The Detroit times., 1912-08-29
Next Tuesdays Contest Is To
Give Reliable Tip On Presi-
Dental Situation
FIGHTING CHANCE FOR
DEMOCRATS TO WIN
Tables May Turn in State Which
Has Always Been Rock
Ribbed Republican

@OA's w. Aub. @Ss--4tEAt
Wednesday, September 4th, the coun-
try will get Its first reliable tip on the
outcome OF the presidential campaign.
On Tuesday Vermont, the barometer
OF national politics, holds its state
election. And for the first time the
Democrats seem to have a nghting
chance.
For half a century Vermont has
been busy barometering for the ma
ton, and never has its prophecy fail
cd. Vermont has been Republican,
ever since there was a Republican
party, with a normal plurality OF 25.-
900, and when the Republican plural
ity falls below that, In presidential
year, II spells danger for the national
ticket. When IL drops below 22 1000
II means certain Republican defeat In
November
This year 1t will not be SO easy to
interpret the returns, for there are
three parties instead OF two battling
for control OF the state.
Allan M. Fletche Is the regula Re-
publican candidate 70 governor. He
is receiving the support of the ma
tional administration, with a solid
from various states. He IL q wealthy
corporation promoter.
Harlan B, Howe Is the Democratic
capdidate. Gov. Foss, the fighting
Democratic executive OF Massachu-
eternal minority with prophecies OF
victory, and the Wilson campaign
managers are sending orators To help.
| ID - .AI
the Democrats have ever put up for
governor.
The Rev. Frazer Metzger Is the Bull
Moose champion. He and his allies
are rafting the dry bones with large
binding. The allies include Albert J.
Beveridge. former senator from In
diana, who sounded the keynote at the
OF Colorado, the kids judge who's
always busy twisting the tail or the
system" Clifford Pinchot, the origi-
nal forestry man, and the boss Bull
Moose, T. r. himself The Rev. Mr..
| Metzger is waging an "Armageddon
campaign, full OF religious enthusiasm,
and maintains, like Roosevelt. that he
Is battling for the Lord
1t may seem odd that all this array
OF talent should be poured into little
state that just clings to the map by
| its toenails, and hasn't any more vot-
ers than fair-sized town. But IL
isn't because of size or population that
Vermont counts. It's because Ver-
mont Is so steady that a slight change
there betokens revolution In the rest
of the country. And the three parties
Il lob In q. hA aN ha4
| a Vermont victory would have on the
rest OF the campaign.
| The Democratic campaign has been
particularly aggressive. and has peen
waged on genuine state issues. While
have been fighting over the Chicago
convention, Harlan b. Howe has been
explaining TO the voters how for years
they have been governed by the rail-
road ring and have been overtaxed,
while the railroads and other corpo-
| rations have lodged taxes The re-
sponse Is SO encouraging that. In view
OF the enemy's divided ranks, many
OF the Democrats think they may win.
In any event, the result foreshad-
owed by present conditions will yirtu-
ally amount to revolution in the Re-
L pubultun party VI the bbdtc. EkOm -
majority for Taft OF approximately
I $4,000 of the votes cast in 1908 some
OF the wiseacres are saying the Taft
candidate for governor this year will
| be lucky II he scores plurality Of g.
900.
As a matter Of fact, II is not certain
that any OF tn, three will be elected
next Tuesday. For the Vermont law
requires a majority OF the total vote
cast, and with the vote divided be
tween the three parties, there may be
no majority.
| In that case the contest would be
carried to the Vermont legislature.
And there, almost anything might hap
pen. Even though the Republican can
didate had a plurality. the Democrats
and Progressives might combine and
choose a Democratic or Progressive
governor
That would be revolution, indeed.
For never. since the Republican party
was born, has Vermont had anything
but a Republican governor.
With these facts In mind. you may
find II entertaining TO study the re-
turns from Vermont next Wednesday,
and do some prophesying OF your own.
| ----
Hank OF England Boosts Rate.
| LONDON. Aug. 2s.--The Bank OF
| England raised the discount rate from