New Britain herald., 1916-11-13
ELECTION RESULT
UPSET TRADITION
Pivotal States Can Now Retire to
the Rear
Especial to the Herald0

Stunning that it's results are known,
shows some interesting facts, which
demonstrate that revolution in
American politics has occurred.
For instance, it can not be said that
las goes New York SO goes the
union" For many years the Empire
State has stood like bulwark, a YER
liable Gibraltar, and no candidate for
the presidency could be elected with
out the aid of it's electoral votes. 1t
and failed to become president, but
historians generally agree now that
he was entitled to the office.
Then too, Indiana can hardly claim
to be a pivotal state any more. She
certainly was not this year, that is
provided Wilson is seated after re-
counts that are contemplated The
solid south and the west elected Will
son apparently. The former was ex-
pected, of course, but the west was
not really expected to vote almost
solidly for Wilson. On the contrary,
it is understood that the democratic
national campaign managers neglect
ed the west During the last period
of the campaign they exerted every
possible effort to win New York.
That Tammany knitted the president
is generally agreed, but it did not
prevent his success apparently.
The republican managers also ne
elected the west, it is said, after
Judge Hughes made his tour to the
Pacific coast in August. If his tour
had been followed up properly there
might have been a different tale to
tell since last Tuesday night.
The result is the west is attributed
to variety of causes. These in
cluded peace and prosperity, especial
ly the high prices for farm prod
ucts that generally prevail Farmers
did not care to change the politics
of the national administration At
the same time they voted republican
in a number Of states for governors
and senators.
Progressive West For Wilson.
The progressive vote in the west
apparently did not swing to Hughes
Senator Borah Of Idaho, a progress
sive though regular republican, who
has returned to Washington after an
almost natiOn-W wide campaigning tour
confirms this analysis Of the situation
as progressive circles see it. It is
pointed out that Washington state
reelected Senator Poindexter, a pro-
5ressive, although President Wilson
overcame the normal 100000 repub- |
lean majority in that state. Kansas
vent for Wilson, but reelected a pro-
yressive republican governor, Mr.. |
Capper
California appears to have gone
:or Wilson, yet Governor Hiram John
son, progressive or progressive re-
publican, was elected senator by 900 |
900 majority. 1t is recalled that when |
Judge Hughes was campaigning in
California in August there was a |
between the managers |
Of his tour and Johnson, who was
hen in a contest for the republican !
domination for senator. The two !!
men did not meet. The effect Of that |
disagreement it is said, was to make |
many republicans in that state be sus-
oicious Of the Hughes candidacy. !
1t is recalled that the New York
Herald poll before the election
showed an overwhelming majority of |
California voters to be for Hughes.
The preponderance was SO great that
hat paper regarded it as abnormal !
and decided to discount the Hughes i
majority in the California poll SO per
cent. Yet California appears to have |
given several thousand majority for !
Wilson.
Men connected with the national |
republican congressional committee
here charge that Johnson traded with
the president in California, thus !
swinging the state to Wilson, as John
son was charged with trading with |
the democrats two years ago 1t was |
said then that there was deal
whereby democrats would vote for
Johnson's reelection as governor in
return for Johnson men voting for
Phelan, the democratic candidate for
senator. Whether there was a deal
or not, the fact is that Johnson and
Phelan won, the republican candidate
for SENATOR Joseph r. Knowland,
running far behind Johnson. The net
result is similar this year, whether
there was in fact a deal.
Railroad Law Helps.
Another thing, the west is under
stood to have been Influenced quite
strongly by the settlement or post
pOnement of the railroad strike in
September A few days before Labor
Day the railroads imposed temporary
embargoes upon shipments Of perish
able goods, which would have become
permanent embargoes if the strike
had been declared. The farmers,
ranchers and orchardists Of the west
had their years crop about ready to
ship and they would have lost mil
lions of dollars worth Of fruit, veg
etables and other farm products if the
freight embargoes had not been called
Off When the president forced
through congress in SO or 48 hours
the eight hour law which stopped