The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-09-01

handicapped in a measure this year
| by the fact that in the previous years
of big campaign contributions great
sums were used for getting the voters
to the polls. Thousands upon thousands
Of Republican voters in the big Repub.
| lican states have to be carried to the
/ polls or paid for their time when they
go to vote. The Democrats suffer from
a similar attitude but in much smaller
degree.
| 1t is a question whether the Republi-
cans are going to have money enough
| this year to pay very generally for the
time of the farmers on election day.
That was one of the troubles in New
| York two years ago, when Hughes was
the only Republican elected on the state
| ticket. Over 100000 voters stayed at
home.
Moral Issue in Several States.
While a religious issue, as described,
is working somewhat to Taft 8 detri-
me1t and to Bryan's disadvantage, a
moral issue is figuring in several state
campaigns this year. In some states.
probably in New York, it will work to
his disadvantage. The denomination of
Gov. Hughes in New York, which now
seems assured, will bring lot of indie
pendents to the Taft standard. 1t will
also array big element in the cities
and something of an element among the
farmers, against him. 1t will further
assure the Democrats good state cam
paign funds. A good campaign fund
for the state Democratic ticket will help
the national ticket, for it will bring
out the Democratic strength generally.
The Republicans have taken up NOR
al issue in Ohio and Indiana, thus as
surfing support from a large following
of voters but again the Democrats, BY
assuming a middle of the road course
have very strong and rich elements on
their side and will be assured of plenty
of funds and strong organization. In
the three large and politically impor-
tant states of New York, Indiana, and
Ohio the Democrats will enter the cam
paign quite as well off financially in all
probability as their Republican oppo.
nents. That is not to be overlooked
in its effect on the final results, es-
pecially after the tremendous financial
advantage that the Republicans had in
all three states during the presidential
campaigns of 1896, 1900 and 1904
No one can say yet how generally
the UeIuduS III O0lO anu InUla0a, Tor
example, who promise TO vote against
the Republican state tickets, will also
vote against Taft State election after
state election in recent years has dem
onstrated beyond question that the av-
erage voter is adept at split tickets
Hughes was elected Governor of New
York by the skill of the voters in
using the knife and Ohio elected u
Democratic Governor three years ago
for the same reason. There is every
prospect that there will be more cutting
and slashing of tickets all through the |
north this autumn than there has been |
in any presidential election before in |
our history, whether Taft or Bryan is |
to be elected.
The Large Number of Unemployed.
Yet another element that enters in
to the situation is the large number
of unemployed and of those who are
only partially employed. The country
is far from enjoying its wonted pros
perity. The history of American poll
ties shows that the party in power
always suffers from industrial depres-
L I