New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-11-10
The Earnest Efforts of the Demo
cratic Sunshine Society IN
Washington.
rrEspAN. NOVEMBER 10. iei..

who are trying 10 lTIul up 'HV N>'"tS''
which the country has served them for Thanks
giving so that il will have some resemblance 10 a
luscious turkey. The President is reported to be
almost hilarious over the Wilson triumph" of
November last, and the Democratic National
Committee has now responded to the needs OF the
occasion by issuing tabulation purporting to
show that on the basis of last weeks returns the
Democratic party still has plurality Of some
thing like eighty-seven in the Electoral College.
The national committees calculation is whim-
steal in the extreme 1t ignores the vote for Rep
resentatives in Congress and claims for the Dem
ocratic party every state which elected either
Democratic Senator or a Democratic Governor.
II tries to establish as the normal Democratic
strength the strength of Democratic candidates of
exceptional local popularity who managed to pull
through when most of the other Democratic can
didates were defeated. The absurdity Of that
method is easily illustrated by considering the re-
suits in the states which the committee holds to
be safely Democratic.
In California a Democratic Senator was elected
because the opposition vote was pretty evenly di-
vided between the Progressive and Republican
candidates But no Democrat was elected to a
state Office and only two Democrats were chosen
out of House delegation Of eleven. The normal
Democratic vote in California is only about 80 per
cent Of the total vote.
Colorado is claimed as a Democratic state. 1t
reelected Democratic Senator, but chose Re-
publican Governor and Republican candidates for
= majority of the state Offices New Mexico, also
claimed elected no Senator and no state officers,
but the Republican candidate for the House Of
Representatives was successful. In this case the
Democratic claim has no basis whatever.
Massachusetts. Michigan and Minnesota elected
Democratic governors. But Democratic candi-
dates for the other state Offices were beaten in all
these states Massachusetts has acquired the
habit of cutting the Republican nominee for Gov
ernor. For many years he has run behind the
rest of the ticket Michigan elected Governor
Ferris two years ago, although Mr.. Wilson was
beaten by Mr.. Taft, as well as by Colonel Roose-
Welt Minnesota has had many Democratic gov
errors, although the state is overwhelmingly Re-
publican. Mr.. Hammond, chosen this year won
on his personal popularity. He had carried the
second Congress district several times, but when
he became candidate for Governor his district
went Republican. Democratic strength on ma
tional issues in these three states is accurately
measured by the fact that Massachusetts elected
four Democratic Representatives out of sixteen,
Michigan one out of thirteen and Minnesota one
out of ten
Oregon is claimed as a Democratic state be
cause it reelected Senator Chamberlain. The lat
ter could be elected to any office in Oregon run
ming on any ticket He is born offceholder.
But the Republicans elected their entire state
ticket and all three Representatives in Congress.
In South Dakota Democrat was elected to the
United States Senate owing TO fractional opposi-
ton to the Republican nominee. But the Repub-
hcan state ticket was successful, and two of the
three REPRESENTATIVES chosen were Republicans.
The situation in Wisconsin somewhat SINH
lar to that in South Dakota. Governor McGovern
was defeated for Senator because he was cut by
"stand-pat" Republicans and was also unaccept-
ableto the extreme La Toilette following. a Repub-
lican Governor was elected and the Democrats got
only one Representative out Of eleven. Wyoming
reelected Republican Representative, but fu-
sion Of Democrats and Progressives carried a
Democratic Governor into office.
In all these states, except California and Colo,
RADIO, Republican control has been pretty thor
oughy re-established. California, whatever it is,
is anti Democratic. Excluding Colorado, the cleo
tora votes which the Mark Tapleys in Washing
ton have appropriated mount up to Lightweight,
and without those lightweight the Democratic
strength in the Electoral College would fall to 219
which is forty-seven short of majority. The in
Dictated strength of the Democratic party on the
face of last Tuesdays vote is even less than that.
Maine. Nevada, Colorado and Nebraska, which
arc included in the Democratic National Commit
tees list of Democratic states, are all now doubt
fuI Striking off their votes-twenty-th IN
alI-the Democratic total would fall to l96-sev-
onty short of majority.