The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-10-18

relief, as he settled into seat in his
New York hotel room. ITS a comfort
to get down East here and see one place
where things are in better shape It's
about 200 per cent better here than out
West"
He was a Republican. His name would
make this story moro than 200 per cent
better; consequently it can't be used.
The man with whom an interview would
De most interesting generally has TO be
quoted anonymously.
Il have been east OF the Alleghenies
only three or four days" he said, land
can see that things are in better con-
dition. I've been in New Jersey, and
that State is safe fo- Taft We have
heard reports that it was bad; but it
| isn't.
Here in New York I find the poll
ticians think Hughes IS beaten; but the
people don't talk that way. and 1 have
a feeling that as the people nominated
Hughes despite the politicians. they may
! yet elect him, likewise despite the poll
ticians."
! AS to that, the speaker didn't agree
/ with the developing opinion in this
town. The current seems decidedly
| against Hughes. but the completely OF
currents and crOss-currents is such as
no man will claim he ever before saw
and it is hard 10 feel sure about any
thing.
One thing IS certain. All the polls
and straw votes and conversations with
people and other reflections Of opinion,
enforce the conclusion that Taft VIII
get many thousands of votes that will
not go to Hughes. Conversely and
strangely, all the analysists declare
that Hughes will help Taft vastly,
/ It is recognized now that If Hughes
had not been nominated, Taft wouldn't
at this minute have a fighting chance
10 carry this State. The Presidential
election would be over. everybody
would be conceding that Bryan would
carry New York, and that concession,
getting borne in on the Western mind,
which is rather more set on seeing
/ Hughes elected than on anything else,
/ would cause general revulsiOn against
the Republicans. which would push
Ohio, Idiana, and Illinois over into the
Democratic list, and probably some
more middle Western States.
Roosevelt Builded Well.
Theodore Roosevelt builded wiser than
anybody else knew. when he forced the
little bosses Of New York to nominate
Hughes. He understood He seems al
WAYS to understand what the public
mind is getting at. He understands bet
ter by far than does the public itself
He knew that the national party needed
Hughes. and he supplied the demand
Hughes will save the ticket If It is
saved: and he will save IT, whether he
himself wins or not. He viii save 1t II
New York as well as elsewhere.
The Hughes kind of people are the
ionlv ones the Republicans can do much
with this year. The West demands him
while the East IS calling for La Toilette
land Cummins, and Western men OF
their type; for these two in particular
Cannon and Sherman represent the
other side Of things. and, TO say the
least. their speeches are not in great
demand among Republicans. At the ma
tional committee headquarters, the ex-
PLANTATION IS always made with avidity
and enthusiasm and suggestive prompt
ness. that I'VE don't know about the
t
him: he makes his own dates, by ar
irangement with members or Congress
who want him IN their districts" A
man who was recently in the Speaker
home district, expressed the opinion
that chances were a trife against his
! reelection.
He would be beaten as sure as
shootin'." declared this man, IF the
! Democrats had a good man runnlhR
| against him But Cannon was mighty
/ lucky in the selection the Democrat
made. Of a candidate against him. Bel
the Democratic nominee, is a former
deputv commissioner of pensions, anc
about as weak a man as could nave
raan found I'm the district for the fight
he faces His record is just generally
had. If the Speaker wins. it'll be be-
cause of Bells weakness cannon
! knows he has the fight Of his life ahead
and is now devoting most of his time
to his home district"
Many Still in Doubt.
Several weeks ago it was said in this
correspondence that the Presidential re,
suit probably depended on people who
had not decided how they would vote
that If it could be known how many
people were going to vote for President
and II the exact condition Of mind o.
every voter could be known, a compia-
ton Of the whole situation would show
that nobody was yet elected. Too many
people were in doubt.
That condition IS just as prevalent nov
as a month ago; and much more oh
vious Everybody now recognizes it
Then. many people didn't realize it.