The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1916-10-26
TIDE IN WILSON'S FAVOR
REMARKABLE CHANGE IN PO-
LITICAL SENTIMENT.
Republican Candidates Appeal is Dis
appointing.-Wilson and Pros
perity is the Slogan.

Washington, Oct 21.-Within the
past month there has been a remark
able change in the political land
scape. A month ago nearly every
we'll informed political authority, at
least when speaking in confidence,
admitted that the trend seemed over
whelmingly in favor of the Repub-
lican presidential ticket. Now there
is equal unanimity of opinion that
the trend has been reversed and
that the outcome of the campaign is
toss-up, with Wilson gaining every
day and the Hughes appeal growing
disappointment to his admirers.
A month ago the greatest Repub-
lican danger was overconfidence. 1t
is certainly not that now. If there
is an excess of confidence anywhere it
is in the Democratic camp. One of
those interesting Gloomy Gus philoso-
pliers, who form an important part
of every complete political entour-
age, expressed today, in his capacity
as a Republican, the belief that the
existing G. o. P. slump was the best
thing that could have happened for
the Elephant, because it would
arouse him to the necessity of max
ing tremendous exertions between
now and election day.
There is wisdom in this remark.
The Democratic organization will
need all the backing it can get dur
Ing the few remaining weeks to hold
it's own against the efforts the fright
ened, but experienced and well
"sinewed". Republican sentiment
stimulators are going to make to re-
cover the lost ground.
Prosperity the Thing.
1t is unusual for the Democratic
party to be so fortunate as to be in
charge of the government and seek
ing retention in office at time of
great prosperity in the country.
AS the Republican party has been
in power most of the time since it's
creation, luck has not had an even
chance to break even for the Democ-
racy. Besides, a party which comes
in with a programme of accomplish
ment, on a platform of protest
against the status quo, launches into
constructive and reformative legisla-
ton. Invariably there is tempor-
ary reaction, and in most cases, under
our four-year system, the party re-
sponsible for efforts to improve on
the existing situation is tried to dem
onstrate their full value.
This time, whether it be due in
greater or less degree to the Euro
pean war, the country is enjoying
wonderful prosperity in the midst Of
a presidential campaign when the
Democratic party is in office and af-
ter the accomplishment of a Demo-
cratic programme of legislation the
most comprehensive and important
ever undertaken in such a brief
period by any administration since
the foundation days of the republic.
This is something novel and perplex-
ing to the opposition. \
Every Republican deep down in his
heart knows that arguing against
prosperity is a poor job. 1t is hard
to get mans vote by running down
the prosperity he is enjoying. The
Democrats do not for moment ad-
nit that our national plentitude and
well-being will some to a sudden
standstill after the war-there is an
abundance of good argument on the
other side of that proposition, and
they know it-but they are not dis
turbed about their prosperity assets
being able to take care of itself. 1t
doesn't need any defense.
Taking Stock of Situation.
Assuming for the sake of argu-
ment that the strong anti-war sentl-
ment in the Middle West is balanced
by an opposite sentiment in New
York and New England, the president
can get an even break on the issues
which the European conflict has COM
PEELED him to meet. 1t is certainly
safe to assume. that he will gain as
many labor votes as he will lose on
account of the Adamson law. The
actual assumption as to that in the
Democratic camp is that he will gain
many more. Broadly, then, prosperi-
ty is left to have it's full effect upon
the electorate without any offset ex-
cept the alleged normal Republi-
cas- majorities in the doubtful States.
If such a majority normally exists,
which not everybody admits, the
nroh1em now presented is whether