Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1912-10-25
WILSON FAR AHEAD

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The New York Herald of Sunday.
SUNG up the political situation as to
the Presidential contest as follows ::
Ex-Governor Wilson still in the lead.
MIR. Roosevelt second and gaining
some votes as a result of the attack
upon him in Milwaukee. but apparent
ly not enough to endanger Mr.. VIII
sons present lead.
President Taft third, but making
steady gains in many parts of the
country.
These are the relative positions and
conditions in this great presidential
race. as indicated by the Herald's
canvass of the nation, and with the
election only short time off.
Each of the three principal rivals
for the great office is ginning in some
sections. All are losing in some.
President Taft has made marked ad-
vances in some sections of the far
west. He has made further gains in
Pennsylvania. The Republicans in
oCNCAui obdiCo nave lCpldCSu
ence with activity and are making a
real campaign for their nomi nee.
This sudden reversal of form on the
part of organization mana gers. has
greatly stiffened up the Taft men
and given them new hope.
Mr.. Roosevelt has made gains in
Illinois, where he leads and where he
has developed much strength. He is
holding his own in practically all the
States where he led last week. Gov
ernor Wilson has gained also, but, on
the whole. has just about held his
own. This is accounted for by the
theory that he had "fying start"
and could not be expected to increase
his lead.
THE SITUATION.
In nutshell, the situation, as re-
vealed by the Herald's 100000 and
more test ballots and reports from
scores of correspondents, is as fol-
lows:
Governor Wilson has touched his
high mark. Mr.. Roosevelt has reach
ed the floodtide and is slightly ehbing.
President Taft is making slight but
steady gains.
From what can he learned, the at
tempted assassination of Mr.. Roose-
welt will not greatly strengthen him
Indications are that there will be an
additional sympathetic or sentimental
vote for him in many sections, but
not sufficient to affect the electoral
vote One result, however, which is
highly important from the Roosevelt
point of view, is that the attack upon
him has braced up wavering "Bull
Moosers,' as they term themselves,
and they are backing the nominee
with new enthusiasm. Just how ex-
tensive the sympathetic vote will be
it is impossible to tell. This feature
becomes the leading mystery of the
campaign just now. and every one is
striving to solve it. The managers of
the Roosevelt campaign do not be-
lieve it will greatly help them.
In the polls made in thirty-two
states Govern Wilson led in twenty
six, Mr.. Roosevelt in five and the
President Taft in two Utah and
Wy oming. The four in which Mr..
Roosevelt took the lead are Illinois,
MICHIGAN, Idaho and Washington. On
the surface it would appear that the
margin between the President and
first place is too wide to be overcome.
1t would appear also that he has con-
siderable distance to go to be assur-
ed of second place.
In the first table of percentages he
was nine points behind MIR. Roose-
welt. On the second second. ballot he
was still nine points behind. On the
third ballot he was eight points be
hind and on the last ballot thus far
taken he was six points behind.
Inquiries during the week do not
disclose any great spread of the feel
ing among Republicans that the Presi-
dent cannot be elected and that there
fore, to assure the defeat of Mr..
Roosevelt, they would vote for Gov
ernor Wilson. The spirit still prevails
in some States. but it has given way
in others to belief that the presi-
dent would run a close second.
In Indiana an odd development is
found. Republicans there, according
to the Herald's investigators, are
swinging in line for Taft because
they believe the election of Governor
Wilson is assured withou3 their aid.
The betting in Indiana is that Gov err
nor Wilson will receive almost as
many votes as the two other nominees
combined.
In New England the situation is
confusing. In Rhode Island the Re-
publicans are working desperately to
stem the Wilson tide. using tariff
arguments chiefly, but Governor Will
son still seems to be gaining. In
Massachusetts Governor Wilson has