Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-10-30
WILSON Sentiment
is SWEEPING WEST
Republican Leaders Alive to Per-
ilous Situation in Which They
Fl d Their Ticket.
PREPARING, FOR FINAL DRIVE
Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin and Ne
braska Probably Will Give
Democratic Majorities.
PREPARING, FOR FINAL DRIVE
IFrom a STAFF Correspondent. ]

cSeT-lncTeuSlnG
wave OF Democratic sentiment in the
Middle West--a wave that seems GER
tain to deliver Ohio. Illinois. wiscon-
Sin, Nebraska, and perhaps Michigan,
to President Wilson.
For weeks Republicans. East and
West. have either been blind or un-
conscious of the rising tide Of Democ-
racy. They have refused to believe 1t
possible. They have failed to see any
definite sign OF Hughes's weakness.
But that day is past. Republican lead
ers are now decidedly alive to the
perilous situation in which they find
their ticket. And they are preparing
for one final. desperate drive to save
their candidate.
For a week I have travelled through
doubtful States. West Virginia. Ohio.
Indiana. Illinois. we'll as Wisconsin.
have been canvassed. On the trains.
in the barber shops on the streets, In
cafes. in hotel corridors and every
where that men gather they have been
interviewed. They nave been askd
direct and indirect questions And
their answers In many cases have
amazed me.
LIFELONG REPUBLICANS
Lifelong Republicans have been
found among laboring men. trainmen.
Btorekeepers. bankers and mere pas
sers-by who declared frankly that they
proposed to vote for Wilson. When
asked why they had Topped. some OF
them gave peace as the reason; some.
prosperity: some. the eight hour law;
some. progressive Democratic legisla-
ton. and few. the unenlightening
personality OF Hughes.
Some Democrats were found, IT must
be stated. who are opposing the Presi-
dent. They gave various reasons for
their attitude. most OF them dealing
with the Wilson foreign policies. But
the number OF Republicans who an
nounced their intention of voting for
Wilson has been out of al! proportion
to the number Of Democrats who ad-
init that they will desert him. or the
late Progresslves il seems that they
Will split, with the greater number OF
them going to Hughes
The situation in West Virginia is
full OF interest and full of light The
detection OF Dawson. Republican nom
fnee for elector-at- large, and his de-
mand that his name be taken of the
ticket was body-blow TO the Hughes
cause. Many leading Bull Moose i'm
the State have come out publicly for
Wilson, and the party lines in the
State are hopelessly obscure The State
seems to be leaning to Wilson, but
Senator Chiffon is in a precarious po-
sition.
IMPOSSIBLE TO MISTAKE
SENTIMENT IN OHIO
Practically every impartial analysis
of the political situation in Ohio gives
that State to Wilson. This Is as true
OF correspondents writing for Republi-
can papers as Of those who are writing
for Wilson papers. 1t is impossible
to mistake the trend OF sentiment
among the people OF Ohio. They are
making more money than they ever
made in their lives. They are not
bothered about either Mexico or Eu-
rope SO long as this country remains
ut peace with both. They are applaud
Ing the eight-hour legislation, and in
every poll that has been taken are
voting for Wilson by decisive majori-
ties.
somewhat different state Of affairs
prevails In Indiana. however In that
State the people are less friendly to
the Wilson administration. and are bit
terly hostile to the Taggart machine,
which is making the Wilson fight In
the State. The Indiana Germans are
against tho President. and many of the
unorganized labor people are not ap-
pealed to by the eight-hour legisla-
tion. It need be no surprise If Indiana
goes Republican. The best judgment
In the State indicates that It will.
though the Hughes majority will be
small.
In Illinois the old lines OF political
demarcation are completely submerged
by the fact that 100000 women will
vote for the first time this year for a
President. How this enormous female
vote will divide is one of the intensely
interesting studies Of the whole CAM
paign. AT this time 1t seems that the
President has a decided edge upon this
woman vote in the State. They are
for peace-if not at any price. at almost
any. This is the controlling factor in
the campaign, to gain and hold the
women for Wilson.
MICHIGAN PROBABLY
WILL STAY REPUBLICAN
Though the claim is made that Michi-
gan will go Democratic, The Times
Dispatch correspondent does not find
enough evidence there to support that
claim. The old-time Republican vote
will be much reduced but 1t seems be-
yond possibility that the normal Re-
publican majority Of 10000 In MIchi-
gan will be overturned In this cam
paign.
But this is not true of wisconsin.
In that State La Toilette, who support
ed practically all the Wilson policies
Is campaigning for vindication Of his
course, and promises to carry thous-
ands Of his supporters to tho Wilson
standard. There is abundant reason to
believe that Wilson will carry wiscon-
sin.
II the East Is inclining toward the
President In the same degree as the
West, the prediction might be conf
IDENTIFY made that q Democratic triumph