Cañon City record., 1908-10-29
DUTY OF THE FIRST VOTER
May Change Results in Certain
Doubtful States.
Should Carefully Examine Record OF
Two Leading Parties and Start
Right-Real Americanism.

It is not beyond the range OF posi-
bility that the first voters in this presi.
dental election may hold the balance
of power in a few Of the doubtful
States. 1t is difficult to ascertain the
exact strength of this vote, hence 1t
offers fertile field for speculation.
An intelligent estimate arrived at Dy
the only authentic data available would
seem to establish the number OF hrst
voters in the United States at this pres
idential election somewhere near three
million. These young men are to cast
their first ballot for President In early
November.
There is also no accurate way or
knowing Just how these votes are pro-
rated to the different States. 1t Is
probably true that the safely Democrat
ic States and the safely Republican
States have something Of similar
quota, and to that extent, OF course, the
votes in the electoral college will not
be Influenced either way, but how about
the effect Of this unknown vote in the
doubtful States?
Past experience shows that in these
States an increased suffrage in favor
Of one party or the other, from to
4 per cent, may change the results and
mark the defeat or victory Of either
party 1t Is the first votes In doubt
full States that is Of supreme impor-
tance. How will they be cast? For
Democracy, negatiOn-a policy destruc-
tive Of all that is good, and obstructive
Of all that is prOgressive-ors shall they
be for Taft and Sherman, who repre-
sent the great constructive business
league in America, known A. the Re
publican party?
Performance vs.. Promise.
The performances of the Republican
party may well be contrasted with the
obstructive tactics Of the party Of slav-
cry, State rights, secession, anti-expan-
sion, free silver, free trade, government
ownership Of railroads. and numerous
other foolish and impossible makeshift
expediences. From the immortal Lin
coin to the renowned Taft, there is one
long line of brilliant achievements to
the credit Of the Republican party.
Foremost among these many victories
will forever stand the abolition Of
human slavery. lincoln gave his life
that four millions Of human beings
might be set free. He washed the stain
Of human slavery forever from the
stars and stripes. The Republican par
ty saved the Union and made this Q
free republic forever.
Thirty-seven years later the cry OF
the oppressed went up from Cuba her
people had been ground into the dust
for four centuries by Spanish greed and
oppression. Another Republican PreSi-
dent, another American martyr, came
to the rescue Of the Queen of the An
titles, and william Mckinley, acting for
the Republican party, freed Cuba and
put her feet upon the solid rock Of
peace and hope. Invincible in war, the
Republican party has accomplished
great things In time of peace. Only q
generation ago a Republican Secretary
Of State purchased from despotic Rus
sia its only possession on the North
American continent-Alaska-a In
stead Of 1t being a menace, A. 1t for
merIy was, to the peace Of our land. II
now stands ~ q sentinel guarding
American interests in the Northern Pa.
ciAc and Atlantic oceans.
Another great Republican Secretary
of State secured for the United State1
the open-door policy In China and thus
guaranteed equal commercial rights f0s
America In the Celestial Kingdom fss
all time. Through Republican Pres
idsnt and Q great Secretary oe War
the Hon. william Howard Taft-the
Unitsd States 10 to-day building thu
Panama canaI-the realisation Of thu
dream of ages.
when We acquired the Philippines
and Perto Rico We Get about b estae
lish public schools and make 0aucatio1
possible to all thoss strange peoples
Now hundreds Of thousands oe Tfiiplnl
and Porto Rican children are speaking
the Nnglish Language and sdnging u
sengs Of patriotism and fresdsn via