The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1912-08-06
FIRST TEST
As To Presidential Preference
Of Republicans
Shows Big Split, And Many
viii Vote for Wilson

The most significant thing about the
national campaign in its early stages
is the fact that hundreds Of thousands
of Republicans, who never before vOt'
ed the Democratic ticket, have volun.
tariiy written Governor Wilson and
Governor Marshall that they intend
this year to vote the Democratic tick.
ct.
Some days ago. when In Indianapo.
| lis, Governor Marshall told me that
since the convention he had been del
uged with letters Of congratulation
and voluntary pledges Of support, and
that more than twenty-five per cent OF
his correspondents stated that they
we're Republicans, but they thought
the time had come for change In the
national administration, and that they
| intended to support the ticket nom.
mated at Baltimore.
| The special newspaper articles pub.
blished, containing a few extracts
from letters written to Governor VIII
son at Sea Girt, show that the views
| OF the correspondents Of the candidate
for president duplicate those of the
candidate for vice president, and that
a very large proportion OF letters offer
ing support are from Republicans.
The correspondence that comes to
Chairman McCombs and the Demo
cratic headquarters In New Yorh Is OF
the same tenor and II comes from all
parts of the country, showing that the
Democratic candidates appeal both to
the popular Imagination and to the
popular confidence; and that, while the
Democrats are united In the support Of
the Democratic ticket, as never before
in the life of the younger men OF the
party, and the independent vote is al
most solid for Wilson aud Marshall,
there Is q break In the Republican
vote, heretofore unknown In the history
OF that party. In 1896 there was a
bolt In tho Republican party Of the
Silver Republicans. but that bolt did
not appreciably affect any state east
OF the Mississippi River and a. the re-
suit showed was not large enough TO
change the result In any state west OF
the Mississippi, with few exceptions.
This year the Republican party is
split and Republicans will divide be-
tween Mr.. Taft and Mr.. Roosevelt, that
IL, those who intend to vote for Wilson
and Marshall; and there are many
who, while preferring not openly ia
Join the Democratic organization. will
furnish vote which, added to the
Democratic vote of 1908, will put the
Democratic candidate in the White
House.
Az one oil many evidences OF the Re
publican trend to Wilson and Mar
shall the following editorial from the
New York Press, (RepD giving the re
suit OF a poll among Republicans, is
illuminating.
Republicans For Wilson"
| l.uSt week tUt W tu' .N'N
York Press sent private letters to Re
publican voters. selected at random
from readers on It's mail subscription
lists and not living In New York CIT,
or other large cities. The main par
of the letter was.
"For which of the following do 80,
intend to vote; TAFT, Wilson, Roose
welt?
Are you In favor of the plan pro
posed by the former President o
breaking up the present Republican
party and forming q new one? FO
whom did you vote In 1908?
"Of the 1000 first replying virtual!
all voted for Mr.. Taft four years ago
or the 1000 replying 4i2 said the!
would vote for Mr.. Taft this year 335
for Mr.. Roosevelt, 1872 for Mr.. Wilson
and 81 said they would not vote at al
or were undecided.
Most of those declaring they woul'
vote for Mr.. Wilson gave as their rea
son their disgust with Republican fac
tlonalism. Some were voting for hin
!. as the surest way. In their Judgment
to defeat the Colonel and prevent hin
from breaking up the Republican pa'
y. Some of those In the not.votin
class said they might vote for Mr., Tai
Cr Mr.. Wilson II 1t became necessar,
In their Judgment, to do this to preven
the Colonel from breaking up thei
party. Some OF those recording then
selves for MIR Taft lamented his non
i lnation, but would vote for him to pre-
vent the Colonel from breaking u
: their party.
D I'VE arrange those 1000 voters !
" table.
lait ',','''''.''''' '''''''''' W.
y Roosevelt OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES 33o
wilson ,.,,,',.''',,',,,,, i's
II MOI waiting ~