Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-10-16
REPUBLICAN CHIEFS
CONCEDE VOTE TIDE
HAS TURNED TO COX
Quit Talking "Walkovers"
and Are Content With
"Safe Majorities."
MORAL CONSCIENCE AWAKE
TO APPEAL OF LEAGUE PACT
Democratic Outlook Has I'm
proved in Every Section
of Country.
TO CARRY DOUBTFUL STATES
G. o. p. Leaders Admit They Cam
not Win in Either Ken
lucky or Indiana.
70 CARRY DOUBTFUL STATES
G. o. p. Leaders Admit They Cam
not Win in Either Ken
lucky or Indiana.
ny LOUIS sE1noLp.

COLUMBUS, OHIO. Oct. l5.-The
Republican leaders Of the doubtful
States in the Middle West, in which
the final activities of the presidential
campaign will be staged. have stopped
predicting "walkovers." '1andslides''
and 'cinches."
Tho Democratic leaders In these
States-Ohio. Kentucky. Indiana,
West Virginia and Missouri-assert
that "thc tide has turned" in their
favor. Their Republican rivals ad-
NIT it. but declare that not enough
votes can be won by the Cox-Roose-
welt ticket to Justify any con" dence
on the part of the Democrats or
doubt by Republicans as to the In
evitable result.
The two sole sources for Repubu-
can perpleXity concern the actual
value of the league of nations as
| campaign issue and the distribution
| OF the white women voters which
may be Influenced by It eighteen days
hence.
League Makes Strong Appeal.
That there has been an improve
ment in the Democratic outlook is
! manifest in not only the so-called
doubtful States, but in all sections
OF the country, and that the more
favorable prospects has been entire-
ly due to the Democratic strategy in
putting all its eggs In the league bas-
ket there Is not the slightest room
for controversy.
But to offset this awakening of
the moral conscience Of America" as
1t Ia described by President Wilson
and Presidential Candidate Cox, sur
face conditions. revealed by obvious
conditions easy to interpret and re-
cent developments, point unmistak-
ably to Republican success after a
much closer fight than the Republi-
| can managers were willing to con-
cede n month ago.
Previous claims. encouraged by
effective Republican propaganda,
nlethoric supply of money, permit
ting campaign ventures on hitherto
unprecedented sale. superior methods
of organizing friendly groups in cam
pact units, are shown to be absurdly
cxtravagant as the actual day OF the
race draws near.
Republicans Revive Claims.
Republican estimates of record
breaking pluralities for Republican
candidates from President to minor
offices have been withdrawn and pre-
dictions OF safe majorities" put out.
The chief reason for this recent con-
servatism Is that n complete survey
of actual conditions has revealed the
fact that. while there has been an
obvious Increase In the Republican
vote due to the expansion Of the
franchise to women, there has aiso
been substantial addition to tho
Democratic vote for the same reason:
and except in the cities. no losses.
Three weeks ago the Republicans
were inclined to claim almost every
Northern and Western State, with one
or two unimportant exceptions. as
we'll as the so-called BORDER" States
They even asserted that they had n
chance of winning nt least one
(Tennessee) and possible two (North
Carolina) Of the Commemorative in
the Solid South.
Revised Republican figures do not
assert anything like those extrava-
giant claims. Further than this, In
formation given by men who have
canvasscd the situation pretty
thoroughly concede Missouri. Ken
lucky. Indiana and West Virginia to
the Democrats ''by small pluralitics"
IurnlSneu ny labor support.
Admit States Are Doubtful.
Montana, Idaho. Colorado, Nebras-
ka. South Dakota and Utah have be-
como doubtful in Republican Cal
culations. Ohio Is designated as
uncertain" by the Democrats, but is
claimed by the opposition by l00.-
600, which means half that figure.
The reason for Republican confidence
In Ohio is that tho 10000 colored
vote (morc than one third Of which
Will be cast by tho women OF that
race) are certain to be cast for
Harding.
Confidence OF the Republican man
ayers OF other States Is also predicted
on the knowledge that this vote VIII
go to the Republican candidate. This
is not wholly true of kentucky, In
diana. Missouri. West Virginia, Okla
homa and, to some extent, Tennessee.
During tho visit OF Governor Cox
to these States. In which l accom-
panied him. gained tho Impression
that the eighteenth amendment which
he did much to promote. would pro-
vide tho greatest obstacle To mis-
chances for success in several States.
The meetings he addressed In the
States named were almost exclusive
iy attended by white women. those
which Harding has been addressing
In tho Same territory tho last few
days by crowds quito as large but
with preponderanco Of negro at
tendance. The recruiting Of the me-
gro voto by the Republican man
ayers has been both systematic and
methodical. capsbiy organized and