Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-11-03
Wilson'S Growing Strength.


Reports gathered by the nonpartisan Literary
Digest from more than three thousand communiz
ties throughout the United States indicate two par
ticulary interesting developments of the Presiden
tial campaign. In the first place, Mr.. Wilson is
much stronger than he was four years ago; one
thousand four hundred and one communities fav-
ored him then. while thousand, seven hundred
and seventyone favor him now. In the next place,
Mr.. Hughes evidently has failed TO unite the Pro-
gressve and Republican factions. for while one
thousand, seven hundred and thirty-two communi-
ties were for Roosevelt and Taft in 1912. only
thousand, four hundred and ninety-fve are for Mr..
Hughes today. From this survey which is unQues-
tionably fair and broadly representative, its is ap
parent that Mr.. Wilson has gained both among
Progressives and Independents, while Mr.. Hughes
has made no Roadway among people who do their
own political thinking.
The refusal of the Progressive rank and file to
follow Mr.. Roosevet's return TO the Old Guard
camp is especially manifest from the Literary
Digest reports In Washington for instance, which
was Roosevelt stronghold in 1872 the President
now is supported by ninety-eight of the communi-
ties investigated while his Republican opponent is
supported by only seventy-two. Still more signif-
is the reversal in California where the figures
have changed from two hundred and eleven COM
munities for Roosevelt eight for Taft and sxtyone
for Wilson four years ago to one hundred and thr-
teen for Hughes and one hundred and eighty-three
for the President
In a number OF instances il appears that there is
defactiOn of Republicans well as Progressives to
the Wilson standard. Thus according to the Lit
erary Digest:
AN Indiana manufacturer writes that he
knows fifty who voted for Taft in 1912 who
will vote for Wilson this year In Illinois
travelling man says he was told by twenty
FIVE Republicans that they would vote for
Wilson From Toledo. Ohio. hear that of
twenty-eighT men employed in an Office or on
the road all except five are Republicans. Yet
Mr.. Wilson will receive twenty-five votes and
Mr. Hughes three, because peace and plenty
seems TO catch them
Such reports would be of scant importance If
they had been gathered by partisan methods for po
IiticaI ends If they came from only certain
lions the country and certain groups of people;
but gathered as they were from all parts of the
country and all manner of men by a highly respon-
sible publication whose sole object to enlighten
its readers regarding the POLITICAL trend these
ports are undeniably significant. They indicate
that among the millions of voters who go TO the
polls in the forthcoming election there will be not
only the traditional Democrats and traditional Re-
publicans but also large body of Wilson Repub
leans and Wilson Progressives." Those new
terms and new factors in American politics. The
Presidents policies sound that they appeal to
the country's common sense. constructive and
forvard-ooking that they appeal to its moral vision
so just and humane that they appeal to its pa
JriOtic soul
. The Wilson vote will be not simply the Demo-
cratic vote; it will be American vote made up of
judgments which heretofore have differed widely
ON political issues but which in this crucial hour
of the nations affairs united the leader who
has preserved peace and prosperity with honor
and right