The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1912-08-08
Big Field Is to His Advantage,
Old Timers Say.
TAFT men NOT DISCOURAGED
NnctIned to Believe Roosevelt Enthusi.
asm Will Wane Before
Election Day.
Especial Correspondence

\~Fs~A IVA
st. Paul, Aug. 6.-What will the
political harvest be? Will Taft pre-
vail In Minnesota; will it be Wilson
or will Colonel Roosevelt have the
electors when the finish is reached?
What are Governor Eberhart's
chances; will the big field now scram-
bling for his toga be too much for
him? These are questions frequently
asked these days and the probable
answers are worrying many interest
ed in the political game and especially
those concerned about the candidacy
OF some particular favorite. One day
1t is Roosevelt and the next day Will
son has the call in the talk INDUCED
in at the various headquarters, while
as to the state situation the mixup is
so great that few hazard an opinion.
one thing stands forth in the state
game, however, and that is the field
in the matter of governor is so large
that Governor Eberhart has the best
chance of winning. Mind you the
Held or the friends of those composing
1t DO not concede such, but the regu-
lars and the old timers have it fig
ured out that way and it has to be
said that their way of reasoning is
entitled to consideration AS they
reason it the whole thing is a case
OF the fellow in Office and the rest
simply cutting each others threats.
AS to the opposition to Governor Eber-
mart, Lieutenant Governor Gordon
had the best of the talk a week ago.
Now it has swung to former Attorney
General E. T. Young, with L. G..
Spooner of Morris receiving some at
tention. Mr.. Young was the last to
enter the Republican gubernatorial
game and naturally he is receiving
attention from the gossips Mr.. Cor
don had the stage week ago when
he dined with Colonel Roosevelt, but
yesterdays news is old today and this
fact explains the sudden shift of the
gossips and daily papers to other
fields. One month ago Governor Eber.
harris hackers were fearful of the out
come, but now I understand they have
taken on line of enthusiasm for
their favorite and are said to be MAX
ing bets that he will win. Looking
over that big field I do not know but
there is some ground for their con-
fdence.
= :. :.
If the enthusiasm shown at the
Roosevelt mass meeting held in St.
Paul last week is to be accepted as
statewide Minnesota has such a firm
seat on the colonels band wagon that
nothing will dislodge it. Taft follow
ers, however, who have seen similar
upheavals before, do not look upon it
that way. They have hopes for their
man. That there is a strong Roose-
welt feeling in Minnesota is not doubt
ed by even the most partisan; it is
even conceded by the Taft leaders
that their man at the present time
would be wiped off the face of the
map If the election would take place
tomorrow, but as I remarked they re-
member similar upheava1s before and
are not worried. They even 20 so far
as to say that if the election was to
take place tomorrow Wilson would
prevail instead of Roosevelt Moth
ing is more contagious than political
enthusiasm and no one has a better
knowledge of this fact than those
VINO participated in the Bryan-McKin-
ley campaign of 1896 and THE cam
paigns which followed and in which
the Commoner participated In the
hrst named campaign the split was
as bad as today, the only difference
being that both parties had strife in
their midst. There was political war
fare everywhere and it effected state
and local tickets and combinations.
Chaos held the boards.
:. !. !.
Continuing the subject, Minnesota
was then no different from the other
states which threatened to embrace
the new order of things. Conditions
were repeated each succeeding time
that Bryan was the Offering IT was
IN one county where Bryan was speak
Ing" said Frank Eddy, who is now a
candidate for congressman at large,
and [ saw men go up and kiss the
Commoner's hand There were acres
OF men around him and the enthusi-
assn for him was unbounded I saw
a similar demonstration in another
county and I was moved. Turning to
travelling companion I remarked
that it seemed to be all over and that
we had better go home That fall
the regular Republican candidate pre-
vailed overwhelmingly in these very
centers. Since that I have not been
60 quick to jump al apparent con-
illusions, or to accept enthusiasm at
its face value when it is out of the
regular order of things" Franks
further observations and conclusions,
he said, were fastened by one old
soldier who suddenly took up with the
new order of things and carried his
new views to such an extreme that
many feared he had gone insane.
After the election I asked him If he
had voted for Mr.. Bryan" said Frank,