The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-10-28
AS THE CAMPAIGN WAVES.

These be stirring times In the
political arena and this week in which
the campaign wanes will undoubtedly
be the most active one of any of the
many weeks of activity which have
gone before it. Particularly is this
true in the several states which are
classed as "doubtfurv and especially so
in New York state. which is conceded
to be one of the pivotal backgrounds
in the great political struggle. Both
Mr.. Taft and Mr.. Byan are putting in
the last hours of the fight in sweep
ing tours of the Empire state and so
far the honors seem to be about even
between them in the magnitude of the
crowds they have drawn and the
demonstrations which have been ac-
corded them.
This unusual attention which is be-
ing given to New York in the final
days OF the campaign is being de-
voted with good reason. AS New
York goes so goes the election" has
been a familiar cry in all presidential
campaigns and there is a good deal of
truth in It although it is not neces-
sarily infallible How it will go this
year is really problematical to the
best informed of the political experts
who are unprejudiced. Prominent
Democrats are contending that Mr.
Bryan win sweep the state with a
majority of. 10000 while equally
prominent Republicans are satisfied
that Mr. Taft will have no trouble in
walking away with New York
thirty-nine electoral votes with
handsome majority of at least 1OO'-
900. And both sides are sincere in
their predictions. But the great
divergence between the, forecasts OF
the leaders in both parties is the best
evidence in the world as to the I'M
certainty as to just how the state
will go and this uncertainty is voiced
by the opinions of the leading news
papers in New York city.
Mr.. Taft's adherents believe that he
will win the presidency even IL he does
not carry New York and according to
this reasoning Mr.. Bryan must GER
tainly carry New York to have any
possible chance for success.
There are several other doubtful"
states which will play an important
part in the result of the contest when
the votes are finally canvassed. Two
of these are Ohio, MT. Taft's home
state. and Indiana. Mr.. Taft seems
certain in his own mind that he will
carry off a majority in his native
state. He recently remarked that he
would not deserve the presidency if
he could not carry Ohio but the
Bryanites insist that their candidate
has more than an even chance of
winning victory In the Buckeye
state. And the same general doubt
exists as to the outcome in Indiana.
This Is Mr.. Kern's home state but it
must be admitted that he has never
shown much strength as a vote
gatherer in Indiana, having once been
defeated in a gubernatorial contest
and also in a United States senatorial
race.
A number of states of more or
less minor importance because of the
smallness of their electoral votes are
also put in the doubtful column by
the political wiseacres but the pre-
vailing opinion is that the presi-
Dental contest will in reality hinge on
the results in New York, Indiana, and
Ohio.
Predictions can be found on all
when the vote of the country is
counted. These are to the effect that
the party which is successful will be
landslided to victory. Some persons
look for Mr.. Bryan's election through
a landslide that will sweep the coun-
try. others insist that Mr.. Bryan will
be the victim of landslide and that
Mr. Taft will carry off the honors
with an overwhelming majority in the
electoral college. But the conditions
existing throughout the country, as
near as they can be observed, would
not seem to warrant such predictions
and the chances are great that the
election will be one of the closest in
the history of presidential campaigns
in the United States with the indica-
lions favoring the Republican candi-
date.