The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1908-10-23
BRYAN GAINING
But TAFT AHEAD
REPUBLICANS ON THE DEFENs,
I'VE TO HOLD THEIR GROUND.
A Summary Of the situation ut the
Present Time as Seen h Washington
-Dems Could Win Presidency With
cut New York--strensth Of Tickets.

for the last days Of the presidential
campaign. During the fortnight end
ed last night they have made obvious
gains, but must accomplish still more
In order IT, achieve a triumph on Nov.
q -
A number OF republican strongholds
have been shaken but the democrats
must force their capitulatfon before
they can assure themselves of victory.
The republicans are fully alive to their
danger and are at work desperately to
strengthen the weak spots in their de-
lenses, for II must be admitted they
are still on the defensive In this fight.
It Is a mistake for any one to think
Mr.. Bryan could not win without New
York, for that is easily possible IL the
apparent drift in certain central west
eFn states should continue unchecked
That there will be big republican,
slump in this region is q foregone con-
clusion.
It is impossible at this time, how
ever to approximate its extent, much
less measure IL with exactness, al~
though this has been done In previous
campaigns; and this very inability or
the political managers to guage its di-
mansions Is the primary cause of the
uncertainty which obsesses them. Next
Saturday, perhaps more definite esti-
mates may be made than are possible
now, and then nearly anybody might
pick the winner unerringly.
Taft Can Loss Mere and Win.
1t is my deliberate judgment, predi-
Gated upon the very best data obtain
able from all sources, Including the
chief officers OF the national commit
tees OF the two leading parties, that
Mr.. Taft will have to lose more than
he already has lost to be defeated.
Personal investigation, undertaken
solely with the view to ascertaining
the prospects OF each candidate, rein
forced by confidential reports trans
mftted to both committees by trust
worthy agents In the debatable states,
leads me to this conclusion. No bias
whatever enters into it. A week hence
the situation will clearly improve from
either the democratic or the republi-
can standpoint, and whichever direc-
ton the trend may, It will be impart-
tally chronicled. II Is evident now
that tens of thousands of voters who
have been rejecting upon the way to
vote, are beginning to make up their
minds, and enough OF them In specific
localities may be enumerated to furn-
ish an infallible forecast OF the out
come OF the campaign.
To one who is studying the situation
in the middle west, 1t Is clear that de-
feetion is going on among the working
classes OF the republican,. affiliation,
Just as 1t is in such states as Mary
land, West Virginia, Ohio, etc. This
feeling is manifested so plainly that 1t
cannot be misunderstood !, 1t is more
apparent among the employees Of the
railroads than among the Industrial
workers, and this, perhaps. may be ex-
planned on the ground that the indus
trial classes are stronger numerically
in the east than in the west.
Railroad Men for Bryan.
II between 70 and so per cent OF the
railroad men, democrats and republic
cans, do not vote for Bryan, all infor-
nation on the subject Is misleading.
Engineers .firemen. and trainmen gem
orally exhibited their true sentiments
when Governor Hughes train was pro-
crossing through the western states
ed the governors special and made
utiu laLS al, many meetings.. WuSU
asked to explain the delay, they gave
excuses which would have been plaus-
ible had they not been OF uniform
nature.
The republicans must and do depend
upon the agriculturslists to onset the
disafrection OF labor. Everything in4
dictates, too. that the republican farms
ers, as q rule, are going TO be loyal
and that there win be some accessions
from democrats OF this class. The
farmers are the backbone OF the re-
publican party in the region lying be-
tween the Mississippi and the Rockies,
and IL they proved recreant democratic
success would be absolutely certain.
It is the farn1crs' vote that will save
Nebraska for Taft, if 1t is saved. The
same is true of Kansas, the Dalotas
and Wisconsin. The men who grow
wheat. corn and other cereals and raise
cattle and hogs were never as pros
porous as now, , es
They have been and sim are getting
fine prices for all their products, and
attribute their happy financial condi-
ton to the decade of commercial and
industrial activity which began with
McKinley's administration. They have
not felt any :lf effects from last Octo-
ber's panic, as business and laboring
men have and care nothing about the
Rnti-injunction question.
The Doubtful States.
But to revert to the assertion that
IL would be possible for Bryan to win
without New York, let us review the
more or less doubtful states. First
there is Indiana, which has been drift
ing away from its republican moorings
very rapidly, and is now claimed with
more confidence by the democrats than
by the republicans Impartial observ-
erg have been classifying Ohio as act
ualiy doubtful, although the republl-
cans f>4 surer of 1t than their OPP
ponents. Reports from Wisconsin are
in no sense as reassuring to the re-
publicans AS they might be. and the
same Is true OF Nebraska, Kansas
Colorado Montana, Maryland and West
Virginia.
These states have combined elec-
toraI vote Of 90, which, added to the
solid south, In which are Included
Kentucky and Missouri with total
Of 1853 votes, ana Nevada with three
would give Bryan 252, or IL more than
majority OF the electoral college
thus, it will be observed, 1t would bf
possible for Bryan to lose New York
and still be elected. But he is fight
Ing hard for the Empire state, and
TaInmany Hall, which has been under
suspicion. In even arranging SONS
monster mass meetings for him wher
he makes his final invasion Of the enc.
uy's country.