agree
On Necessity For
Hard Campaign
Especial Correspondence
(Munsey Syndicate)

WASHINGTON, ID. c.. Sept. 1. -
What are the really doubtful States
this year?
| A Republican and q Democratic
list, placed side by side for COMPARE
son, suggest some of the uncertain
ties of this campaign at the present
date. The truth is that 1t has not so
far taken shape that there is any
basis of agreement as to the States
which is the latter weeks of the con-
stitute the debatable ground.
The Republican list of doubtful
States at this time is headed by Ne.
braska; then in about the order of
their admitted uncertainty come In
diana, Tennessee. Kentucky. Missou-
ri. New York, Illinois. and Ohio. Col
orado appears In some lists. and so
does Montana. But they are not con-
sidered important on the Republican
side because they are not exactly nee
essary for success in any of the Re-
publican calculations.
On the other hand, the Democratic
list places Indiana first. New York
second, and includes Wisconsin, Ohio,
Illinois, Nebraska. Colorado. Mary
land, West Virginia, California, New
Jersey, Iowa, Minnesota, both Dako-
tas, and Idaho. Connecticut and
Utah appear In some lists and in all
discussions.
Nebraska Is Uncertain
The Republicans admit that Ne
braska Is uncertain; the Democrats
insist that 1t is certain to be Demo-
cratic. Republicans admit some un-
certainties about Indiana; Democrats
confidently claim it. Republicans
claim a chance to win Tennessee and
Missouri and Kentucky; Democrats
rank that trio of border States as GER
| tain for Bryan. Democrats say they
have good chance for West Vir-
ginia; Republicans laugh at the idea.
Democrats are confident of Colorado
and Montana; Republicans count
Colorado safe for Taft and Montana
really uncertain. Both sides talk
with apparent copfidence-for pub
| lication-about getting New York by
100000, and both sides in private
conversation admit that the State is
very uncertain.
Each Claims California
California Is rated by the Repub-
leans as rock-ribbed Taft State;
| hn 70 nj OF .
of their promising prospects. Wis
consin is claimed by the Democrats
to be one of the most uncertain
States in the Union, while Republic
cans say 1t is good for big major
ity for Taft. Republicans list Mary
land as certain for Taft. while the
Democrats say that when Bryan has
made his tour of the State 1t will line
always cause mirth among Republi
cans when they are mentioned in q
doubtful list: Democrats persist in
regarding them as doubtful, and de-
clare that the candidates for Govern.
CT and Senator. on the Republican
side, are even now appealing to their
national committee for aid. That
Senator Hopkins is either worrying
or else crwing wolf in order to get
assistance that will make assurance
doubly sure is well known. The Sem
ator has not made any virtue of over
Claiming the situation.
Really on the Fence
Out of all this list of alleged
doubtful States 1t is impossible at
this stage to make one on which q
disinterested observer would care to
stake his reputation as prohpet. But
granting that conditions later may
change present situations, 1t seems
fair to say that these States are real
ly doubtful:
Nebraska, Indiana. New York, Ten
nessee, Colorado, Montana, and Wis
consin.
In making this restricted list Il Is
assumed that unless landslide such
as is hardly to be expected from any
manifestations thus far, shall change
the situation, Ohio, Illinois, New Jer-
sey, West Virginia, Iowa. Kansas,
and Minnesota will be Republican. 1t
is likewise conceded that Missouri,
Kentucky, and Georgia will be DEM
ocratic.
Mr.. Bryan is conceded to be play
ing his politics cleverly and with in
telligence this year. He is going to
talk in Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, the
Dakotas, Minnesota, Wisconsin, iii
nois, Indiana, Ohio, New York, and
Rhode Island.