The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-06-10
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 Making election forecasts Is about the most uncertain occupation any one can indulge in. as was amply proven by the results over in ( Georgia On Sunday before the election The Allan ta Journal announced that Smiths majority over Brown would be 4o,0oe. On Tuesday prominent business man of that city, who claimed to have &C., curats knowledge of the conditions and prospects. asserted that Smith would carry the State by lover 5o.ooo." On that same Tuesday the manager of Browns campaign but his majority at 10000 or 5o.ooo.
 The results show that Browns friends were much nearer correct than those of the other side. but even they were over confident. or overhopeful Of course there were many forecasts on each side. but those we have given gre fair examples of the differences of opinion or of judgment of the op- posing forces. whether the Smith men really believed in their own claims, or whether they were merely whistling to keep their courage up, or whether they made these claims with the hope of drawing to themselves the doubting and the uncertain and causing them to vote for Smith: whether one or all these reasons were behind their ex- travaeant claims matters not: the count of the vote shows how badly ofr they were in their predictions.
 As we said. the forecasting of the result of an election Is among the uncertainties of human experience Only 6 few days before the election sometimes only one day--all the indi- cations may point decidedly one way. but some unexpected event or pro- mitigation. some previously hidden dis turbance, may change the result and discredit the foresight of the prophets. There are many things, and some times apparently insignificant ones. that will change voters almost at the last mos ment and cause the apparently winning side to change to the losing one.
 And then there comes up that old adage or saying that what we wish we readily believe" and it has nanteh to do with human beliefs and calcn- lations. A man can be so wrapt up in a certsin matter, and so exceedingly anxious for a certain event to come to pass, that he win come to believe that his expectations are absolutely sure to become certaintiess Self-decep- ton is not a- difacuit task. when the inclinations are all one way.
 In addition to all this. there is the fact that boasting and expressions of confidence are often sent out for the effect they are expected to have on oth- CTS. Say what we may about 1t, there are a great many people who always try to get ons the winning side in poll ties, regardless of men or principles. what they want is to be able to say that they voted for the winner, and what they watch most closely for is to satisfy themselves as to who the winning man will be. Knowing this. the interested politicians will some times assume a confidence they do not feel, and send out the most positive and sIitterins assurances in favor of their man, with the hope and expects- tien of capturing the timid and uncer- tain and thus winning fight that was not otherwise possible. It is all in the game of politics.
 In the Georgia campaign there was 50 much of boasting ana apparent con- fsdenes on either side that outsiders were at a loss to know what to be- lieve. While conservative and right thinking men were decided in their opinion that Brown ought to be elect ed, the followers of Smith were so loud and confident in their claims for him that we who were not in the fight were at a loss to know the real con- ditions. However, "alrs we'll that ends we'll" and though the majority for Brown is not as large as we had hoped. the revolution was such decided one that his supporters and all others who believe in the triumph of the right may well feel satisfied