Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1908-09-02
HOOG|ER
STATE IS
DOUBTFUL

Wnlcn are claSsed as politically
doubtful" Indiana is perhaps next
TO New York the most tickle In it's
partisan allegiance. Although the
dominance OF the Republicans has
been almost entire in the last dozen
years. the Hoosiers have not yet
reached the stage where they may
be reckoned upon as G.. o. p. as
set. The staunch old-line Democra-
cy OF Hendricks and Voorhees, con-
tinues to exert a great influence in
h Indiana political affairs. This year
the commonwealth OF Hoosierdom
Is declared by political wiseacres to
be the battle-ground OF the two
great parties and beyond doubt the
most uncertain state OF the union.
Campaign managers of both parties
understand this and are preparing
for a battle royal IN their endeavors
to secure the Hoosier vote.
Six parties have tickets in the
field. and all are making extrava-
CANT claims OF the coming victory
That Debs is n Hoosier will help the
Socialist party. while the Populists
also have an Indianian on their ma
tional ticket as vice presidential
candidate. Added TO this the Sc
lection OF an Indiana man for sec
ond place by the Democrats, and II
will be perceived that many person
al considerations will play part
In the result
The Republicans after n decade
OF unbroken supremacy .ridicule the
idea that they will not again sweep
the state as in 1896. 1900 and 1904.
The Democrats claim that their par
~ has not been so united nor its
prospects so bright since 1892 and
that victory in ovember is as good
as certain. The Prohibittonists-
:. now less than ever negligible fac
tor I'm Indiana politics-expect to
make the most vigorous campaign
IN the history of the state, and be-
lieve that for the first time they
will break into the state legisla
ture. The Populists, stimulated by
the nomination OF a Vincennes man
for the vice presidency, are conf
dent OF making the best showing
since the organization OF the party
rhe Socialists with an Indianian at
the head OF their ticket. are SINH
larry optimistic. And the Indepen-
dents avowedly regard the Hoosier
state as one OF the most promising
fields for their Propaganda. II tn,
plans and projects now being given
shape I'm the councils OF the various
parties come to realization. Indiana
\ may we'll feel. as Henry Watterson
predicted more than any other
state In the coming campaign the
agonles and throes OF political com
bat
There are. AT any rate. half doZ-
en- factors In the situation which
promise to make the fight hotter
and the outcome more uncertain
/ than Ia any campaign OF recent
years. For one thing. there is the
cand.d acy OF John w. Kern. Ev-
had no particular claim to his par
tvs consideration except in so far
as his nomination might be expect
ed 20 help Democratic prospects in
his own state. AZ Mr.. Bryan's in
stigation he was placed on the tick
81 az Denver for this express pur-
4 pose. and the responsibility for the
carrying % Indiana has been laid
absolutely on his shoulders
Mr. Kern Ia admittedly an able
honest man and pleasing orator
an enthusiastic campaigner and q
master OF political craft There is
4 no man, unless u be Bryan himself
who is more popular among tn
Democrats Of the state than he: and
4 outside the ranks Of his own party
/ he counts bis friends by the thou
sands ile stands In close relations
with the party forces that were ac-
customei 90 win victories in the
/ eighties and earlier ninet.es ",
would seem that n any Indionlan
could have been named at Denver
Who could be depended upon TO az
tract IIoosier votes for tho national
ticket that man vas John W. Kern.
Vet Kern has ney been couspic-
rous as vote gctter Tho more
fact chat be- has been twice defeat
90 for fhe eovernorshlp OF Indiana
does NOT perhaps. mean much for
those defeats came iu tho over
Wheimlng Republican years of 1900
and 1905 one the less. n 1904
his opponent vas supported in but
hair hoareit fashion by large
numbers OF Republicans. and though
NJ Kern made a nght which uul
not soon Do forgotten ia the state.
be- was defeated by some So. 900
votes and ran barely ahead OF M
national candidates. Parker AMI
Davis % would seem that he is orc
OF those unfortunate politician.
whom everybody uks. but who.
more or Jess nnaceountably. Isl nov.
cr quite able f0 convert fhIe ufraa-