New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-27
OHIO IN DOUBT:
6. SEEKS AID
Whirlwind Finish Asked
to Swing State Into
Hughes Line /
By s. III. EVANS.

prosperity rather than peace which
gives the Republicans Of Ohio cause I,
worry. Boiled down, that is about all
there is TO the Ohio situation, e lazy
content with things as they are. n
the state can be walked up in the next
ten days there is a good fighting
chance to swing it into the Hughes
column. If conditions remain as they
are it is extremely probable that ohio's
twenty-fouS electoral votes will be cast
for Wilson.
It will be indeed remarkable IL viii.
son carries Ohio, for on the basis Of
past performances he starts more than
100000 votes behind. Fewer citizens
of this state voted for him in 1912
than voted for William Jennings
BRYAN in 1908. And the Democrats,
when they talk to you in sober earnest
and not vaingloriously, do not venture
to claim more than the scantiest kind
of a majority for Wilson, although
some of them are beginning to hint
darby at a landslide (which might
even carry Pomerene across" Hardly
a Democrat, in the cities along Lake
Erie at least, who does not admit that
Myron L. Herrick will be elected
United States Senator.
Republicans Fighting Hard
The Republicans all through the
northern part of Ohio are very decid-
edly in the dumps. They appear to be
so deep in the slough Of despond that,
in the view of an outside observer at
least, it will take dynamite to get them
out. Raymond Robins here in Cleve-
land the other afternoon exploded some
of the kind of dynamite so badly
needed. Old Progressives and "old
guard" Republicans, not to speak OF
quite a few Democrats, said that was
| the kind of campaigning which would
vet win Ohio. But they don't want
any more of Fairbanks. II Roosevelt
can devote little time to the state
/ that would do n lot of good. The peo-
pie here seem to be in peculiar mood.
/ Il is a radical, progressive and keenly
| discriminating state.
| Active Republicans, speaking only OF
Northern Ohio, are very much dsap-
pointed in the campaign management
! They say Mr.. Hatfield, the state chair
/ man, is an amateur and that he has
not been backed up properly by the
national committee. The various coun-
: tv organizations were chilled in some
nIaces at the start of the campaign
I bv the organization of branches OF the
/ Hughes Alliance. That is especially
true here in Cleveland. The Cuyshogs
! County organization acts as If 1t were
/ embarrassed.
There are t<ree separate battles go
/ ing on in the state, and the victory IN
I one does not appear 20 depend on now
. the tide sets in the other two. There
| is the battle to carry the state for
/ Hughes, the result of which is so much
/ in doubt that il is probably accurate
| 10 saw that at this moment It inclines
/ toward Wilson. There is the campaign
/ to elect Governor Frank B. Willis over
| former Governor Cox, which is hang.
/ ing in the balance, but rather inclined
/ toward Willis. Finally there IS the
/ Herrick- Pomerene battle for the United
/ States Senatorship.
Situation in Ohio
! II there is anything TO professional
opinion party workers on each side)'
/ 10 the observation Of newspaper men
who know the state and its recent 20
litical history, to straw votes OF various
/ sorts and to the apparent trend, the
/ situation in Northern Ohio may be e1-
messed in percentages as follows: her
rick. so per cent; Willis, % per cent;
Hughes, AZ per cent.
The material prosperity OF the state
is tremendous. The banks are bulging
with money. The cheapest form OF oh'
skilled labor costs $2.35 for an eign'-
hour day, and is scarce az that. Ne
chanics are pocketing in some instances
as high as $50 and $50 q week. Man
ayers of factories are making improve
nents out Of earnings only and are lay
} ing IN big SURPRISES against the COM
ing OF a rainy day. Never before 10
the history of the state were tne meI
/ camille, manufacturing and hnane!n
institutions in such q healthy state;
/ The state of mind of the people OF az
! classes Is con:ented. They are NV
talking politics.
TIE Adamson law issue. as the Dem
ocrats are beginning 20 find out 70 tnsL
sunrise, is a two-edged sword, ana -
B beginning to "cut the other way" Ihs
/ is true not only Of the business com
/ munity. Democratic members OF whlen
were revolted by the action OF theI
party, but true also OF the railroad n'tT
and the union labor men genersliy. -
J Congress can legislate wages up, tney
saw. Congress also can legislate Wage.
down. The injection OF politics INTO
; strictly economic question IS SOM.
thing thew have been warned against oy
| their teachers and leaders Tor yesis,
II is decidedly true to say that the AZ
arson law is much more a soufT - y,
weakness than of strength to the De"'
ocrats.
Work Of Democrats
The Democratic campaign has mao W.
advantage Of a much heavier newspsPs.
support than the Republican camps.sn
has had. Not that the Repuollcsn
/ newspapers are not loyal and eneey ;r
hut the newspapers supporting WiIsoss
are of wider influence, because
greater circulation. This means hss 80
in a state like'this, which even ~ 'E :,
: last four years has increased largsE IN
: population, the increase being mSos ~
/ largely of mechanics. ps
The most hopeful thing, from tn e ~
/ publican point Of view, about Ohlo
) that literally thousands Of her vo' .il
/ are "on the fence" The state can ST. "a.
/ be won for Hughes. Even II u oe So
mitted that the apparent driit
toward Wilson now. at best It is oh'y
drift. and the shifting mass can
swung back. In 1896 ten days oelo,s
election il looked very much IKE Disss
/ Ohio woke up then, came out o.
trance. voted right and laughed aoS' 49,. !"
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