Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-11-03
WATCHING TREND OF
NATIONAL POLITICS
Republicans and Democrats
Study Election Results With
View to the Future.

The possible bearing of yesterdays
elections upon the fortunes of aspirants
for the republican presidential nomna-
ton will engage the attention of poll
ticians, it is expected. The moral eff
tics also will be considered when the
full returns are in and the figures and
their application analysed.
Democrats. although disappointed,
are not dismayed over the outcome in
Massachusetts,. They point out that
Massa chusetts was already republican
in the legislature and all offices below
the governorship and that the Bay
state has shown a return to form by
the reuniting of the bull moose and
regular republicans.
Whereupon republicans rejoin pithily
that inasmuch as the last democratic
national victory was due entirely to
the bull moose disaffection, a reunion
of the factions such as that shown In
Massachusetts looks promising to them
for 1916.
The result in the three New York
congressional districts is not highly
significant. The two upstate districts
were overwhelmingly republican any
how, and the New York city district
was normally republican with all re-
publicans united.
Effect of the Elections.
But the effect of the elections upon
presidential ambitions Is thought to be
highly significant, being construed as
favorable to the fortunes of one posi-
BILE candidate, Senator Weeks, and
prejudicial to anothers. former Senator
Root. 1t has been realized all along
that the verdict of the voters of New
York on the pending constitutional
amendments, of which Mr.. Root was
either warrant his friends in urging
him to be candidate or further add
to Mr.. Roots Discrimination to permit
his name to be used.
Whether the New York "old guard
republicans back of Mr.. Root accepted
the verdict this way or not, it Is
thought to be certain that western re-
publicans will view the rejection Of the
constitution as sure to lessen Mr Root
availability as presidential candidate.
1t is known to all politicians that
while republican leaders all through
the country regard Mr.. Root as pos
sessing ideal qualifications for Presi-
dent. the rank and file of voters look
yer and more in sympathy with ultra
conservative aims and interests than
radical progressive ideas. Many repuo-
licans have felt that If the constitu-
defeat would be in a measure laid to
Mr.. Roots attributed sponsorship of it.
Senator Weeks in Limelight.
Senator Weeks, however. the poll
ticians point out, comes into the lime
light of victory at once through
joint victory of progressives and old
line republicans. on platform the
most progressive ever presented by
the republican party in Massachusetts.
Its progressive features have been de-
scribed heretofore, and the fact that
they were regarded as satisfactory by
the progressives is shown in the vote
Senator Weeks connection with the
preparation of the platform and his
support of it's provisions were well
known to Massachusetts republicans,
and his attitude is held to be dec
laration to the progressives of other
states who may ask where he stands.
The Massachusetts platform is said to
be progressive enough to suit the pro-
gressives Of any middle western state.
Mr.. Burton of Ohio will profit by Mr..
Roots discontinue. too. Yesterday
was a good day for Mr.. Burton in
was cleared by the announcement of
Gov. Willis remuneration of presiden-
tial aspirations and the national field,
in part, by Mr.. Roots bad luck.
1t is a known fact that Mr.. Root was
the man feared most by both Burton
and Weeks. With the New Workers.
prospects thought to be clouded by the
the vote on the constitution the poll
ticians expect to see a lively contest
between Weeks and Burton. The Ohio
man will come out in the open within
a fortnight, 1t Is said. and Senator
Weeks thereby forced to drop his pas
sive attitude and fight for his own
hand.