The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1914-10-26
CLOSING WEEK OF THE CAMPAIGN

The start of the last week of the most vigor-
ouIy fought campaign for state Officers that has
been waged for years in Pennsy lvania finds both
Democrats and Republicans claiming victory for
their candidates for United States Senator and
Governor, each with brave show of confidence
and the Washington party protesting TO be equally
confident of the election of their candidate for the
Senate. Straw votes are being taken and pre-
dictons as TO the sizes of maJorities plurahteS
are being freely made by persons protesting to
possess powers Of political prognoSticaton.
Even before the primaries, early last spring, the
issues of the fight were being discussed and the
discussions have been kept up pretty consistently
ever since, that II is a safe assertion that
the voters of the state understand fully what each
party and what each candidate for an important
office stands for,-better, perhaps than in any cam
paign IN the recent history of Pennsylvania. 1t is
logical TO assume therefore, that the voters for
the most part already are determined as to how
they will cast their ballots one week from tomor-
row and that nothing can alter the determination
of the majority barring the injection of some un-
foreseen influence of sufficient force to cause
great eleventh hour upheaval in sentiment
Whether any of the parties has anything up
its sleeve to spring" at the last moment which
can have the effect of bringing about any material
change in the sentiment of the voters. the present
week will determine This is the week in which
the candidates must bring out their hidden ammu-
milton, If they have any remaining, but nothing
short of big explosion can change the course
of events as 1t Is now being run.
The invasion of Colonel Roosevelt scheduled for
this week, presents the possibility that can be
toreseen at this date of a political explosion
that may have sufficient force to upset existing
sentiment of the electors Evidently the Washing
ton party who are freely predicting the elec-
ton of Clifford Pinchot as United States Senator
are counting the Colonel's voice and ability as
vote-winner to carry Mr. Pinchot to victory If
Mr. Pnehot Is to succeed as predicted by his sup
porters, the upheaval must come as result of
Colonel RoOsevelts invasion of the state. and there
are many who believe that the Colonel. even in
pennsylvania, where he is popular, does not pos
sess the power to turn the tide of the sentiment
from the course in which it is now running
With regard to the contest as between the lead
ing Republican and Democratic candidates the un
biased observer must admit that no one TODAY
can accurately predict the result All depends on
the independent voters.-and their number in these
days is far greater than ever before With them
rests the balance of power and the independent
voter does not tell how he is going to cast his
ballot 1t can be said with absolute assurance
however, that the Independents will not sit at home
and twlrl their thumbs on election day. The un-
usually aggressive campaigns that have been made
alike by the Republicans and Democrats are certain
to have the effect of getting the voters to the polls
What they will do after they get there will not be
known until the ballots are counted on November g.