Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-10-12
TAFT MAKES GAINS
Gen. Kitchener Describes Con-
diti0ns in Indiana.
RESULTS OF HIS INQUIRY
Strong Tide, He Says, Toward Re-
publican Party Nominee.
BUSINESS MEN FEAR CHANGE
People of Country, General Declares,
Are Disposed to Let Well
Enough Alone.
BUSINESS MEN FEAR CHANGE

"A strong tide is running toward Taft
from the progressive party. and i'm a less
degree from the democratic party This
tide set in strong about September Ii,
and is gaining daily in speed and vol
ume''
This is the information given to a re-
porter for The Star today, which Gen. L.
L. Kitchener, for many years one of the
leaders i'm the republican party, has
brought with him from Indiana, consid-
cred heretofore a stronghold of the pro-
gressives, and which went democratic at
the last election. Gen. Kitchener spent
several weeks in the state recently, and
while there he talked with men of all
professions and in all walks of life. His
information, he said, was not gained from
consultations with republican committee
men, state or national. but from the men
who do the business of the country,
either as employers or as employees.
Gen. Kitchener said that what was true
of Indiana he found to be true of the rest
of the country. His correspondence with
men of affairs in many other states had
told Of the strong tide setting toward
Taft.
Business Conditions Satisfactory.
There is an old proverb which has
come down to us from the ages" said
Gen. Kitchener. 1T is to let we'll enough
alone. And this proverb explains the at
titude of the workers and business men
of the country today. Never before in
the history Of the country have condi-
tons been more satisfactory. and they
promise to continue just as satisfactory
under the present administra ton.
Now, what are the reasons for this tide
from the progressive party back to Taft?
In the first place. there is the reason
which l have just given. that it is better
to let well enough alone. Then the pro-
gressives are convinced that they cannot
elect Roosevelt and that by voting for
him they merely hand over half a vote to
Gov. Wilson. The former republicans who
have Joined the progressive ranks set
ting sails upon unknown waters now
find themselves cut off from the lifelong
associations which they have had in the
old party.
There are many democrats who are
turning to Taft, also. They believe TIT
Roosevelt has given Taft a raw deal,
and they are anxious to rebuke the colo
mel. And, in addition, they do not wish
to do anything which will interfere with
the prosperous conditions which exist in
the country. They have seen hard times
follow the election of the democratic
ticket in the PAST. One democrat said to
me that there is more work to do today
than ever before. and wages are higher
He said that If the democrats took con-
troll and did succeed in lowering the cost
of living. as they promise to do, what
was the use of being able to purcha Sc
goods more cheaply if he had nothing
with which to make the purchase? He
was afraid that the election of Wilson
mig hit result in hard times
why Is 1t that Wilson, Bryan and 9TH
er democratic leaders are trailing Roose-
welt and making every effort to Offset his
campaign work: 1t is because the pro-
sressive party has drawn considerable
strength from the ranks of the democ-
racy. and the democrats fear the defec-
ton in their ranks.
Independent Vote Develops.
Under the tutelage of Roosevelt and
Bryan and others great independent
vote has developed in this coun-
try during the last twenty years,
and this vote disregards party lines.
1t has what we have called the
silent vote. And this vote probably will
decide the coming election. as it has de-
| cided elections in the past. There are
plenty of men, who are considered demo-
Gratis by that party, but who will go to
the polls and vote the republican ticket.
And no one will be the wiser until the
election is over.
Many campaign has been lost and
won within the last month, or even a
week. before election day. Back in 1896
Mckinley was q beaten man up to the
1st of October, and then a strong tide
set in for him, just as it has for Taft,
and he was elected. / saw the demo-
Gratis carry Indiana in one year when We
had been perfectly confident that the
republicans would win up to a week be-
fore the election.
THE tide is now running strongly to-
ward Taft, as l learned from personal
observation"
Gen. Kitchener was political manager
for President Harrison in 1854 and 1882;
he was attorney general Of Indiana at
one time, and also has been chairman
of the republican state committee Of In
diana.