Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-10-20
Belief That Taft Will Get
Large Democratic Support.
BUSINESS MEN FAVOR HIM
Situation in West, However, En-
couraging to Wilson.
HIS FRIENDS MAKING CLAIMS
Declare He Will Have $50 Electoral
Votes, Outside of Pivotal
States.
BY N. o. MESSENGER.

BY N. o. MESSENGER.
CHICAGO. October 19.-Careful inquiry
into conditions prevailing in the region
west of the Ohio river does not produce
results indicating favorable prospects for
President Taft. While it is true and not
10 be denied that there is at this time a
drift toward Taft, his passionate poll
ticians must acknowledge. and do. that
the swing is for Wilson in the western
country. Taking first the optimistic view
of the campaign 1t should be stated that
there has been in the past two weeks an
awakening on the part of business men
to the claim that serious menace to busi-
ness interests is involved in the Wilson
propaganda
Director Mulvane of republican western
headquarters describes that situation as
follows:
The Taft wave continues to spread
over the country. 1t is not confined to
any one section. 1t spreads from Maine
Ia California.
Neither is it confined to party. The
significant and important development of
the week Is the fact that We are expert
cncing a repetition of 1886 In that year
business men who Were democratic in
politics rescued the country from the fall
lacy and danger of free silver This year
democratic business men are uniting to
save the country from the fallacy and
danger of free trade.
Democratic Drift to Taft.
Reports from every state show that
President Taft will receive large DEM
ocratic vote. Democrats as well as re-
publicans realize that there is no criti-
cism of the conduct of the government
and that the democratic party does not
promise to make business conditions any
better.
THE American people, irrespective OF
party affiliation, know that prosperity
cannot continue IL the foundation upon
which prosperity rests is removed. This
- the reason why organizations Of busi-
ness men pledged to support President
Taft and the republican ticket are being
formed everywhere.
~ change Of administration means a
change of business conditions.
The free trade legislation to which the
democratic party is pledged would seri-
ously disturb almost every commercial
industry In the country and would men,
ace the prosperity Of our now flourishinG
agriculture
I've cannot have a sudden and radical
change in our tariff laws without an up
hearal of business conditions. Effect will
follow cause as surely as night follows
day.
Stability and Progress.
The universal desire for business sta
l,iIity and continued progress along safe
and steady lines is giving nationwide
impetus to the cause of President Taft.
We approach the last two weeks of the
campaign more confident than ever that
President Taft can and will be elected" :"
But In the minds Of unbiased political
observers the question arises: Is not
the drift to Taft too late to be effective?
II these business men had aroused them
selves in August and furnished the ma
tional committee with means to wage a
vigorous campaign. winning back the
farmers and going after the laboring
men, the outlook might be different.
Coming down to cold. hard facts. one
cannot escape from the belief that as the
same nov stands Wilson is far in the
lead. The republicans are doing the best
they can to encourage their followers, to
hold in line the republican voters who.
fearing Roosevelt are disposed to go to
Wilson in order to kill of the bull moose
leader.
Inc 0emOcTdtlC managers are aDSOfute-
ly confident of a big Wilson landslide.
They claim as high as 800 electoral votes
for him certainty, 26G being neces-
sary to elect. They claim that Mr.. Will
son will have fourteen more than a ma
jority, leaving out the important states
Of New York. New Jersey, Indiana, Ohio,
Illinois and Michigan.
Basis of Democratic Claims.
Their claim must receive considera-
lion in view of the conditions known
10 exist in the western country. Starting
with the solid youth and including Cali
fornia and South Dakota, believed to be
safe for Wilson. they total up 132 cleo
torsI votes. Tnen they add to their col
umn Delaware. 3: Idaho. A; Maine. G;
Maryland. s.: Missouri. Is: Montana, 3;
New Mexico, 3: Wisconsin. 13; Arizona. 3;
Colorado. g; Kansas. 10; Kentucky. 13:
Minnesota. Il: Nebraska, S: Nevada, 8;
North Dakota. 5: Oklahoma, 10: Tennes-
see, IL: West Virginia, g.
This makes a total Of 80. fourteen ma
ior1;y In the electoral college.
Suppose that Wisconsin, thirteen, should
be deducted, owing to the doubt Of La
Foileote's ultimate course, there is an on
set of fifteen from Indiana, which is
counted absolutely sure for Wilson. Sup
pose that Minnesota, twelve. should go
the other way. there are New York and
New Jersey St1il In the reckoning
No one knows how Ohio Is going; Mich
izan is a debatable proposition. and from
every angle OF the situation fair-minded
politicians must agree that Wilson ap-
parently has the best OF it.
Wyoming, Utah and Iowa are counted
pretty safely republican The democrats
hope to have a look-in in Pennsylvania.
They have not despaired of Washington
and Oregon, although the republicans
claim tnose states.
Situation Favors Wilson.
But the great, big salient fact is tha,
the democrats can rea asonably count upon
the states enumerated above to give them
$50 votes and still be able to discoun,
the so-called pivotal states Of New York
and Illinois.
The foregoing figures are presented 70,
considera Ion from careful and painstak.
ing inquiry. OF course. there Is the silen,
vote to be considered. the deep under.
current of unknown political opinion II
may be for Roosevelt. 1t may be TO,
Taft. 1t may be that as the campaign
grows nearer an end, business will be
come frightened and apply its power tC