New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-10-17
SENTIMENT DRIFTING
TO PRESIDENT TAFT
Reports from Twenty States
Show ConCIusiveIy That He
Is Steadily Gaining.
PROSPERITY AIDS PARTY
Attempt on Colonel Roosevelt's
Life Will Draw Votes from
Wilson, Presidents
Secretary Hears.

Washington, Oct 1s-Conhdential re-
ports from twenty states, sought by
Carmi Thompson. Secretary to the Presi-
dent with no intention of making them
public, show remarkable change in SEN
timent, which is now sweeping strongly
toward President Taft.
The reports received at the White
House are not of the kind usually made
public by campaign managers. They do
not include sweeping statements OF VIC
tory, but are calm analyses OF the situa-
tons as they actually exist in many To-
calities, and they show conclusively that
President Taft is gaining
Three reasons for the change OF senti-
ment are given. They are:
The bumper crops have aided in bring
ing about a tremendous wave of pros
peTlty, which liz filling the freight cars,
making the farmer and manufactures
HAPPY, and putting 10 lucrative work
every person who really wants TO work.
The Presidents plan for the establish
ment OF n plan FOR cooperative credit
system and land mortgage banks, Of
state and national character, for the
benefit Of the farmer. This plan, initiated
by Mr. TAFT. VIII give the farmer the
game kind OF credit that Is enjoyed By
liAe"HAA 4Hi vi lDl n A4OIltt F0dhJlnR MIN u
borrow smaller or large sums with his
terest
The growing feeling among working
men that the high cost OF living is not
local TO the United States. but IS preva-
lent throughout the world, and that,
whereas the people OF this country have
money 70 provide good food and clothing
ior themselves. living in comfortable
houses. thousands Of worKIugmen are
racing TVaftOn In free trafa E0OIand
viii Stick to Republican Party.
Many OF the business men and labor
leaders. 10 whom inquiries were adj
dressed, express the opinion that thou
sands ot regular Republicans who In
tended 70 vote for Governor Wilson as
the best way TO beat Colonel Roosevelt.
now have caught the general feeling that
there Is an excellent chance 20 re-elect
the President, and they viii cast their
votes for him.
In the last two days. since the attack
was made on Colonel Roosevelt In NIL
~aukee, great sympathy mas been ex-
pressed for the Bull Moose leader. Presi-
dent Taft and Governor Wilson have
taken the lead In expressing heartfelt
~ lAARhAAgI N'ANAAh NlAN ASEN AAeN INV Ni'
tingulshed leader OF the new party be
granted a speedy recovery
Artute political leaders in the various
states heard from assert that while the
attempted assassination ot Colonel Roose-
Welt Will put the soft pedal IN the cam
paign removing bitterness on all SIDES, II
will not affect the vote to any great ex-
tent. What II may DO. however, Is 10
win hin many thousands Of votes from
the Democratic ranks.
The entire basis Tor the assumption that
Governor Wilson would be elected Is that
President Taft and Colonel Roosevelt
would split the Republican vote on the so
and 40 per cent basis, the Democrats
holding their votes intact, and thus get
ting more electoral votes than either Taft
or Roosevelt.
There has been n noticeable drift, &C
cogding 20 the private information 1T the
White House, OF Republicans returning 10
President Taft Most OF these mon went
70 Colonel Roosevelt because they Eel.
ne had a good chance TO be elected. Now
they feel that Taft has a better chance.
The alignment between the Republican
party and the Progressive party Is fairly
clean cut, and the issue Is so evenly drawn
end 90 little dependent on personalities
that the sympathetic wave toward Colo
mel Roosevelt at the present time comes
largely from the Democratic party.
Governor Wilson's Fatal Mistake.
Governor Wilson. the experts say. mas
made a fatal mistake in refraining from
having stress on party regularity. A solid
Democratic vote Is absolutely essential TO
his election. Roosevelt has already drawn
as many Republicans as he can possibly
draw from the Republican ranks, and the
Milwaukee accident will draw from the
Democratic ranks. Many OF the reports
express tho positive conviction that In this
general smashing OF party lines the Re-
publican party Will best preserve itself.
putting President Taft In the lead on No
Yember 8.
There Is no doubt that prosperity is
helping the President tremendously. One
OF the reports received by Mr.. Thomp-
son comes from Pittsburgh. where thou
sands of workingmen ore needed, where
the mills are working 10 their capacity
with orders booked for 1913, and where
90 MANY orders for present business have
been filed that there are not enough
freight cars 10 handle the product.