The Washington herald., 1912-09-15
THE POLITICAL SITUATION

The result of the election in Maine
was a distinct advantage to the can
didacy of President Taft.
Two years ego Maine elected
Democratic Governor by plurality of
nearly 5000. This year the Republi-
cans not only overcame this plurality,
but elected a Republican Governor by
a plurality of between 5000 and 1000,
gaining also a Representative in Con-
gress. 1t is true that the Republican
party in the State was united, which
was not the case in Vermont a week
previously, but this fact makes it all
the more evident that if the Republi-
cans could get together in all the States
the Democrats would have no better
show this year of electing President
than they have had in any campaign
since 1896. In other words, if Mr..
Roosevelt had not started out to keep
Mr. Taft from having another term,
even if he had to wreck the Republican
party in so doing, the Republicans
would have had little to fear.
If there is one lesson from the
Maine election it is that the country
does not want a Democratic admins
tration- If the Democrats were As
strong now as they were two years
ago, Gov Plaisted would have been re-
tbipnc baus
happened, however, in the past two
years which have had their effect upon
public sentiment. The first is the kind
of tariff bills which the Democrats have
indicated they would enact if they were
in power The country undoubtedly
wants lower tariff along certain lines,
but il does not want tariff for reve-
nue. only, a tariff which will close fac
tories, force millions of workingmen
into idleness, and food this country
with the products of the cheap labor of
Europe 1t is this latter kind of tariff
that the Democrats advocate, and the
fact that they showed their purpose and
policy in the bills which passed the
House, and which President Taft We
toed, has caused many voters to stop
and think
The second factor is the long. ex-
pensive, and rather fruitless session of
Congress There is no doubt that the
inability or incapacity of the Demo-
cratic majority to pass the appropria-
ton bills within a reasonable time. with
a prolonged session as the result of that
failure, has had some effect upon the
public mind Even Democratic news
papers throughout the country have
said harsh things about the lack of
energetic leadership in the House. The
Democratic party lost ground when it
failed TO maintain the splendid impress
sion which it created by its conduct
during the extra session last year.
1t has been said that if the Repub-
lican party was united President Taft
would have an easy task in securing
reelection. There is much virtue, or
otherwise, in an of" The fact is that
the Republican party is divided and
that when any party loses cohesiveness
and unity it suffers thereby.
Will the Republican party become
practically united before election day?
Upon the answer to this question much
depends. All that can be said at the
present time is that it is gradually get
ting together There is no doubt that
many Republicans who have been sup
porting Roosevelt are returning to the
Republican ranks. Ormsby McHarg,
who managed Roosevelt's Southern
contests-and William L. Ward, of New
York. who sacrificed his position as
national committeeman, are not the
only conspicuous examples of recent
desertiop from Roosevelt. The cases
Of Louis Benecke, the German, who
has been for three years department
commander of the c. A. R. in Missouri,
and who was one of Roosevelt's fore
most supporters in that State, and
Ralph c. OTIS, of Illinois, also former
ly prominent Roosevelt man, may be
cited. Among the rank and file the
detection from Roosevelt is most no.
ticeable 1t is no wonder, therefore,
that his meetings on the Pacific Coast,
while largely attended, are not the ova-
tions which he received upon the. occa-
sion of his last visit.
And yet although his support is
disintegrating, there is still enough of
it remaining to accomplish Roosevelfs
object, the defeat of Taft 1t will be
the effort of the Republican managers
to win over these last remnants of
Rooseyelts support. Chairman Hilies