The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1916-09-29
Democrats and Republicans
Looking For the Unexpected.
EVERYBODY SURE OF VICTORY
President Wilson 10 In Good Position
For Springing a Campaign Shock
Which Democrats Say Will insure
victory-Wisconsin and Washington
on List Of Doubtful States.

Washington. Sept. 20. - Especial. -
Waiting for the unexpected aptly de-
scribes the attitude of many Repub-
licans and Democrats In regard to the
presidential election. Men OF both par
ties after spending n few weeks at ma
tional headquarters or at home have re-
turned for a brief visit to Washington,
and 1t Is found that both sides express
confidence, but both are somewhat un-
easy.
Barring earthquakes or accidents,
Hughes will be elected" is what the
Republicans say.
Unless something unexpected hap
pens Wilson must win," say he Dem
ocrats.
Watching Wilson.
Wilson will turn q trick that will
land him right at the finish remarked
one of the shrewd political observers.
THAT Is what is making the 1sepub-
leans uneasy. Wilson can do 1t, and
he has the whole machinery of the
United States government to do 1t
with. Just watch him. He is the best
politician this country has known since
Roosevelt. Being a good politician
means that a man is In n position
where he can play the game, and no
position affords such an opportunity
for playing the political game as the
presidency"
Worrying Washington.
Washington more than any other
city is worried over the high cost OF
living. The national capital Is a city
of clerks more than any other place.
These people have been working at the
same salaries for many years. There
has peer no increase In the rate or
pay, and the prices nave been steadily
advancing. How TO make both ends
meet has become a serious problem.
For the past six years the high cost
of living has been the football or poll
tics. and during that time the prices
have steadily advanced. To those who
pay and who have not had their wage
increased the problem has become a
condition and not a theory.
Wisconsin and Washington.
While the Republicans say they are
confident of winning the Progressives
In the east, there seem TO be some
very doubtful conditions In two states
where Progressives have triumphed In
the senatorial primaries. La Toilette
In Wisconsin and Poindexter In Wash
ington won over the regular Republic
an candidates, but that does not seem
to assure the states for the Republican
national ticket. The regulars are dis
satisfied and may vote Democratic on
that account.
There are other conditions In both
states which are reported as giving the
Republicans considerable concern. As
showing the diversion OF thought and
interest of the people Ii Is said that
Hughes may lose Wisconsin on ac-
count OF the antagonism aroused by
his declaration for woman suffrage.
while the women of Washington are
going to vote against him because VIII
son has kept us out of war.
Primary Impossibilities.
During the closing days of congress
when the campaign publicity bin was
under discussion there was something
said about election laws and primary
systems In different states which was
interesting. Senator Sherman of Illi-
nois said that in his city OF Spring
field there were 302 names on the bal
lot, and he. though pretty well ac-
quainted. knew only twenty-seven of
the men. In Chicago there were 5000
names ON the ballot. making 1t abso-
lutely impossible for any n to vote
intelligently. Primary laws will have
to be materially amended before they
are efficient.
Elastic Election Figures.
There is nothing that campaign man
ayers and election statisticians cannot
do with figures when these figures
have been used in computing the votes
In elections and primaries. Before the
campaign had advanced very far it was
shown by the figures In the campaign
Of 1912 by men in both parties thai
both Hughes and Wilson would bt
elected. Then the figures Of 1914 were
called forth, and both sides proved .
victory. Then came the Maine cleo
ton. and the figures elected Wilson
and Hughes. Now we nave the New
York primaries, and Hughes and VIII
son are both elected again on tina
showing. All this has been done witt
figures.
Smoot Scents Victory.
Senator Smoot of Utah, the leade
in the Republican national convention
and often called the Republican leade
In the senate, spent a week In New
York after congress adjourned an
found that everything was safe for tn
Republicans save that there might b
a question about the senate, althougl
they hoped to win a majority In tina
body. The Utah senator not only sal
all this for publication, but privatel