South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-11-09
DEMOCRATS MADE
GAINS SAYS KERN
Nothing in the Recent Election
Results to Discourage
Party.
special to - News-Times.

I
INDIANAPOLIS. Nov. Sen. John
w. Kern spent some time in the Ken
lucky campaign last month and he has
also studied with some care and COM
parisoa Of results the vote in other
states where governors were elected
These are his conclusions which he
save today for the newspapers OF the
state
There is nothing in the election re-
turns calculated TO discourage any
democrat who viii take the trouble 10
compare the vote Of this year in the
several states with that Of previous
elections.
Massachusetts,, for instance. has
normally a tremendous republican
majority Ii is a rock-ribbed repub-
licah state. Because Of republican d.
visions and dlssensions the democrats
had been able 10 elect a governor.
This year. with the most popular
republican i'm the state as its candi-
date. the republican party was able
to elect the governor by a beggarly
plurality Of 5000 votes. Mr.. Walsh.
the democratic candidate received
nearly 0.000 more votes than were
cast for Woodrow Wilson in that state
in 1912. or than had ever been re-
ceived by any other democratic can
didate for any Office. which proves
that nearly so. 600 prOgressiVes have
decided to cast their lot with tho
democratic party. 1t also proves that
Massachusetts, is good fighting ground
for the democracy next year.
Maryland is Doubtful.
"On the other hand Maryland is.
and has been for many years a doubt
full state. In 1896, and 1900, it was
carried for the republican national
ticket. In 1908 its electoral vote was
divided. In 1911 the republicans
elected the governor who is still in
Office In the election this year. not
withstanding many local dissensiOns,
the democrats elected the governor
and entire state ticket by a substan-
tial majority. There is no doubt but
that Marylands electoral vote Will be
cast for Mr.. Wilson next year.
I'm Kentucky there was a terrific
pre-convention fighting the democratic
ranks between the friends of prohibit
! ton and those of county local option,
the traces of which were visible
! Throughout the campaign. The repub-
leans made their chief fight on state
issues. and the democratic campaign
| ers spent much time defending the
state administration. There was prac-
! tcally no organization. And yet un-
der these adverse conditions the
|
| elected large majority of the legisla-
ture. I spent several days in the Ken
lucky campaign and have no sort OF
doubt that with the organization such
as is maintained by either party in
Indiana. Mt Stanley's majority would
have reached $4,000.
Republicans Sure.
Kentucky has had three republican
governors within the past decade, and
the republicans there were cOck-sure
of victory this year. because Of local
conditions. but / do not believe there
is an intelligent republican in Ken
lucky who will not freely concede that
that state is safe for Wilson in 1915.
These were the only states electing
governors in which there was any con-
test. We have more than held our
own and democrats everywhere should
be satisfied.
when the republicans jollify over
6. 600 plurality in MaSsa chusetts. with
nothing else 10 their credit, they but
emphasize the hopelessness of their