The Washington herald., 1912-10-20

xy SUNDAY. OCTOBER %. 1sl2
THE POLITICAL SITUATION
sd, The Republican managers have met
es4he claims of their Democratic oppo-
ts1ents with a counter-statement. The
Democrats asserted more than a week
ago, as shown in The Washington Her.
,ald last Sunday, that Woodrow VIII
s,son would receive e6S electoral votes
even if he failed to carry New York,
.lNew Jersey, Indiana, Ohio, or Illinois.
f-- The States now claimed for President
TAFT aggregate 30 votes in the cleo
,storal college. In the doubtful column
;sare placed Arizona, Colorado, Kansas.
Kentucky. Indiana, Minnesota, Ne
braska, Nevada, New Jersey. North Da-
ikota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and West
Virginia. OF these States, Kansas, Ken
itucky, Nebraska. and Oklahoma are
hardly in the doubtful class. They will
certainly 60 Democratic Colorado went
for Bryan four years ago. and might
REASONABLY be placed in the Democratic
rs4eolumn to-day, were it not for local
conditions which will affect the result
Roosevelt is unpopular in Colorado be-
cause he placed two-6fths of the State
In the forest reserves, depriving Colo
RADIOS treasury of $4,000 year paid in
iby the cattle raisers who used the land
Land expended by law for roads and
schools. Wilson is handicapped by the
Democratic free trade bills, for Colo
- RADIOS chief industries are lead, zinc,
and stock raising, all of which are
roenaced by the possibility of a tariff
for revenue only President Taft not
only stands for protection, but has re-
stored 10000 acres to possible settle
"a ment. OF the three candidates he is
the most popular. Arizona is also
b-placed in the doubtful column because
yhshe wool industry in that State is up
/, in arms against threatened legislation
which would open the doors Of this
country to Argentine and Australian
:. wool.
The Republican claim gives to Presi.
:. dent Taft every New England State,
and New York, Pennsylvania, Mary
:, land, and Ohio. In the Middle West
Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, Iowa, and
Missouri are placed in the Republican
l. column. while in the far West and
Northwest Wisconsin, Idaho. Montana,
Wyoming Utah. New Mexico, Wash
e1ington. and Oregon are also given to
President Taft
.ss Missouri and Wisconsin present two
interesting factors in this campaign.
Although the frst-named State went
for Taft four years ago by a plurality
of only 62o. there is no doubt that the
Republican managers have some foun-
dation for their hope that the victory
will be repeated this year. Gov Had
ley is naturally anxious to have a Re-
publican State back of him in the con-
test for the Presidency which he will
make next year, and is making speeches
in the State advocating Taft's election.
In addition to his open espousal of
.aTafts cause, which is of decided ad-
>. vantage to the Republicans, the lead
interests are fearful of importations
from Mexico. Then there is an .un-
doubted feeling of antipathy to Wood
row Wilson on the part of Champ
4Clark's loyal followers.
The situation in Wisconsin is very
similar. Senator La Toilette is bitter
against Roosevelt, and has no use for
President Taft. At the same time Mr..
y La Toilette wants to be President, and
= he knows that if Wisconsin goes Demo-
cratic he will be charged with treach-
-sery to the Republican party, and the
h1charge will be serious handicap to
the attainment of his ambition. There
is no doubt that Mr.. La Toilette holds
Wisconsin in the hollow of his hand.
He can turn it over to Taft or Wilson
: simply by indicating his wish. The Re
-publicans believe that he will be loyal
ste their party, while the Democrats are
equally confident that he will deliver
the State over to them. In the mean
time, Mr.. La Toilette will not say any,
= thing for publication. He may be max
jng up his mind. He has two paths to
choose. If he stands by Taft, he will
have right to ask recognition from
-!the Republican organization four years
hence, He NAV. however. he oerfectlv
-7~illing to contribute to a Democratic
victory this year in the hope that after
four years of Democratic rule the coun-
try will be ready and willing to return
to the Republican party, with a Re
publican nomination equivalent to an
election.
As to the other States which the Re
publieans claim il, may be said that
they are debatable ground. There is
= no. doubt that if the Taft managers
can overcome the prevailing impression