Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-31
WITH BACK TO WALL
Position of Republican Party
in Certain States.
is DESPERATE, BUT BRAVE
Leaders Face the Situation With
Courage and Diplomacy.
PROFITING BY EXPERIENCE
Enters Campaign Upon Policy En-
phasized by Congress and the
National Administration.
S DESPERATE, BUT BRAVE
PR0FITING BY EXPERIENCE

upon general conditions IN MdlHe, MdSsd-
chusetts, New Hampshire. New York,
New Jersey and Ohio are based upon The
Star staff correspondents personal visit
to these sections and confidential talks
with influential leaders therein. 1t is
not proposed to go into tiresome details,
/ but TO treat the subject as a midsummer
hot weather story. For sake of uniform
ity, let's discuss it from the viewpoint of
the party in national power.
Stated briefly, the republican party in
these states has it's back to the wall,
facing a desperate situation, but facing
it braveiy- determinedly, and with no
thought of giving up Picture to your
self man, head erect, chin out, jaws
set, alert courageous, parrying the
:hrusts of an enemy who for various
reasons seems to have the momentary
advantage of him. Such is my idea of
the republican party at this time.
Not It's First Experience.
1t is not an unprecedented situation for
the republican party. This is not the
first time the party has been in desperate
plight in July and August and fought it's
way to victory in November. I suggest
to those democrats who are contemplate
democratic prospects that they would do
we'll to bear this in mind.
President Taft and the big leaders in
his party are thoroughly cognizant of
the situation and are not binding them
selves to the dangers Swarming around
them. There have been conferences in
the past two weeks and exchange of con-
fidential letters which have served to
arouse every one of authority to the Sit
uatiOn. President Taft's determine ton
TO cannpl travelling for 10
early fall and stick closer to base is not
without significance. Senator Murray
Cranes mission of inquiry into the west
is only one of series of such moves.
Skilled men are at work all through this
section making deep sea soundings into
the situation to report later to the lead
ers and suggest remedial action.
The republicans have way of trying
ing for the sore spots-using the knife to
get at them, if necessary. Then they set
out to apply the cure. That I think will
be acknowledged by any one familiar
with the campaign methods OF the two
parties in the past twenty years.
One Cure" which wicked-minded peo-
pie have sometimes hinted was used
somewhat freely by the republicans, Is
likely to be less available this year.
There are threats of a shortness of cam
paign funds The party will probably be
able. however, to dig up enough for at
least pork-and-bean political diet.
Conditions Which Menace.
In the sections above referred to the re-
publican party is menaced principally by
the following conditions: 1. Grumbling of
the masses over an unsatisfactory indus
trial and business condition, high cost of
living. prospect of slackening employ
ment, for which they are prone to hold
the party In power responsible without
analyzing and differentiating. - Dissat-
isfaction within their own party of fac
ton against certain leaderships and poll
cies considered to be of reactiOnary ma
ture. That this feeling is being encour-
aged by an aggressive section of the
newspaper press hitherto classed as re-
publican or Independent ought not to be
denied by any frank-minded person.
Some very shrewd men among the
publican leaders are of the opinion that
there is more insurgency in the press than
in the rank and file of the voters. They
propose TO apply the acid test in the next
few weeks to this proposition. Then they
will make an effort to overcome the
conditions, II they are found to be bad,
by persistent appeals from the stump by
trained speakers and by a campaign of
education through literary means. 1t will
be both all aggressive and defensive
campaign. Some of the cautious leaders
think that the appeals should be made
more in the spirit of Nick LongWorth's
Uncle Joe Cannon's talks in Kansas.
No Mollycoddling, No Abuse.
Do not misunderstood this statement.
There will be no mollycoddIing: but the
republicans will have definite policy and
II will be the poicy emphasized by Con-
Sress and by the national administration,
but republicans inclined to dissent from
II VIII be argued with, reasoned with and
not abused.
Some big republicans hereabouts think
that very recent events point to pos
sible swing in the pendulum OF public
opinion on the issues of insurgency and
conservatism. They attach significance to
the smashing of Bryan's power with his
party and to defiance of Roosevelt in his
party. They set great store by the re-
vival of stalWart sentiment in Ohio as
shown in the Foraker demonstrations.
New Jersey, / am told, will follow the
lead of the Ohio republican platform III
framing her platform few weeks hence
New York is likel, to do the same. The
effect of the Ohio action unQuestionab.y
was stimulating to the republicans
throughout the east. But wait a minute
here comes along the Iowa convention in
a few days. Let's see what the Iowa re-
publicans say to the country.
1t is known that the Ohio insurgents
who lay down at the crucial moment are
urging the Iowa insurgents to say to the
Wudt tiit oiiIodHo ldheu W say
Disturbed Over Possibilities.
The eastern republicans are very much
disturbed over the possibilities of the
Iowa declaration. If the Iowans speak
up in meetin and say things--hard
things such as Senator DolIiver recently
uttered-and issue ringing appeal to the
insurgent sentiment of the nation the
effect In the east may be very serious
You see, there l. a difference In Iowa
OF the republican ticket, for II is prac-
tically insurgent. In New England and
Ohio it makes for support of the demo-
cratic ticket, as protest against the
| conservative stand Of the republican
party.
| The railroads are appealing TO Presi-
1 dent Taft to have the interstate COM
merce commission promise to grant in
creased freight rates. He cannot do that
| There is that great body of shippers, or
! ganiZed, alert, protesting against these
rates. and the President on t.-.s c.-e of an
| important campaign would ~, commit
/ ting political hari-kiri the leaders say
10 allow rates To be boosted.
Natural and artificial conditions seem
to be making against the republican
party at this time. But watch their
smoxe: ti'cy RE beginning TO stoke up
and you are JoiI.g to see "a mighty fine
race. n. .. NJ.