The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-10-09
TAFT CONFIDENT
OF REELECTION
Convincing Indications That the
Republican Party Is
Still Dominant.

When President Taft was visiting
his brother in New York a few days
ago the newspaper reporters called
upon him. After a pleasant chat the
president made formal statement of
his views on the political situation:
when l declared a few weeks ago
that l felt reasonably sure OF my own
reelection in November and the sue
cess Of the Republican party was re-
garded by some as entirely oversan-
guine and unaware of the situation.
Today, however, after number Of in
dications that the Republican party is
still the dominant party and that the
expected growth Of Democratic
strength has failed to materialize, my
early declaration is shown to be en-
titled to respect. The Republicans nee
essarily will have a reduced majority
over 1908 because Of the presence Of
three tickets In the field, but the Dem
ocratic party will suffer also. The
combined strength of the third term
party will not be enough to change the
ultimate result.
Five or six weeks ago 1t was as
serted generally that the Republican
party would secure the vote of the
solid east, including all Of the New
England states, with the exception Of
Maine and Vermont; that the Demo-
cratic party would maintain its hold on
the solid south and that the third term
party would secure the solid west,
leaving only the middle west as debat-
able ground. Today, with the election
still one month away, the Republican
party finds itself with a strengthened
hold on the solid east, having routed
the third term party In Vermont and
the Democratic party in Maine. The
third term leaders recently conceded
that we would pick the state of Utah
out of the solid west, and, after con-
ferring with Chairman Hilles and 9TH
ers recently in the west, there is every
reason to believe that the Republican
party will carry Michigan, Washing
ton, Idaho and Wyoming. Moreover,
If the proper kind Of a campaign is
waged, we will carry Oregon, Kansas
and Minnesota, where the third term
strength has rapidly waned since the
recent tour through that section by the
| party's candidate.
~ am not familiar with the develop
ments in other western states, al
| though many good reports have come
to me at Beverly concerning them, but
even with the states already mention
ed 1t can be seen that there is no long
er a solid west back Of the new party
but more nearly solid west reunited
in support Of the Republican ticket
This strength, added TO the indisputa-
BILE hold on the eastern states, consti-
tutes in itself a sufficient strength TO
give success to the party.
"It is scarcely necessary for me to
point to the necessity Of re-establish-
ing Republican majority In the house
OF representatives. II this is done
feel confident that I viii be able TO
have placed on the statute books the
workmen's compensation law which /
urged upon the last session, but which
was sent TO oblivion by the Democratic
house. II the country will give the
Republican party a complete victory
In Its congressional as well as its
presidential ticket proper tariff re-
ftsion will be speedily effected. with
knowledge OF the facts ascertained by
tariff commission. which win harm
40 one and remove its present defects. 4"