The Washington herald., 1912-09-29

against Roosevelt had decided to vote
for Wilson. Now realizing that Roose-
welt is out of it, and that Tafts cleo
ton is possibility. they are willing to
vote for the President In Kansas, as
long as the Roosevelt organization IN
sisted upon placing the names OF
Roosevelt electors under the Republic
can emblem upon the ballot, the Re
publicans made no secret of their in
tention to vote for Wilson. Now, how
ever, as the Roosevelt electors go in
the independent column, where they
belong, the regular Republicans have
changed their attitude and will support
Taft. In South Dakota, however, the
names of the Roosevelt electors will
probably go under the Republican en-
blem, and in that State the Republi-
cans who are against Roosevelt will
have no hesitation in casting their
votes for Wilson.
1t is a curious situation in which the
Republican party finds itself. The
loyal lifelong Republicans want to
make it certain that Roosevelt is
showed under. Roosevelt himself is
determined that, no matter what else
happens, Taft shall not be reelected
II is a situation which the. Democrats
can we'll view with perfect equanimity.
The shoes which they wore in 1896 are
now upon other feet.
Notwithstanding this condition OF
affairs, President Taft, in a personal
statement issued last week, expresses
confidence in the result His managers.
far from admitting that the fight for
him is hopeless, share his optimism
There is more than one reason for
their assertion that the contest is by
no means one-sided They are aided
enormously by the universal and unex-
ampled prosperity which the country is
now enjoying. Railroads need more
cars to carry the increasing freight,
crops are enormous, factories are run
ming day and night, labor is everywhere
in demand and receiving higher wages
than ever known before. This condi-
ton is a great asset for the Republl-
can party, coming, as it does, as the
climax OF sixteen years of Republican
administration and contrasting strongly
with the distress and business paralysis
of the four years when the Democrats
were last in power Republican orators
can we'll appeal to the country not to
make a change; and there is no doubt
that as the campaign progresses the
present prosperity appeals strongly to
the man who, regardless of party affili-
alton, believes in letting well enough
alone
There is another factor in the situa-
ton which materially aids Republicans.
The electoral college this year con-
tains forty-eight votes more than ii did
four years ago. Thirty-eight of these
votes are gained by States which went
Republican four years ago, and are or
dinarily in the Republican column, and
the other ten are divided among Demo
cratic States. The advantage of the in
crease at the very start is with the
Republicans.
Gov. Wilson must secure 2o6 cleo
toral votes to be elected. Mr.. Bryan, in
1908, received 162 votes. Conceding to
Gov. Wilson all the States which Bryan
carried and which this year will have
total of 172 votes, Gov. Wilson must
still obtain ninety-four additional
votes. If there is to be Democratic
landslide, his task is easy; but if the
struggle is to be close one, Gov. VIII
son cannot yet read his title clear. The
Eastern States are lining up for Taft
New York is claimed, and with some
foundation. for the Republicans; and
an aggressive fight is to be made in
New Jersey, where Gov. Wilson has
factional fight on his hands and where
the manufacturing industries regard
with natural anxiety a tariff for rev.
enue only. Maine and Delaware are
tie uncertain States in the East for
the Republicans. If Gov. Wilson car
ries Maine, Delaware, and New Jersey
he will have twenty-three of the neces.
sary ninety-four, leaving seventy-ont
still TO be secured To get these, he
must carry Indiana. Illinois, Kansas
South Dakota, and Missouri If he
carries Illinois, he must overcome {
normal Republican majority of $4,000
and the Republican managers will moi
concede that this can be done.
In addition to this, Gov. Wilson,
candidacy is not creating any enthusi,
asm. He does not stir the people. Thi:
is equally true of President Taft; bu
the latter represents the Republican
party, and the organization has {
strength which is greater than any one
mans personality. So that, with Roose
Welt eliminated, with Wilson arousins
no enthusiasm, with prosperity as :
valuable asset, and with an advantag,
in the increased number of electora
votes in Republican States, the Repub
lican campaign is now being Tough