The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1911-11-06
Voting Tuesday in Several
States Will Be Watched
With Interest All Over the
United States.
A BITTER CONTEST
IN MASSACHUSETTS
National Instead of State Is
sues in the Old Bay State
New York Campaign Is a
Local One.
palladium Specially

WASHINGTON, Nov. 6.-State cleo
tions, as well as elections for Con-
gress. are always considered by
shrewd politicians as showing how the
straws lay for the national elections.
For this reason, tomorrow's state ell
ections are looked upon as OF great
Significance. They are expected by
some even to prove more accurate
barometers of public sentiment than
were the congressional elections
year ago.
Last year when the Democratic par
ty swept the country, there was great
dissatisfaction with the Republican
administration. 1t had reached high
pitch and vented itself with vigor when
the time came to elect new house of
representatives. This year the coun-
try may have cooled off a bit. and
may view political conditions with
conservatism. That Is the reason why
most politicians look for tomorrow
elections to determine the fate of the
two parties next year.
Both Are Confident.
Leaders of both parties profess to
have complete confidence in the out
come of the elections. The Democrats
do not believe that their party will
lose by any reaction on the part OF the
people, and the Republicans apparent
ly are confident that they will gain by
q reaction.
Probably the most interesting of all
the state fights is that in Massachu-
setts. where both parties have adopted
national instead OF state issues for
their campaigns. 1t is true that they
are applying these national issues To-
cally. but they are giving them lar
ger Significance than local interests
would ordinarily justify.
President Taft's tariff vetoes have
paign in the Bay state. The Republi-
cans appeal to the voters to sustain
the President upon the plea that in
vetoing the wool, the cotton and the
farmers free list bills, he stood be-
tween the people Of Massachusetts and
disaster. Without high protection. the
campaign orators are telling the citi-
zens, Massachusetts cannot hope to
prosper.
Tho Other Argument.
On the other hand Democratic lead
ers, headed by Governor Foss. a can
didate to succeed himself insist with
equal vehemence that, when the Pres
ident recorded his vetoes, he refuesd
to lower tax which takes money
from every pocket in the country and
puts it into the treasures Of protect
ed mil, owners, who are making from
Is to 800 per cent on their invest
ments.
Therefore it is the tariff that the
Massachusetts candidates are clashing
over. The tariff was the issue which
made the Democratic congressional
success last year possible. that it. the
tariff in its relation to the high cost
OF living. II Massachusetts, should
elect Republican governor after such
q fight as is now in progress. 1T will
undoubtedly mean that at least one
part OF the country approves Of the
Taft vetoes. and desires the present
high protective system to continue.
II Governor Foss is able to secure
a reelection in a state as welded to
high protection as Massachusetts, it
will be a good indication that the
whole country is prepared to voto
against the high protective policy.
In Other States.
In no other state is the issue from
a national standpoint as clearly
drawn as In the Bay state. yet the
outcome OF the fights in New York.
Kentucky. and Maryland will add in
terest to the situation. In New York
the fight is more local than national.
Tammany is the one big issue in that
campaign for the control of the next
legislature. Against that organization
is pitted a fusion force which may
develop enough strength to eliminate
Murphy from the control Of the gen
eral assembly.
In Kentucky national political lines
are more strongly drawn than in New
York. So far the fight is a straight
Democratic assault and Republican
CONTINUED on Page Eight