The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-09-27
MIDDLE AND FAR
 WEST ID DECIDE
 NOVEMBER RESULT
Both Parties Now Convinced That League of Nations Will Be Sole Issue as the
 Days Go By
By LOUIS sEIBoLD

now actively engaged in fight ing for enough of the expected twenty seven million votes to win on November second, MT Debs, the socialist candidate being incommunicado.
 The launching of MT. Hardings di- ect appeal to the voters of several sec tions of the country marks the final stage of preparation and the beginning of active fighting that is to continue until election day. From figures ob- tained from the managers of all parties it is estimated that for the next five weeks more than 300, 900 candidates for every office, from President to super visor. and their vocal champions will take a hand in the merry pastime or chasing votes.
 Final preparations actually accom- plished, the republican and democratic leaders have already ventured into the realm of figures and predictions re- garding the probable division of the 24,000,0O0 votes that they expect to split between them. leaving 3,000,000 70 be apportioned among the minor con- tenders.
 REPUBLICAN CLAIMS
 The republicans cite figures to con- vince an investigator that on present form they will carry Maine, New Hamp- shire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Michl- gan. Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Wyoming. Washington, Oregon, Idaho. California and Utah, with a total ol 281 electoral votes.
 The democrats will not concede that the republicans have any chance in Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Ala hama. Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee, Arkansas, New Mexico and Oklahoma, with 147 electoral votes.
 Division of claims. with chances Ia- voring the republicans. justif1es an i'm partial observer in classifying as un' certain West Virginia, Kentucky, Mis- souri. Montana, Ohio, Indiana, Colorado. South Dakota Arizona and Nevada, representing 103 electoral votes. These estimates are based upon the results Of the second survey made 0y the dem- ocratic and republican managers ana makes allowance for naturally extfaV- agant partisan claims.
 If the republican estimates are cor rect. MT. Harding will have margin of fifteen electoral votes over 200. necessary to win the decision, and the democrats cannot win even if they se- cure the votes of all of the states where conditions justify classification as "doubtful." Four years ago MT. Will son secured 277 and Mr. Hughes 254 5f the electoral votes after the nerve racking uncertainties that delayed II nal announcement for four days after the actual contest.
 PURPOSE OF STRATEGY
 Of course it will be obviously the pur' nose of republican strategy to hoio on to the advantage which now seems 70 favor them, and the democratic to Wln all of the so-called "doubtful' states ana to shift from the republican to demo- cratic column enough other states 70 wipe out the apparent margin of ex-st. ing advantage. The republicans do not believe that the democrats will pc anie to do this except through miracAe' which. they say, is not likely to happen during the next few weeks.
 The democrats believe, however tnas they "have a chance" They nave ois- played more courage and talked more op- timisticaliy during the last ten days than at any time since they began 10 torin their lines of battle. They admit thal the job is a hard one, but not impos- sible of accomplishment. Here m Ne" York the atmosphere IS decidedly favor- able to the republican cause ana coh- trawise discouraging to the democrats. That is usually the case. The cnier op- orators of the two major parties' wniiS actually striving for the support of tne great business interests of the country are naturally affected by the atmos- phere of the local environment
 WALL STREETS VIEW
 vvan afreat. which sells ana sAlks stocks on Judgment and bets on poiisi- cal contests largely for sentimental reas sons. aupears to be almost unanimous m the view that the republicans will sue ceed in electing MT. Harding and the majority of the two houses of Congress. Four years ago Wall street oiIereo ouos sof 2 and and even to l that Mr.' Hughes would defeat Mir. Wilson. Wa gers of as high as 5 to on Mir liar dinvss chances have been talked o1 among the bulls and bears of the stock erchanre but there has been very littie bettinr except of the wash oroers which is intended to influence puDnc continent
 UuFfng the last ten presidential cleo lions Wall street has been wrong SIX times and right four. Consequently potn the more experienced republican anu democratic leaders are not inclined 10 ac- cept as really important the Judgment of the financial operators of the Wal street district. have talked with some Of the republican leaders who are quite as eager for republican success as the promoters of business ventures that re- fuse to assert the extravagant claims made by the more enthusiastic of the amateurs These men coincide with the opinion of clear-headed democratic lead- ers that the presidential election and control of Congress will be won in the middle and far west, and not on the At lantic seaboard.
 DEMOCRATIC STRONGHOLD
 The democrats continue to pin their faith on the states that gave MT. Wilson the decision four years ago, despite the fact that every one of the numerically important states supported Mir. Hughes. A notable instance of the belief that the presidency will be finally won in the wet is provided in the case of New York. At the outset of the campaign the democrats believed that they could carry the Empire State. mainly because of tho influence of the west and dry issue in determining the result of 1he Empire State~ Developments of the caEn- paign to date have not justified their hopes. The liquor question has been Al- most entirely eliminated from the nae tional contest. though it may help the democratic state ticket. The consenRus of democratic and republican opinion has practically eliminated for the tine belng at lest New York as ''pivot1r btAtes
 Tn Illinois. Minnesota. Iowa and cAl-
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