The Pleasantville press., 1912-10-30
TAFT CONFIDENT
OF REELECTION
Convincing Indications That the
Republican Party is
Still Dominant

When President Taft was visiting
his brother in New York 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, few weeks ago.
that | felt reasonably sure of my own
reelection in November, and the sue
cess of the Republican Party, | was
regarded by some, as entirely over
sanguine, and unaware of the situa-
ton. Today, however, after number
of indications that the Republican
Party is still the dominant party, and
that the expected growth Of Democra-
tic strength has failed to materialize,
my early declaration is shown to be
entitled to respect. The Republi-
cans necessarily will have reduced
majority over 1908 because of the
presence of three tickets in the field,
but the Democratic party will suffer,
also The combined strength of the
Third Term party will not be enough
to change the ultimate result.
Give or six weeks ago it 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 Democra-
tic 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
debatable ground Today, with the
election still one month away, the Re-
publican Party finds itself with a
strengthened hold on the Solid East,
having routed the Third Term party
in Vermont, and the Democratic Par
ty in Maine. The Third Term leaders
recently conceded that we would pick
the State of Utah out of the Solid
West, and, after conferring with Chair
man Hilles and others recently in the
West, there is every reason to believe
that the Republican Party will carry
Michigan, Washington, Idaho and
Wyoming. Moreover, If the proper
kind of 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 partys
candidate.
Il 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 men
toned it can be seen that there is no
longer a Solid West back of the new
party, but, more nearly, a Solid West
reunited in support of the Republican
ticket This strength, added to the in
disputable hold on the Eastern States,
constitutes, in itself, sufficient
strength to give success to the party.
1T is scarcely necessary for me to
point to the necessity of re-establish-
ing Republican majority in the
House of representatives. If this is
done, / feel confident that l will be
able to have placed on the statute
books the workmen's compensation
law which / urged upon the last ses-
sion, but which was sent to oblivion
by the Democratic House. If the
country will give the Republican Party
complete victory in its congression-
al, as we'll as its Presidential, ticket,
proper tariff revision will be speedily
effected, with knowledge of the facts
ascertained by a tariff commission,
which will harm no one and remove
its present defects"