The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-10-24

I
Indiana situation. and ore that tends to
/ strengthen the hope OF the Repub-
| Leans. Is that the State for the past
/ twelve years has shown an Increasing
| trend toward Repubiicanism and an in
! creasing drift away from Democracy.
II is within the memory Of every voter
when the Hoosier State was looked
upon as a battle-ground in every cleo
! ton, as a fair field for either party.
with the chances favoring the Demo-
Gratis. But in later years the Repub-
licans have been gaining over their OPP
| ponents, until the State Is looked upon
as normally Republican by about $1,000.
| Some put the normal Republican plu-
| rality at from IS. 600 to 10000.
This trend toward Republicanism Is
! variously explained, but there is no
doubt that the Republican party has
in recent years become stronger In
the southern part OF the state, TO the
south OF the old National road, running
from Richmond, on the eastern border
TO Terre Haute. on the western. In the
days of the civil war, Democratic SEN
! timent was strong in southern Indiana.
| II has not been many years since the
| Republicans had no hope OF getting
| the lead in the southern counties. The
country south Of the National road
| was looked on as a stronghold OF
Democracy. But the population there
has changed with the maturir & OF a
new generation, with the growth OF
manufacturing, and with the increasing
development of the region In the days
OF this civil war. southern Indiana was
a hotbed Of copperheadism- Many
Souther5ers had dritted into that part
OF the state, and they were deeply sym
pathetic with their brethren over the
border. Young men who have grown
up stree the war have In many cases
forgotten the beliefs and prejudices Of
their fathers, and there has been a
steady movement OF population into
southern Indiana from the northward.
II in this election Indiana goes back
into the Democratic field 81 viii be a
, hard and grevious blow to the Hoosier
, Republicans. They have come 10 think
OF Indiana as a Republican State. 70
cease to consider Il evenly poised. They
have been taking on increasing con-
rdenCe and looking on the Democratic
organization as weakening and unable
. 10 hold It's own with the cuperb Organi-
cation OF the Republicans. Now. from
p number of reasons, she Democrats
, nave SNGQenlN DtC0llne NllOlOuk4llE W
Saoized, compact. alert and powerful
J with practically every member OF the
party in line and fghtinE for the sue
. cess OF the Democratic ticket from top
to bottom and with a vigOr and morale
! | that threatens the Republicans with
defeat Democrats In Indiana realize
that there has been offered them this
p year a great opportunity 70 overcome
, II tho results OF more than a decade o.
Republican success In the State. More
over, II must be apparent 20 the Demo
? this year. at least on the ovvrnorship
. they might as well abaG.- On attempts
TO swing the State out Of the RspUb-
l. lican column.
A Tradition
, 1t is a tradition in Indiana That as
this state goes So goes the nation in a
Presidential election. II one VIII cas-,
I over the vote Of Indiana since tho or
? ganization Of the Republican party. he
will find there is good foundation for
this tradition. Indiana voted for Bu-
- chanan, for Samuel J. Tnden, and FOL
? Grover Cleveland both Tine he was
= elected. Another Indiana tradition Is
! that New York and Inciana generally
D go together IN a Presidential election
, SO impressed with the truth OF these
traditions, and Of the same facts con
tinuing to hold good in this election. Is
, one Republican politician, Of much
prominence in the State organization
and Of much ability. that he declares
he will wait on election night only Ions
d enough to find out how Marion county
: the county in which Indianapolis Is sit
! | uated, goes. This county has voting
= machines, and the returns will be II
q early. In 1904, when Roosevelt carried
:, Indiana by over $1,000. due largely Z
i the fact the Bryan men stayed at home
Marion county gave Roosevelt a plural
, ity of over 1900 In 1906, when tn
Republicans carried the State by owe
: $1,000. Marion county went Republican
" 5.262 The Republican mentioned
says, that II the Republicans lose Mar
| ion county this year he VIII go hom'
and 20 TO bed, feeling sure the Demo
n Gratis have not merely swept Indiana
: / but that they have carried New YOrl
e and elected a President. II Marion
r county goes Republican by LOO he cal
L culates Indiana will be extremely close
=, but that if Marion county comes fort
with a Republican plurality OF 2,5I
~ then Indiana will be Republican by
e large plurality. Marion county Ia
) been far and away the strongest Re
publican county In the state In recen
years, reckoning by the size Of plurali
ties but this year II Is looked on b.
. ! the Republicans as in jeopardy
l. In the first place, certain RepublIcal
county officials have been involved j
49, grave scandals, and the people ar
: aroused over this misconduct in office
y Moreover. indianapolis is one OF IN
? centers where the opponents Of count
is local option are most active, and Wher
the LIQUOR element and the liberal ele
= ments are strongest and most thorough
u ly organized. Such Is the situation j
Marion county that Representativ
is Jesse Overstreet, who represents thi
Ie district in the House. and who is hea
hi of the Committee on POstOfhces an
"a Post Roads, one OF the strongest me
in the House Republican organization
= is engaged in a desperate fight 10 saw
IN himself from defeat. Much against hi
is will he has been placed on the Mario
county ticket, his district consisting G
i Marion and Johnson counties, and h
will suffer from the failure Of the MAJ
- ion county Republican officials to Civ
III satisfactory administration Over
| street has for his opponent a youn
| LAWYER, Charles A. Korbly, whom ord
| narily he could defeat with ease.
Republican Weakness.
Considering some sources Of Republ
can weakness in Indiana this year, III
trouble over the liquor question mus
be placed first. The law IS It has bee