The sun., 1916-09-26
BATTLE-GROUND to
SHIFT TO THE WEST
Sure Of the East, Republicans
Will Move Next Month
Across the Mississippi.
HITCHCOCK IS CONFIDENT
Nebraska, Colorado, Montana
and Nevada Still Considered
Doubtful States.

Barring q slip Of some kind or an ex.
t%raordinary happening In world politics.
there Ia no question now In the minds
Of Republican leaders of long experience
Of The election of Mr.. Hughes. The cam
paign for three weeks has been on the
upswing and IL stili gathering momen-
tum everywhere. particularly in tho
Central States.
Four things have helped to bring this
about:
The Maine election. the moral effect pr
which has been noticeable in virtually
ever contested State.
A much more complete amalgamation
Of Republicans and Progresstves than
wal at hrst indicated, ever In Washing
ton and California.
The increasing power OF Mr.. Hughes's
speeches.
The Wilson railroad legislation, which
In said to have cost him the votes OF
the farmers.
wlnWing Of the West.
Reports Of these conditions were
brought to Chairman Wilcox from the
Chicago watch tower OF the campaign
yesterday by Frank ". Hitchcock.
II fec, most encouraged" said Mr..
Hitchcock. 'The Hughes campaign 4.
going well and now has the right swing.
The trip through Indiana has been a
revelation. Mr.. Hughes II going 10 be
elected"
With the reports Of Mr.. Hitchcock and
other Western leaders to guide him.
Chairman Wilcox Ia expected to order
q big October drive In Nebraska, Me-
vada, Montana. Arizona and New Mex
leo. Each Of them elects a Senator.
From the standpoint Of electoral votes
the two most doubtful states In the
West are now Montana and Nevada. In
Nebraska the situation has improved
very much recently for the Republicans
Colorado IL still the scene at "A bitter
nght. tn other Western States. Nj.
Hitchcock believes, are all right for
Hughes. In California. for instance. the
regular crowd has assured The Chicago
leaders. that they will support Johnson
and the Progressive ticket which won
In the primaries. Virtually tho same
thing IA true Of Washington.
Fighting chance IN Kentucky.
The campaign in Indiana Is TO be
| pressed right up to the finish. though
| the Repubiicana are confident Of carry
Ing IL. New York. New Jersey and Con-
nccticut are the three other States IN
this part Of the country. according I"
NJ Hitchcock. in which the campaign
10 more or less vital to the success "i
the ticket and In which the heavics;
work must be done. Kentucky IL looked
upon as afording a fighting chance fo'
the Republicans and SO is Missouri. The
| Northwestern States. Mr.. Hitchcock
report showed. vera reasonably safe.
peculiar situation exists In Ten
nessee, which Is quite likely to elect a
Republican Senator. Gen T. Hooper'
formerly Governor. who a a tire
msndous personal following. Ia making
the race for senator there on the Repuo-
lean ticket and Is winning many indie
pendent votes.
Mr.. Hitchcock IL to spend a few lays
comforting here with Mr.. wilcox and
then will return TO his post In chicago
In two weeks he II to start on n per
sonal trip OF investigation through the
West.
The Presidents sncech or Saturday on
the railroad legislation was made the
subject Of an attack from Chairman
Wilcox yesterday. who issued the FOL
lowing:
"Mr. wilson's effort Of Saturday to
defend his Adamson Law II as weak as
any argument he ever made. He SAID
the eight hour day principle IL not arbi'
trabie' because It IL the demand OF 40
ciety. II that be true. why did he not
enact an eight hour law, which the
Adamson act distinctiy Is not?
The President illustrates his arsu'
ment by referring to the SO. cent gas
law, but does not call attention to tbs
fact that before the law was passed by
tho LEGISLATURE a fn'i investigation o.
the sas companies Of New ork bad
hsen carried on by the Legislature. u
fact II was in this investigation that
Charles f. Hughes acted AZ counsel
As a result Of this careful investiga'
ton. the law WAS passed nxing the price
Of aas at 80 cents a thousand cubic
feet, SO that in fixing the price OF "A CON
modify the gas ease shows that careful
Investigation preceded the passage o'
the law and It was not on the eve ~ 4
Presidential election or forced through
-, , ,apdiJoto for high office"