Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-10-18
PARTY LINE DlMLY DRAWN
Hard to Tell a Republican From a
Democrat These Days.
CROWDS NOT A CRITERION
Curiosity More Than Ent,usiasm
Assigned for outpourings to
Hear Col. Roosevelt.

special FROM Il Correspondent
NEW YORK. October 1s.--For the past
two weeks The stars correspondent has
been making a poll of politicians of ma
tional and state prominence, as they
come and go, to obtain their opinion
of the causes which make for the ap-
parent change in political sentiment Of
the country. If the expected democratic
landslide comes off, what Will be the
cause of it?
A composite answer to the queries
might be presented In these words:
IF the country goes democratic it will
be because the republican party Of to-
day is lacking in a distinctive policy. In
the fight for sound money the party had
such a policy. In its support Of the
protective tariff it has had a policy up to
the present time, but now one-half or
more Of the republican party rejects high
protection, and there is very little differ
ence between their demands for lower
tariff and democratic demands for the
same.
"And, further, the republicans have
borrowed so many garments from the
democratic wardrobe that 1t is difficult
TO distinguish between a democrat and q
republican at first glance
That is the summing up Of the wise
acres in the republican rank and file
who have been consulted. Figure it out
for yourself.
Col. Roosevelt's Tour.
The leaders at state headquarters feel
fairly well satisfied with the result Of
Col. Roosevelt's tour upstate yesterday,
but they are not bubbing over with en-
thusiasm. They fear that curiosity may
have been the attraction for some of the
crowds.
They remember how Bryan used to
draw the enormous crowds, and yet the
vicinity which witnessed the outpouring
strangely enough turned in republican
majorities on election day. Everybody
is anxious to see the colonel. i recall
the crowds of we'll dressed WOMEN and
men who stood on the veranda at Sara
toga peering through the windows watch
ing the lion hunter eat.
Two events that occurred yesterday
created some uneasiness at state head
quarters One was the bolt of the Buffalo
Commercial, a republican paper from
away back. They don't like the looks Of
that and fear It may encourage some
more republican papers. known to be
The other disturbing incident was giving
the silence to the colonel at the Re
publican Club last night This organiza-
ton has a membership Of about two thou
sand, including non-residents. and In the
past has Endorsed the republican ticket at
enthusiastic meetings.
Last night some forty members attend
ed to indorse the ticket and they didn't
do it with any degree of heartiness. at
that Indeed. there were discordant notes
in the meeting. although for policy's sake
they were minimized.
Some of them said that the insignificant
attendance was a clear case of giving the
colonel the silence" What they will do
form if that's the way they feel about it.
Has Been Discounted.
However, that practically has all been
discounted. 1t is admitted by everybody
that Manhattan republicans of the class
who belong to clubs are going to knife
the head Of the republican ticket and pos
sibly the rest of it.
Much to the relief Of the republican lead
ers, Mr.. Hearst did not read any letters
at his opening meeting last night, al
though he had threatened to do so. The
threat kept the republicans in cold per-
spiration for some time. They have no
doubt that he may possess some letters,
but feel now that perhaps he is sincerely
playing the role Of auxiliary to the cam
paign against the democratic candidate.
They note with satisfaction that Mr..
Hearst's attack on Roosevelt was nothing
more than a slap on the wrist at that.
and he Smiled when he said it. All
politicians here believe that Roosevelt and
Hearst understand each other and there
will be no serious clashes, only a slap
paddle performance.
'"rhe amount of -bunco' that there is
in this campaign beats all records" re-
marked an old-line politician at the Re-
publican Club last night. The way the
caution
But are they?" queried another across
the table. Which was, after all. rather a
pertinent remark. N. o. NJ.