The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1908-09-04

demonstrate better whether this move.
Iment is at all serious. Many Protestant
ministers are voicing their convictions
about it and in the meantime ex-Secre.
tary Taft has been giving out inter
views regarding his appreciation of
Methodist missionaries in China and at
tending service occasionally at an Epis-
eopal church. The criticism of the
nominees religion might not be very
effective but for the fact that Bryan
has won the high esteem of many
church people by his lecture on "The
Prince OF Peace and by the uncontro-
verified fact that he is a "Christian
gentleman.
| Still, after these and other movements
against the Republican candidate are
considered, careful men are unable to
| figure how, even if he loses many votes
with the divers bodies of men enumera.
ted, he can fail of majorities in the
northern states that win be necessary
for his election. These normal Republic.
can majorities are very large in belt
of big Republican states, extending all
the way from New York to California.
| If the Republican voters will only turn
out on election day, there will probably
be no doubt about Taft's election.
| That is regarded in the late August
| forecasts as one of the Republican
nominees dangers. Cleveland came in
by landslide in 1892 more by reason
of the Republican stay at home vote
than by the Democratic ballots that
were cast for him. 1t looks now as
though the efforts of the Republican
National committee, aided by the va.
rious state committees, should be de.
voted TO getting the Republicans to vote
and not to go fishing. The party is
handicapped in a measure this year
by the fact that in the previous years
of big campaign contributions great
sums were used for getting the voters
to the polls. Thousands upon thousands
of Republican voters in the big Repub.
lican states have to be carried to the
polls or paid for their time when they
go to vote. The Democrats suffer from
a similar attitude but in a much smaller
degree.
1t is a question whether the Republi.
cans are going to have money enough
this year to pay very generally for the
time of the farmers on election day.
| That was one of the troubles in New
York two years ago, when Hughes was
the only Republican elected on the state
| ticket. Over 100000 voters stayed at
home.
Moral Issue in Several States.
While a religious issue, as described,
is working somewhat to Taft IS detri-
ment and to Bryan's disadvantage, a
moral issue is figuring in several state
campaigns this year. In some states,
probably in New York, it will work to
his disadvantage. The denomination of
Gov. Hughes in New York, which now
seems assured, will bring a lot of indie
pendents to the Taft standard. 1t will
also array big element in the cities
and something of an element among the
farmers, against him. 1t will further
assure the Democrats good state cam
paign funds. A good campaign fund
for the state Democratic ticket will help
the national ticket, for it will bring
out the Democratic strength generally.
The Republicans have taken up NOR
al issue in Ohio and Indiana, thus as.
surfing support from large following
of voters but again the Democrats, by
assuming middle of the road course
have very strong and rich elements on
their side and will be assured of plenty
of funds and strong organization. In
the three large and politically impor-
| tdHb sltltS VI 4NtW luuldud, anu
Ohio the Democrats will enter the cam.
! probability as their Republican oppo.
nents. That is not to be overlooked
| in it's effect on the final results, es-
pecially after the tremendous financial
advantage that the Republicans had in
all three states during the presidential
campaigns of 1896, 1900 and 1904.
M how 1lx,
the Germans in Ohio and Indiana, for
example, who promise TO vote against
the Republican state tickets, will also
vote against Taft. State election after
state election in recent years has dem
onstrated beyond question that the av-
erage voter is adept at split tickets
Hughes was elected Governor of New
York by the skill of the voters in
using the knife and Ohio elected
Democratic Governor three years ago
for the same reason. There is every
prospect that there will be more cutting
and slashing of tickets all through the
north this autumn than there has been
in any presidential election before in
our history, whether Taft or Bryan is
to be elected.
The Large Number of Unemployed.
Yet another element that enters in.
to the situation is the large number
of unemployed and of those who are
only partially employed. The country
is far from enjoying its wonted pros.
perity. The history of American poll.
ties shows that the party in power
always suffers from industrial depres.
sion. The Republicans will have to
meet this condition. 1t is not yet GER
tain whether they are making much
of an impression with their arguments
That the return of prosperity would
be delayed and generally discouraged
10y the election of Bryan. That argu.
ment, however, will be pressed home,
together with statements of Taft's ex.
perience in governmental affairs and
assurances that his would be more
SIX lied hand ON the helm of the ship
nj state.
All these untoward conditions, while
10y no means indicating that Taft can
not be elected, do demonstrate that
the Republican organization has plenty
of work to 10 between now and elees