The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1916-11-01
|atior1al Campaign Grows
kof as Election Draws Near

the combined votes for Taft and
Roosevelt exceeded the democratic
plurality by $1,000.
Beginning with 1880 Ohio has
given its vote to the republicans
seven times, has been split once and
in 1912 went for Wilson. In its state
elections changes have been pro-
nounced and apparently inconsistent.
There is no telling about Ohio this
year. Politicians would not be sur
prised whichever way the election
might go.
Illinois Normally Republican.
Illinois with it's big electoral vote
has gone democratic twice since 1880
for Cleveland in 1892 and for Will
son in 1912. Four years ago Wilson
received a plurality of 1850 over
Roosevelt. Together Roosevelt and
Taft received 235,043 more votes
than Wilson. Normally, say the au-
thorities, Illinois should go republi-
can. 1t is said that the democrats
have little expectation of carrying it
unless they win the support of the
women voters.
Missouri, beginning with 1880, has
been democratic every year except
1904 and 1908. In 1908 it went re-
publican by only 629 votes. Presi-
dent Wilson carried it in 1912 with a
plurality of 1924, only 1,446 few
er votes than were cast for both
Roosevelt and Taft. Although it is
considered by some to be battle
ground this year, the democrats eX-
pect to carry it again with its 18 cleo
toral votes.
Changes Keep Leaders Guessing.
New Jersey was democratic in
1880, 1884, 1888 and 1892, then re-
publican until 1912, when it gave
Wilson a plurality of 32,879. But
the votes of the republican and pro-
gressive nominees combined in 1912
exceeded the democratic votes by
55,956. 1t is placed in the debatable
states, although it is admitted to have
strong republican tendencies.
Wilconsin has usually gone repub-
lican but it went democratic in 1892
and in 1912. This year it is put
down as doubtful. The democrats
have won Colorado four times since
1880, the republicans have won it
four times and the populists have
won it once. Therefore it is now a
toss-up. Idaho has been state only
since 1890. During that period it
has gone democratic three times, re-
publican twice and populist once.
Montana, made a state one year be-
fore Idaho, has gone democratic three
times and republican three times.
Wyoming, a member of the union
since 1890, has thrown her votes to
the republicans four times and the
democrats once. Colorado, Idaho,
Montana and Wyoming all went for
Wilson Il 1912.
Why Wilson Won Republican States.
In spite of the fact that every one
of these twelve pivotal states" was
democratic in the last election there
are several reasons why they may not
line up in the same column next
month. In 1912 there was a split IN
the Republican party. Republicans
and progressives, by fighting each
other, played directly into the hands
of the democrats. In a number OF
these states the votes of republicans
and urogressives combined formed a
plurality and would have beaten VII
son if they had been united. But
thew were divided and the democrats
carried off the plurality and the pres
idency.
This year the progressive voters,
although no longer forming sepa-
rate party, again are causing no enc
of worry to both republicans and
democrats. In 1912 there were
slightly over 100000 of them. On
what side will they vote this year,
Their united support of either candl-
date would carry him into office. But
neither candidate will get their
united support. Both sides are claim
ing more of them than they will get.
According to the most trustworthy
neutral guessers between 70 and 10
per cent of the progressives will vote
for Hughes and the other rs or 30
ner cent for Wilson Yet this is only
q guess. 1t is likely that maj ority
of them, being republicans originally,
will drop back into the republican
ranks, leaving the original democrats
among them to vote for President
Wilson.
Socialists Looming Larger.
Nor are the socialists any longer
IN he ignored. In 1912 they polled
nearly a million votes. This year,
the leaders say, they will poll at least
a million and half. Their strength
is still a mystery and no one knows
how they will use it. Although
neither party wishes to be known as
catering to this class of voters, 1t IS
likely that a very large percentage OF
them will support Hughes and the
ticket. 80
The prohibition party will not cut
much of figure in the general sum-
ming up of votes. In 1912 it only
polled 2O7,559. Judging from the
fact that it has been practically sta
tionarv since its formation little
more can be expected from it in NO
vember. -.
And last but by no means least
the women. In the twelve states
where equal suffrage has been estao-
lished there are approximately four
million women who viii be privileged
to vote. No doubt the. actual num-
Der of votes cast viii be much smaller
- rTerscr