The Delta independent., 1916-09-01
POLITICAL SITUATION AS SEEN
FROM WASHINGTON OBSERVER

nent at its Washington headuua-ters:
If the country votes at the presiden-
tial election this year as it voted at the
Congressional election of 1914, Hughes
will carry California, Colorado, Con-
| necticut, Delaware, Idaho, Illinois,
iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan, Min
nesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New
Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North
Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode
island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont,
Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin
and Wyoming
These states have 2S6 votes in the
electoral college, a majority of which
is only 266.
In each of these states, two years
ago, the Republican Congressional
ticket received clear plurality of
votes. In these states combined the
Republican candidates for Congress
received 4.075,157 votes, while the
Democratic candidates for Congress
received only 3.132,5S6 notes.-the total
Republican plurality being 942,5S9.
In each of these states, in 1914,
there was an organized Progressive
ampaign-except in Nevada, North
Dakota, Utah and Wisconsin, although
in Utah threre was a fusion ticket
running in opposition to the Republi-
cans. The total Progressive vote in
these states was 7'6,341; and the COM
bined lican-Progressive plurality
over the Democrats was 1,6SS,930.
Two years ago there were five
states-Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Ne
braska and Ohio-which are finally
to be classed as normally Republican
! but where Democratic Congressional
ticket received a plurality of votes
ranging from a beggarly 365 in Maine
to an impressive 1925 in Indiana
But the Progressive vote in each of
these five states was far in excess of
( the difference between the Republi-
can and Democratic totals, and ranging
| from 3.I11 in Nebraska to 9O,040 in
Indiana. In Kansas the Progressive
vote in 1914 amounted to 74,441; in
Ohio it was 1881; and in Maine it
was 1885.
| These five states will cast 63 votes
they vote this year?
Hopeful Democratic statisticians
estimate the division of the former
Progressive vote upon different propo-
| 81. ~, ,ret
giving the long end of it to the Repub.
licans and in no instance claiming that
more Tan so percent of the Bull Moose
will support Wilson. Upon this ex-
treme hypothesis. let us examine the
vote of the five states where a Demo
cratic plurality was found in the Con-
gressional elections of 1914.
THE Republican vote of Indiana in
casting 90,040 and the Democrats 275,-
S92. Dividing the Bull Moose strength
on the basis of seventy and thirty per
cent, respectively to the Republicans
this year should be: Republican, $780,
162; Democratic. S02,904 The margin
is too small for comfort on either side;
and Indiana must remain as fighting
The Progressives-aide it is said,
by Democratic funds-are maintain
ing an organization in that state; but
competent observes believe that from
of hull
will vote for Hughes and that the num-
Der who will support Wilson are neg
ligible. Upon this basis, Indiana
should so for Hughes and Fairbanks
by nearly 10000.
"The seventy-three division applied
to Kansas would give the Republicans
by the following figures: Republican,
240.215; Democratic. 21S,162.
In Maine the result would be: Re
publican, ,sSS; Democratic, 66,071.
In Nebraska the figures should
show: Republican, 1885; Democratic
1880. This is another hair-line of
oemarcation-but there is no Bull
Moose ticket in Nebraska this year;
and while the contest will be a hard
one, the indications are that Hughes
; will carry the state.
"The same division of the Progress
sive vote in Ohio would produce fig
ures for 1916 in this wise: Republican,
GIL .03S: Democratic 49S,653.
"It is. therefore. a fair assumption
that. in addition to retaining the states