Omaha daily bee., 1908-06-16

BATTLEFIELD on TBE CAMPAIGN
With the certainty that Mr.. Taft
will be the nominee of the republican
party at Chicago and that Mr.. Bryan
will be named for the presidency at
Denver, political wiseacres are al
ready surveying the field and picking
the battle-ground for the coming cam
paign. The consensus Of expert opln-
ion thus far expressed is that the con-
test will be waged most fercely in the
middle west. This conclusion Is based
upon the assumption by the republi-
cans, the truth of which the demo-
Gratis admit, that Mr.. Bryan is no
stronger in the east than he was in
1896 and 1900, and that any gains
he makes this year will have to be in
the middle west, in the states of Illi-
nois, Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa,
Minnesota, Kansas and Nebraska.
Leslie's Weekly. discussing these
phases of the political situation, as
serts that republicans must remember
that the majorities in 1900 and 1904
we're abnormal and calls attention to
the results OF the campaign in 1892,
when Mr.. Cleveland not only carried
New York and New Jersey, but cap
tured a bunch of middle western
states. This is the usual talk of those
who claim to find hope for the Bryan
campaign in the middle west. They
figure that the campaign OF 1892 is
to be repeated, but they fail to take
into account the changed conditions in
the different states that went for MI.
Cleveland in that campaign.
Illinois rave Mr.. Cleveland 26,993
plurality in 1892, but the republican
majority in 1888 was but 22,100, so
MIR, Cleveland had to change but H.
900 votes to put the state in the demo-
cratic column. President Roosevelt's
plurality in Illinois in 1904 was 3O5,-
039. Mr.. Bryan will have to change
more than 10000 votes in that state
this year to make 1t democratic. In
diana gave President Harrison, a ma
tive son, but 2,348 plurality in 1888,
and gave Mr.. Cleveland 7,125 in 1892.
In 1904 Mr.. Roosevelt's plurality was
1924. Where Mr.. Cleveland had to
turn but 1000 votes to carry Indiana
in 1892, Mr.. Bryan starts out in 1908
with a handicap of nearly $4,000
voters who must be switched to the
democratic ticket in order to carry the
state. Wisconsin was $1,000 republic
can in 1888 and went democratic by
6,544 in 1892. The republican ma
jorities have grown steadily year by
year, Mr.. Roosevelt carrying the state
in 1904 by 156,054. Minnesota has
never gone democratic on a national
ticket. The republican majority over
the f~usionists in the 1892 campaign
was 1921. Mr.. Roosevelt carried the
state in 1904 by 161,464. Kansas
gave a republican majority of SO,159
In 1888 and a populist majority of
1914 in 1892. 1t gave a fusion ma
iority for Bryan in 1896 of 12,269, but
defeated Bryan in 1900 by 23,S54. 1t
gave Roosevelt a plurality In 1904 oil
126,O93. Nebraska was republican by
27,s73 in 1888 and by 4,0SS in 1892.
Bryan carried the state by 1885 in
1896, but lost IT, by 1922 in 1900.
Mr.. Roosevelt's plurality in 1904 was
S6,6S2.
In the eight states classed as de
batable" this year, Mr.. Roosevelt had
a popular majority over Judge Parker
in 1904 OF about 100000 votes,
fairly well divided among the different
states. That gives a hint OF the hand
leap with which Mr.. Bryan will start
in the coming race. The people in the
states named are fond of Mr., Roose-
Welt and approve his policies, n the
strength in the republican situation
lies in the fact that Mr.. Taft is identi-
fed with these policies and pledged
to continue them.