The Washington herald., 1912-09-22

about. 1t is the one feature Of the
campaign which has been full .of life.
- - Z.xz
Woodrow Wilson, touring through
the Middle West, has been repeating
Ibis academic speeches, incidentally say
ing good words for President Taft.
There is some political adroitness in bis
attitude toward the President, not only
because it emphasizes by contrast the
vituperative denunciations iq which Mr..
Roosevelt indulges, but also because il
attracts rather than repels Republicans.
Mr.. Wilson. knows that he. cannot be
elected if the Republican party should
unite. On a straight test between Re-
pubiicans and Democrats there are more
of the. former; than the latter. The
Democratic plan of campaign is there
fore twofold. They are treating
Roosevelt is if he were really the prin-
cipal candidate. and they are also en-
gagged in trying to win Taft Republi-
cans over to Wilson. 80,
Reports from. all over the country in
dicate that Wilson is securing promise
of support from many Republicans who
will vote for him in order to make
|Roosevelt's political burial all the more
certain. These voters are afraid of
Roosevelt. They regard him as CO.
lossal menace, and they are afraid that
he may get the votes Of all the dis
contented and all the social reformers
and all the radical theorists. They have
determined, therefore, to vote for Mr..
Wilson, believing that even Mr.. Wilson
could not do as much harm to the coun-
try as Roosevelt Knowing that this is
the case, Gov. Wilson is doing nothing
to alienate the Taft Republicans. On
the contrary, he is cultivating their
friendship in the hope that he can at
tract them to himself.
The principal advantage secured by
the Democrats during the week was the
declaration of the American Federation
of Labor in favor of the Democratic
party. The moving spirit in this align
ment is Samuel Gompers,, who is a
Democrat and who, since the Baltimore
convention, has been in close touch
with Democratic leaders. The weekly
review issued by the Federation pre-
sents the labor planks of the three par
ties and invites especial attention to the
fac; that the Republican platform omits
reference to certain matters deemed
vital by the laboring men, while the
Democratic platform afirmatively en-
phasizes these topics. There is no doubt
that Mr.. Gompers' position will influ-
ence a certain proportion of the 100000
men who are connected with tine Fed
grafton. but the Republican managers
will attempt to offset his Endorsement
of Democracy with the record of Presi-
dent Taft, which has been sympathetic
and effective on all matters relating to
labor, and with Gov. Wilson's utter
ances antagonistic' to trade unions.
The labor vote is, of course, vital
factor in the result of the campaign. II
would seem as if conditions which in
sure a demand for labor at better
wages than were ever paid before would
keep the workingmen in the Republican
column. There can be no doubt. how
ever. that the action OF the leaders oi
the Federation is a distinct advantage
to the Democratic cause.
One of the features of the campaign
is the tremendous demand for litera-
ture.
Up to the present time there has
been nothing spectacular in connection
with the contest-no brass bands OF
torchlight parades or other artificial
stimulation of political enthusiasm. On
the contrary, people seem to be more
interested in reading. Senator Dixon
Roosevelt's manager, said few days
ago that in the far West alone there
were 100000 people whose minds were
not made up as to the candidate whom
they would support. This, of course. is
mere guess, so far as the actual num-
Der is concerned, but there is no doubt
that the independent vote this year i:
larger than at any previous time. 1t i:
this vote which the party leaders are
trying to reach. The only method by
which it can be influenced is through
argument based upon fact This means Z
personal and direct appeal to million:
of voters. Inasmuch as both Republi
cans and Democrats believe that each
has the better of the argument, it i:
difficult to predict which will win tht
most votes.
Nearly all the literature relates tc
the tariff. The Rooseveltian cry ot
stolen delegates has almost died away
and even Mr.. Roosevelt has PRACTICAL,
dropped his absurd charge since it ha
been driven home, to him that he him
self tried to steal the nomination by in
stituting nearly 200 fake contests. Th'
trusts are coming in for some consid
Grafton, and the high cost of living j!