The Washington herald., 1912-10-13

cal future that Missouri should Be IN
the Republican column. Consequently,
he IS travelling through the State appeal
ing to Republicans not to aid in Dem
ocratic victory by running after third
party. He insists that the Republican
fparty stands for honesty and decency,
which is his answer 70 the Rooseveltian
cry of stolen delegates, and that DEM
ocratic victory means return to the
disastrous tariff legislation of the
Cleveland period.
There is no doubt that Gov. Hadley's
declaration has helped President Taft
immensely in Missouri. The Roosevelt
movement in that State has practically
gone to pieces, although the faet re-
mains that the Republican margin of
a majority in the State is so narrow
that the party must be united to win.
Missouri was carried for Mr.. Taft four
years ago by a plurality Of only Gag.
There is some Democratic sulking in
the State on account of the treatment
which Champ Clark received at the
Baltimore convention. although Mr..
Clark himself took occasion to appear
on the same platform with Wilson in
Illinois last Wednesday. Gov. Hadley
is undoubtedly anxious to carry the
State, and if he can do so will occupy
a most advantageous position four years
from now He will get the support Of
the Republican organization because he
has been loyal to it, while Senator La
Toilette will be ignored because he is
now giving the nominee of the party
no aid whatever The Missouri Repub
licans are coming actively and enthusi-
astically to Hadley's support, and when
it was announced that former Vice
President Fairbanks would devote three
days of his campaign tour to Missouri,
they promptly engaged special train
and brass band and proceeded to ar
range whirlwind demonstration
through the State.
There are other States in the Dem
ocratic list which are open to question,
but, upon the whole, it presents a fair
idea of the almost herculean task which
confronts the Republican managers in
accomplishing the election of President
Taft. There is one thing, however, to
be said The task is less difficult to-
day than it was month ago, and it is
becoming easier every day, even though
it is still a serious question whether the
enormous difficulties in the way can be
overcome before election.
The chief difficulty is, of course, the
division in the Republican party. If
it were not for this unfortunate condi-
ton of affairs. there would be nothing
left except the counting of the votes.
The United States is not a free trade
country. II has prospered nightly un-
der the protective system. and even now
there are many Democrats who will
vote the Republican ticket because they
are afraid of free trade legislation. The
trouble will be, however, TO find enough
Democrats to offset the detection from
the Republican ranks because of the
Roosevelt contingent. If, when the
election is over. it shall be found that
the Republican party has gone down
to defeat, Col. Roosevelt will have the
revengeful satisfaction of knowing that
he has accomplished the undoing of
President Taft. There is good reason
to believe tina, this has been his sole
purpose from the very beginning.
1t is a curious phase OF the campaign
that the bitterness which Col. Roosevelt
shows toward his former friend is fully
reciprocated by the feeling manifested
by the Taft Republicans toward Roose-
velt If Wilson is elected, they hope
that Roosevelt will not carry single
State. Wilson is the beneficiary of the
situation. He is not arousing any en-
thusiasm, his speeches are more criti-
cised than praised, and yet even those
who refer to him in half-hearted fashion
are certain that he cannot lose They
know, as all the country knows, that
there are, two tickets in nearly every
State to divide the Republican party.
while the Democrats are held together
by the cohesiveness of possible victory
As the time of election draws near
there is some awakening in the country
There would be more activity if there
was not a prevalent belief that no mat
ter who is elected good times will con-
tinue. There is a feeling that pros
perity is the gift of God. This. OF
course, is true only in limited sense,
because while there were bumper crops
in Cleveland's time, corn and wheat
sold for little or nothing, factories were
closed, and enforced idleness prevailed
Policies and laws have their effect upon
the material condition of the country
There is some realization of this fact,
but IN the whole II is not making