The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-10-26
Consolidated Aug. 8, 1881.
WILSON IS LEADING.
NEW YORK HERALD'S POLL
SHOWS THE DEMOCRAT A
WINNER.
Taft is Making Some Big Gains
Roosevelt Has Reached Flood Tide
Losing q Lttie.


New York. Oct. 22.-The New
York Herald. which has for several
weeks been taking a straw vote OF
the country. prints the following In
connection with the coming election:
Governor Wilson still in the lead.
Mr.. Roosevelt second and gaining
some votes as a result of the attack
upon him in Milwaukee. but appar-
entity not enough to endanger Mr..
Wilson's present lead.
President Taft third. but making
steady gains In many parts Of the
country.
These are the relative positions
end conditions I'm the great presiden-
tial race. as indicated by the Her
AIDS canvass of the nation. and with
election only fifteen days of.
Each of the three principal rivals
for the great Office Is gaining In some
sections. All are losing In some.
President Taft has made marked ad-
vances In some sections of the Far
West. He has made further gains In
Pennsylvania. The Republicans in
several safes have replaced indiffer-
ence with activity and are making a
real campaign for their nominee.
This sudden reversal OF form on the
part OF organization managers has
greatly stiffened up the Taft men and
given them new hope.
Mr.. Roosevelt has made gains In
Illinois. where he leads and where ne
has developed much strength. He Is
holding his own In practically all the
states where he led last week. Gov
ernor Wilson has gained also, but on
the whole. has just about held his
own This ls accounted for by the
theory that he had "hying start"
and could not be expected to increase
his lead.
In a nutshell. the situation. as re-
vealed by the Heraids 100000 and
snesS test ballots and reports from
scores OF correspondents. is as fol-
lows:
Governor Wilson has touched his
high mark. Mr.. Roosevelt has reach
ed the flood tide and Is slightly ebb-
ing. President Taft Is making slight
but steady gains.
From what can be learned, the at
tempted assassination Of Mr.. Roose-
welt will not greatly strengthen him.
Indications are that there will be an
additional sympathet etic or sentimental
vote for him In many sections. but
not sufficient to affect the electoral
vote. One result. however. which is
highly important from the Roosevelt
point OF view. Is tn at the attack upon
him has braced up wavering Bull
Moosers." as they term themselves.
and they are backing the nominee,
Mr.. Roosevelt. with new enthusiasm.
Just how extensive the sympathetic
vote will be II hs impossible to tell
This feature becomes the leading
mystery ofthe campaign just now,
and every one is striving to solve 1t.
The managers OF the Roosevelt cam
paign do not believe II will greatly
help them.
A politician OF years experience
and OF sound political judgment esti-
mated. after a thorough investigation
in Connecticut. that Mr.. Roosevelt
would receive 900 votes In the Nut
meg state IA result Of the attack
upon him.
With the fight entering it's final
stages. political leaders have now be-
gun TO ask one another IL the under
current which. while not Of great
force. has. without doubt. set in for
President Taft. will be OF sufficient
strength To sweep him into second
place and ahead OF Mr.. Roosevelt.
They are beginning To ask one an
other also II all the straw votes and
all the personal opinions. which agree
Ia many instances. are to be upset by
SINE element which has not yet come
into the campaign.