The Washington herald., 1912-10-27

ten together, and IN Chicago and Kan
Isas City they have hastily. formed
similar organizations. The Missouri
Republicans hurried q special train
through their State last week with
former Vice President Fairbanks on
board, and the Minnesota Republicans.
encouraged by the fact that their can
didate for Governor has at last come
out in = public. eulogy of President
Taft. will this week send special
train through their State. In the East
there is also an exhibition of belated
activity, and thus, when the campaign
is almost to close. the Republicans in
the States are working like beavers.
There was ample foundation for their
previous apathy. The situation looked
so hopeless that nobody had the energy
or the faith to make fight. If they
are more active now, it is because they
have come to a realization that upon
the direct issue of protection against
free trade Taft ought to win, because
the United States is not a free trade
country. Its whole commercial devel-
opment has been the result of the pro-
tective system. This fact inspires a
hope not previously entertained. More
than this, there is the knowledge that
the past campaigns have been fought
and won within the last two weeks
The voters were almost ready to form
into 4 procession to the ballot boxes
when DR.. Burchard overturned Biaine's
dish of political gravy. and in 1896 it
was not until forty-eight hours before
election day dawned that Mark Hanna
breathed sigh of relief as he realized
that the battle had at last been won
Ten days, therefore, is still ample time
in which to make a final struggle.
The compaign has thus far been free
from exciting incident, save only, of
course, the shooting of Theodore
Roosevelt The political managers may
have something in reserve, but up to
the present time they have given no
intimation of surprise in store.
The Republican managers, handi-
capped in the early part of the CAM
paign by the attack upon the integrity
of President Taft's nomination. were
forced TO meet and dispose of this
accusation before they could really dis
cuss the issues of the campaign. Then
they had to convince the country that
Roosevelt's election was an impossi-
bility, and thus valuable time was lost
before attention could be given to the
tariff. Now they are concentrating
their batteries upon the free trade poll
cies of the Democratic candidate and
his party.
In the meantime, the Democratic
managers sail eheerfully along. They
are not altogether free from trouble.
because in some localities, like Chi
cago, they are calling one another
traitors. On the whole. however, they
have only needed to drift along,
taking advantage of the division in
their opponents ranks. They have not
attempted anything spectacular, be-
cause it was not necessary. They have
simply consulted the political almanacs.
figured on the Republican vote, divided
it in appropriate proportion between
Taft and Roosevelt, given Wilson the
solid Democratic vote, and then been
happily content. There has never been
a campaign when plums fell so easily
into the Democratic mouth.
And yet all the Democrats are not
going TO vote for Wilson. There arc
any number of Democratic business
men and farmers who are opposed to
any change in business and agricultural
conditions. In Montana alone the
number is estimated at 5.ooo and in
Illinois it is said that it will reach 10
per cent of the Democratic vote.
Neither is there Democratic solidity in
New Jersey. State where Gov. Will
son is handicapped by the enemies he
has made and where every section is
honeycombed with manufactures which
have been developed by protection
against foreign competition 1t will,
however, take many, many Democratic
votes to offset the defections from the
Republicans to the Roosevelt ticket.
The interesting fact about the polls
which have thus far been taken is the
enormous number of persons who are
either undecided or who are silent as
to their intentions. There are literally
millions of people who do not seem
to have made up their minds. Some
of them are of the band-wagon tenn
permanent, and want to be on the win
ming side; others are actually in doubt
as to the best course to pursue and
are waiting to hear the final arguments.
1t is this silent vote that will decide
the election 1t is an evidence that
more and more the American people
are casting off the shackles of party
and are asserting their own individ-
uality. In this campaign, more than in
any other, the voters seem to feel that