Evening star., 1916-10-21
GROUP Of STATES
IN HECTIC MOOD"
Ohio, Illinois, Indiana and
Missouri Not Yet Politically
Crystallized.
"MYSTERY" IN WISCONSIN
BY N. o. MESSENGER.

CHICAGO, October 21.-Ohio, Indiana.
Illinois and Missouri are at this time
in a condition where political opinion
has not crystallized. The best that the
prudent political observer should do Is
to describe conditions from day to day
until 1t becomes apparent which way
the pendulum is swinging, before the
stroke of the hour.
In The Star correspondents first dis
patch from Chicago on this trip it was
stated that the pendulum was swing
ing to Wilson. That was true. and it
continued to be that way. For fort
night there has been nothing but sur
face news indicating democratic
Frightening prospects. And yet repub-
lican managers know of apparently
stable conditions favoring their side of
the political controversy which would
Offset these disturbing surface out
groupings, to their minds and in their
Judgment, at least. So the neutral
Writers here who keep in touch with
both arrangements have had to with
hold judgment, realizing the truth of
the democratic indications and being
told of the existence of conditions pro-
republican which would seemingly Off
set their effect.
Drift. Toward Wilson in Ohio.
These dispatches klated ten days ago
the drift toward Wilson in Ohio. 1t was
due in the main to the labor vote In
the northern cities of the state, which
have become industrially populous and
highly prosperous in making war muni-
tions. Moreover, as stated, the news
papers of the region are prodemocratic
in the main. If the election in Ohio
were to be decided by the northern
counties, Wilson would carry the state.
But neutral observers are told by re-
publican managers that there are other
factors to be taken into consideration.
There is the tremendous latent normal
account, $4,000 votes. There is the vote
of the farmers. who have the other side
of the efght-hour wage law question
that is settin gthe labor world on fire
and there is the vote Of the Germans in
Hamilton and Franklin counties (Cin-
cinfati and ~Columbus).
One of the contributing reasons for
republican stacking down in Ohio is
known to be the feud between rival
republican factions aspiring to control.
That has led to lessening efficiency
of management, but that difficulty is
now being ironed out.
In Ohio, therefore, while outward in
dications appear to point to democratic
success and while there is undoubtedly
a tremendous sentiment for President
Wilson, careful person will not at
this time predict the state going demo-
cratic on the national ticket.
Now, there Is a thumbnail sketch Of
the situation in Ohio. 1 might write
two columns and give no more ade-
quate idea Of it.
Prospects in Indiana.
In Indiana the outlook has not
changed since the last report which
was to the effect that republican effec-
tive management has apparently as
sured the state for Hughes, except that
there again come In these reports in
dicating democratic gains. There is
talk of the Germans beginning to
switch to Wilson, as I found In st.
Louis this week and also is found in
Wisconsin
But to offset that condition is reported
a growing unrest among labor men as
the republicans continue an elucidation
of the eight-hour law. They are not all
satisfied with the law-not even all the
railroad men. President Wilson's visit
to Indiana this week gave the demo-
cratic hopes a boost and now the re-
publicans will have to busy themselves