The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-10
INTERPRETATIONS . OF HERALD FIGURES Still Show Wilson Running
 Far in Lead ROOSEVELT IS SECOND Roosevelt Organs Claim That When Republicans Realize Taft Cannot
 Win They Will Turn to
 Former President
ROOSEVELT IS SECOND
By c. IF. STEWART

By c. IF. STEWART
 Washington, October e.-(SpeciaL)- of the 20 states whose sentiment has been tested by the straw vote poll for Presi- dent, by the New York herald only one, Utah, seems to be for President Taft
 In Utah the Mormon church, it is said, is at the present time for Taft, though it is doubtful whether or not they remain true to the cause of the President. It may switch in a single day and carry with It the electoral vote of the state, as it did in 1900. The church allowed the state to go for Bryan in 1896. but Topped back into the republican column in 1900. as a result of a deal made in the last days of the campaign with the Mckinley managers. The church always decides how Utah will go, and the church, it is said, dearly loves a winner. hence the deduction made by many at this time that there is no telling how Utah will go. though at pres ent they seem to favor Taft.
 The Heralds figures now present the presidential preferences of 69,046 voters taken from 29 states. In 2S of these Will son is the decided favorite, in five Roose- welt. and in one Taft. Roosevelt also seems to be second in IS and the Presi- dent is trailing a poor third. yet in spite of these figures the President has just issued a statement that the "trend of the sentiment seems to be for the republican party and its candidates"
 Both Sides Make Claims
 Both the Roosevelt and the administra- tion papers here claim that the report of the Herald and its conclusions show be- yond a doubt that the fight is between Wilson and their candidate. The bull moose papers say Wilson and Roosevelt, and the Taft papers say Wilson and Taft. But from all indications it looks like the real fight is between Roosevelt and Taft for tail end honors.
 Much to the surprise of every one. Will son shows a lead in Pennsylvania and that fact has aroused great enthusiasm among the supporters of the governor in that state who declared at Baltimore if Wilson was nominated that Pennsylvania would go democratic.
 The Illinois vote shows a strong tender- cy for Roosevelt with Taft a very poor have done better than was looked for and the contest in that state apparently Is between him and Wilson.
 Minnesota reports more votes for Will son than for Roosevelt and Taft com bined and has, according to the Herald, upset all the dope on that state
 Roosevelt is making another trip. and it is believed here that he is hurting himself everywhere he goes. He invaria- bly makes a pointed attack on some local celebrity in almost every state he enters which results in loss of votes for the bull moose and wins him new enemies. Roosevelt on the stump is no longer dreaded, for it is now believed that he is doing Wilson more good than any other stump speaker in the country.
 The grand total of the Herald's straw vote gives Wilson O,26l, Roosevelt 2074 and Taft 13,055
 Every additional test vote taken accord ing to the Herald shows an increase in favor of the democratic candidate and a proportionate falling off from either Tar, or Roosevelt, barring one or two repub- lcan states that have always been strongholds for that party.
 The change of sentiment toward Taft claimed by the President and Chairman Hilles is not apparent in these votes, and to all appearances must based on the imagination of Chairman Hilles him self
 Washington Times View
 The Washington Times-a strong Roose. velt paper-seems to see in the Herald figures trend toward the third termer, though it agrees that it looks like Will son. It takes consolation in the fact that Roosevelt made some gains fin the state of New York over the last poll, and rather reluctantly admits that Wilson also seems to be gaining in New York.
 Of other states the Times says: "Tak- ing general survey, the herald's fig ures indicate some gains for Taft in places where they cannot possibly save him. and some gains for Roosevelt in places where they seem likely to make Roosevelt the winner Thus Michigan's figures place Roosevelt in the lead, though by slender plurality, with Will son second. Iowa, on the other hand, places Wilson first and Roosevelt second; Minnesota does the same. These figures from states that in the past have been overwhelmingly republican simply show that Taft is not in the running"
 The Times then draws happy ending of the whole matter and settles the cleo tion finally and in full a month in ad vance by saying that the voters of the country now fully realizing that Taft is out of it will turn to Roosevelt or Wi,- son-and not wanting to risk democrat in the White House, will, on the last day when it comes right down to casting the ballot-cast it for Teddy and he will be triumphantly elected.
 Of course the Times may miss it in this prophecy. but what do they care no record will be broken.