The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-10-13
Facts Frankly Conceded by
Both Parties in Leaders
Statements.
DEMOCRATS AT EASE;
REPUBLICANS WORK
@. o. P. Has Labor Men Scattered
Over Field, While Bryan Men
Are More Confident.
By ]. c. WELLIVER.

NEW YORK, Oct. 13.-The labor vote
is the one factor on which the outcome
Of the election now turns. mis- is the
statement frankly made by managers
at both national headquarters today.
Both crowds are nervous and worried;
the Democrats make more show OF con-
fidence, but the Republicans seem 10
be doing The most work. President
Roosevelt has practically taken charge
Of the fight for labor. and has put into
the field an immense number Of labor
leaders who are his personal -Hd polit-
lcal friends. The national and State COM
mittees Of both parties are also keep
ing out just as many men as they can
command and finance on the same
work. These men for the larger part
are not making speeches; they are quiet
ly going about, talking 70 the men ana
trying to convince them by personal
appeal
Ohio the Center.
Ohio is the center of labor disaffec-
tion, and this is the feature which
gives the Republicans their fear of that
State There is no doubt that the fear
is genuine. No effort is made to con-
ceal il, although il is declared with
utmost apparent conviction, that con-
ditiOns are now improving, and that
the swing toward better things seems
ground To hope il Will continue TO the
end Of the fight
The Republicans have felt out many
Centers of GisaffectiOn in labor ranks
with the Gompers political program
and is working hard 90 make the most
Of this condition There are many
5ealousies among the leaders and would
be leaders, IL is said, which make II
exceedingly difficult for Gompers TO
hold his forces in line
Steer Middle Course.
Many Of the labor papers would be
glad TO oppose the whole Gompers pro-
gram. but for the fact that their char
ters as official organs depend on the
good will of the national leaders, and II
they oppose the Gompers management
in this matter they fear loss Of these
charters. So they are steering a mid
die course just as carefully as possible.
Ohio, il was explained by a Repub-
lican manager, who admitted the State
IS IN dangerous condition. Is normally
Republican by about $1,000 He said:
There are about $4,000 Republicans
and $50 O0O Democratic voters in Ohio.
Here are the dangerous elements: Rail-
road labor includes about $1,000 votes in
the State. We have been getting 1900
OF these In recent years. This year We
Will stand a considerable loss Of these,
because IL was in Ohio that Judge Taft
issued an injunction against p. NJ.
Locomotive Engineers, and some other
labor inJunctions-"
There are 10000 negro voters in the
State. We are not going to lose any
Thing like the proportion we expected
three weeks ago to lose: most OF our
loss Will be 0 Omitting to vote for any
DQGy. A fourth of the whole number
VIII apparently adopt this course. being
practically total loss to US.
Foraker DiSafection.
Then there is the Foraker disamec-
ton. Suppose Foraker has one friend
In every voting precinct in the State,
that means a loss OF 10000 votes, as /
recollect Il. Taking all these elements
you can see how uncertain is the State
Taft and Bryan will both wind up with
what amount to personal appeals for
this uncertain vote in Ohio The hardest
thing about the Ohio situation is that
the temperance issue overshadows
everything political. / see letters from
the State every day indicating that no
body talks Taft and Bryan: it's all wet
or dry talk This is going to cut both
ways. The Republicans Will lose Ham
ilton and Cuyahoga counties, I think,
though Cox says Taft will carry Ham
iton.
Same in Indiana
Now IL you will Just project this
Ohio condition over the State Of In
diana you will have a pretty accurate
statement of the situation there. They
are just alike this year. labor condi-
tions. temperance fight. negro vote. and
all.
Against these discouraging condi-
tOns in these two States, we have the
most encouraging reports from New
ork. National Committeeman Ward is
absolutely certain it is for Taft by d
big majority, and l think so, too"