The Washington herald., 1915-10-04
The Massachusetts, Campaisn.

The Massachusetts, Democratic convention or
Saturday gave Mr.. Walsh, tho States popular
governor, who has been nominated for third
term, an ovation lasting forty minutes, while
the Republican convention meeting on the same
day. adopted Progressive platform with a
strong protective tariff plank advocating the ap-
pointment Of an independent" tariff commission
Walshs opponent and the stage is set for furious
campaign in the Bay State. both parties being de-
terinncd to win because OF the influence the VIC
tory will have the Presidential contest next
year.
National issues, it would appear, will be para
mount in the trial OF strength this autumn and
one month from tomorrow the country will be
watching the returns eagerly to learn how goes
the battle between the two great parties, with no
Progressive ticket i'll the field The Republicans
will depend for votes upon the confidence of the
people in the soundncss OF Mr. McCalrs states
rnanshp and upon what they will vigorously
assert has been the failure of the Underwood tariff
act. They will claim that it has injured our do
mestic industries especially in Massachusetts, and
has failed utterly revenue producer. The
Democrats will fight them upon the ground OF the
success of Gov. Walsh's administrations the bril-
liant record Of President Wilson and the pros
perity now prevailing in the State. Unassai1able
facts will compel the Republicans to admit that
in the past few months Massachusetts has been
prosperous but they will strenuously contend that
the prosperity has been produced solely by orders
for war supplies and that it will vanish the mo-
ment the European conflict ends and the blight of
the Democratic tariff again decends upon Our in
dustries 1t is not easy to combat the evidence of
the full dinner pail, but the Republicans will
prefer that program to making President Wilson's
entire record the issue this year
Considering only the very heavy Republican
primary vote this year, the largely reduced plu-
rality given to Gov. Walsh in 1914, when three
fourths OF the Bull Moose vote went back to the
Republicans and the fact that there is no Pro-
eressive candidate in the running now Republican
confidence in easy victory for Mr.. Mccall ap-
pears to be justified. But other things must neces-
sarily figure in any calculation of chances Condi-
lions among the wage-earners have improved
within the year and there is less dissatisfaction
with the administration that account: and
many votes will go to Gov Walsh because Pres
Besides, the Republicans by refusing to put a |
prohibition plank in their PLATFORM will lose
'otes, as many $4,000 it has been estimated.
The indications are, however, that Mr.. Mccall |
will easily capture the solid vote of the regulars |
inc that the platform will win the support of
he great ma jority of the Progressives. Under !
hese circumstances Mr.. McCalTs chances must |
till be regarded rather better than those of
lis opponent. Each party will probably send
ome OF its most convincing speakers into this ,
ampagn which may we'll be regarded as a gent
ne test of policies and therefore Of deep sjgnih-
:ance and nationwide importance.