The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-10-20
Bryan Landslide In West and
Pacific Fails Utterly to
Materialize.
Fight Is In New York, With
TAFT Prime Favorite.
WISCONSIN LOST 10 JOHNSON


Water wellman Is the one promi-
nent political writer who has been
propheying Democratic success in
the national election. He IA the only
one IN the field who has classified
Ohio and Indiana as Democratic. The
Memphis Commercial Appeal and
other papers have been accepting his
reports. somewhat garbled. but they
morning TO the Rccordierald:
Taft Is still ahead In the presl-
dental race. and his election Is prob
able. Notwithstanding heavy Demo
cratic gains
The battle FOR the presidency has
really narrowed down to this: Who
ever carries New York viii almost
certainly win the great prize.
There isi possibility that Taft
might win without New York, but Il
Is a remote chance, for 4 Is generaily
conceded that II New York shouh go
over to- Bryan that Will indicate a
movement strong enough TO sweet
Vtl"i EAAttr atbn~ ~ Au' 'hlA'Ahf
1T now seems Gear that. barring
surprises In the west. not now really
looked for by the best informed
BRYAN must carry New York to save
himself Without New York he Is
almost certainly beaten.
The latest and most Trustworthy
information / have from New York
and Il comes from dependable sources
---is 10 the effect that the state II
wel-nleh for Taft. One strong rea-
son Tor this shall give In moment
Thus u Il obvious that by the
most critical and coid-bloodei view OF
the field Taft must be regarded as
hoding a tremendous advantage. oe-
spite had Republican luck In states
like Ohio and Indiana. and this ad
vantage on the whole situation iusti-
fies odds OF 2 TO I In his favor. With
New York. Taft can win without both
Ohio and Indiana.
1.-THE much-talked-of Bryan land
slide IN the agricultural west. In the
mountain states and ON the Pacific
coast. u not reality. II Is true
Bryan Is making heavy gains In az
THIS territory. 20 far AZ the popular
vote n concerned But II does not
cup deep enough to spell general revo
luton. The Republicans pluralities
as whole viii be very much reduced
--in some states almost to the poiua
of disappearsnce-bu Bryan's actuai
gain OF electoral votes will be very
small indced--n0t enough, on the
present alignment of the Whole coun-
try. to have any effect upon the re-
suit. The basic facts are that thu
farmer h too prosperous 20 Join a
political revolution, and save IN few
small mountain states there are not
enough OF the labor vote to Civ,
Bryan the victory. West OF Chicago
there viii be heavy losses Of Repubil-
can piuIalitics. but the loss of cleo
toral votes will be. relatively speak
ing. a'negllglble quantity
"The hot aud heavy Fighting in this
campaign has shifted to the Industrial
states east OF Chicago. TO the states
where the labor vote Is relatively
large. 10 states where the local con-
dltions are abnormal--and most Of
them working against the Rcpubll-
cans-to the three great states Of
New York, Ohio and Indiana. Tw"
OF these are the pivotal" states OF
the past--states which have shifted
from party 20 party In presidents
years-and the other Is a state which
has often been upon the verge Of
doing 80. In az! three of these states
this decisive triumvirate--the per
tonal liberty or sumptuary legislation
question has been raised by Republic
can governors or Republican lcgisla-
lures. with the result that the ma
tioral Republican ticket Is confronted
by an incidental opposition which has
no proper place In the campaign.
Here the labor vote is heavy, and here
also. particularly In Ohio and Indiana.
other factors are working against the
Republicans. II now appears that In
New York, the greatest of the trio,
the Republican leaders have takei
advantage OF peculiar local circum-
stances TO turn the unfayorabe into
salvation. Ohio Is desperate fighting
ground. with the chances. in my opin-
ion, In Biyan's favor. Indiana Seems
hope'ess,y lost to Taft. But II New
York stands Taft can easily win with
out Ohio and Indiana.
His Prediction.