The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-08-23
REPUBS ARE UNEASY
NEGRO VOTE IN MIDDLE WEST
 GIVES CONCERN.
Illinois, Indiana and Ohio a Political Battle Ground and the Demo. erafs are Very Hopeful
 of Naaeeema

CoIumbus. O.. Aug. 22.--(Special.)- The attitude of the ''colored brother is causing deep anxiety about the head quarters of the Taft forces in this State at this time. and 1t is not stating the case too strongly to say that there are some followers of the G. O. P. who fear that party success has been endangered. not only in Ohio, but in Illinois and Indiana. because of the bitter race antagonism which has sprung up since the outbreak at Springfield, III.
 As is well-known, the negro practi- caily holds the balance of power iTs Ohio, Illinois and Indiana, and should any considerable number either re- fuse to vote or cast their ballot for and. Natinal, might so down in de- feat,
 The friction between Foraker and Taft, which has broken out afresh, win not serve to mend matters. Foraker Is the idol of the negro and, as he has stated positively that he will not speak in Ohio because of the slight shown him by the Taft managers. there Is little likelihood of the negro voters being rallied
 Foraker Will Speak.
 Senator Foraker will deliver an ad- dress at Fort Meigs on either Sept. or 2. but 1t will not be for the purpose of boosting the Republican ticket The address Is to be delivered at the dedication of a monument to the sol diers who fell under Harrison In a battle against Indians. The impress sion has gone forth that Senator For aker will, however, have some interest Ing political observations to make on this occasion. It is believed that he will jump on the administration with both feet and the Taft packers will n passed into history.
 That he is capable of turning an oc- casion of this kind into a political meeting has been demonstrated. In 1898 he had a joint debate with Com gressman James A. Norton at Clyde, upon the occasion of the burial of the first Ohio soldier to fall in the Cuban war and. as one correspondent de- scribed 1t, they talked about the tar fir. the silver question and everything else but the dead hero that day, and the sorrowing audience joined in ap- plauding the orators according to the party the cheerers represented.
 In view of the fact that his Fort Meigs speech is to be delivered just a few days in advance of the great opening" ceremony at Youngstown, when the Republican campaign will be formally launched in Ohio, and in view of the further fact that Senator Foraker has not been invited to take part in that suspicious meeting, it is expected that he will have something to say. directly or indirectly, about that event.
 The disposition shown by the Taft forces to crowd all Foraker- Dick adhe- rents into the background. is making a lot of shrewd old line politicians very sore, and it is safe to say that Dem ocratic victory in the Buckeye State uyng1ld tanra fu circles.
 DemOcratAo are Hopeful.
 The Democrats of Ohio. led by Judge Judson Harmon, the party nominee for Governor, is making a strong light and will take advantage of every oppor- The party Is united and is fighting with more confidence than has been displayed in years. Democratic suc- cess means a great deal this year. It means among other things. the possi- ble election of Democrat to succeed Senator Foraker. The Legislature even now is comparatively close and 1t would not take much of an upheaval to give the Democrats a majority.
 In Indiana, where the Democrats have a strong candidate for Governor in the person of Thomas R. Marshall, and where the State ticket has been materially strengthend by the nomina- tion of John W. Kern for Vice -Presi- dent, the party is also waging a highly enth usiastic campaign. Close observers would not be surprised to see the Hoo- sier State give it's vote to Bryan. Kern and Marshal.
 Led by that stauneh old warrior, Adlai Stevenson, the Illinois Demo- crats are preparing to make the fight of their lives. and, with intense dissat- isfaction existing among the negroes, they would appear to have a me op- portunity to wrest the State from the Republicans.
 In truth. 1t looks now as if the Mid de West was very hopeful ground for the Democrats. and 1t is certain that they will leave nothing undone which might promote the cause.