The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-07-07

iistenee were : little more severe ther,
would be less opportunity to conside
whether judicial decisions ought to b,
recalled by popular vote.
The Democrats have not yet soundes
the keynote of their campaign. The,
Twill, of course attack the monopolisti,
trusts, and they will have much to sa,
about the rule of the people. They car
hardly point with pride to the recort
, which they have made in Congress tni.
session, because, looking backward Il
the first Monday in last December, there
is long stretch of dfeary nothing.
ness. Even the investigations which cost
so much and lasted 20 long achieved
no results which are visible to the naked
eye, and there was inexcusable delay in
enacting the appropriation bills.
Having few issues, the Democrat.
will attack President Taft and his ad-
ministration. This will be safe and will
serve to divert attention from them
selves.
If Mr.. Roosevelt, pursuing his de-
termination to defeat Mr.. Taft, actually
organizes his third party, it is more
than likely that he will secure some
electoral votes. 1t is quite reasonable to
believe that he will surely carry Cali
fornia, Kansas, Minnesota, North Da-
kota, Oklahoma, and South Dakota, with
total of ffty-five votes. This might
be enough to throw the election into
the House Of Representatives, where
there would be no decision. Under the
Constitution, in contingency of this
character each State casts one vote, and
in the House as at present constituted
there are twenty-five States with Re
publican and twenty-five States witt,
Democratic delegations, while the re-
naming four States are equally divided.
Nobody knows what would happen if
the election passed beyond the electoral
college. because the Constitution is I'M
certain in its terms.
In any analysis which may be made
of the political situation, it is impor-
tant to reckon upon these Roosevelt
States because they will play an i'm
portant part in the result If, as seems
reasonable. the Republicans carry Colo
RADIO, Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho,
Iowa, Massachusetts,, Michigan. Nevada,
New Hampshire, New York. Pennsyl-
vania, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont.
Washington, and Wyoming, President
Taft will have I7o electoral votes (2o6
being necessary, with Alabama, Ar
IONA, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Ken
lucky, Louisiana. Maine. Maryland,
Mississippi. Montana, New Mexico,
North Carolina, South Carolina, Ten
nessee, Texas, and Virginia in the
Democratic column, Gov. Wilson would
have I63 votes. The six Roosevelt
States already mentioned would cast
S. votes; leaving I34 votes-Illinois,
Indiana, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jer-
sey, Ohio, Oregon, West Virginia, and
Wisconsin-in the doubtful column.
These are the States which will be the
battle-ground of the campaign.
1t is a curious condition of affairs
which places the home State of each
of the candidates in the doubtful COL
umn. 1t is by no means certain, how
ever, that Wilson, with his tariff-for-
revenue-only platform and with the
Bryan tail to his kite, can carry New
Jersey, which is not only naturally Re-
publican but is honeycombed with
manufactures built up through pro-
lection. In the same way, it is a ques-
ton whether President Taft can carry
Ohio, unless in the last moment State
pride comes to the rescue and the Re-
publicans who voted for Roosevelt in
the primaries decline 10 follow their
leader to the last ditch.
Illinois will be an especially pivotal
State, and its twenty-nine electoral
votes may decide the contest In that
State the Democrats voted overyhelm-
ingly in the primaries for Champ Clark
and they got Wilson; the Republicans
wanted Roosevelt and they got Taft.
There is much disappointment and Bit
terness on both sides, and the State will
be a puzzle almost until election day
The Republican situation is somewhat
aided by the fact that Gov. Deneen.
who has declared for President Taft,
desires reelection and will work hard
for the success of the State ticket. In
diana will also be bitterly contested,
with the advantage in favor of
the Democrats because of Gov. Mar
shall's selection as the Vice Presidential
candidate
The figures given amply demonstrate
that the result is not foregone con-
elusion. 1t is a long while to election
day, and in the meantime any one of
thousand things may happen to affect
the outcome. Each week will unfold
new act in a political drama of sur
passing interest There will be eli
makes and anti-climaxes; there will