Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-10-26
OHIO AND MONTANA J

E@-o- -
votes becomes a favorite pastime
Of some Of the big newspapers, es-
pecially those published in what is
known as pivotal" states. The
results of such a poll may, or may
not, indicate what the results Of
election day will be. It depends
upon the honesty of those conduct
ing the poll and the extent to which
they make it representative OF all
classes of voters and all districts
of the territory that is being poll
ed.
The Cincinnati Enquirer, one of
the most influential independent
newspapers in Ohio, the home OF
President Harding, stages a, straw
vote each campaign year and it has
establish such a record for fair
ness and completeness that many
persons now base their predictions,
so far as that states campaign IS
concerned, upon the trend shown
in the Enquirer's poll.
In 1916, the year that Charles T..
Hughes was a candidate for presl-
dent against President Wilson, the
Enquirer's poll showed that Presi-
dent Wilson and Hughes were TN
ming neck and neck until the final
totals were taken which gave Pres
ident Wilson a majority of about
100 votes. That year on election
day. President Wilson carried Ohio
by a little less than 100000 votes.
In 1920, the Enquirer's poll
showed the unmistakable trend
toward Warren G.. Harding for
president. Ohio is, of course, the
home Of James M. Cox, who was
the democratic nominee. In pre-
vious campaigns Cox had shown
great personal strength, but in 1920
he ran far behind Harding in the
straw vote. The reliability of the
Enquirer's poll again was shown
or election day when Harding's
majority in Ohio was more thar,
100000 votes.
So with this record behind 1t, it
is interesting to note the trend OF
the Enquirer's poll this year. From
a opy of that paper dated October
10. we find that Senator Pomerene,
democrat, who is a candidate for
reelection and is being opposed
by Congressman Tess, who has the
backing of President Harding, is
running approximately 5000 votes
ahead of Tess in the $4,000 straw
votes cast. If Pomerene continues
to hold this lead in the straw poll,
and if the poll is as accurate as 1t
has been in the past, it would seem
to indicate that Pomerene will be
reelected by at least 100000 ma
iority.
This is more interesting when
one stops to consider that the Is
sue in Ohio is a straight out-and-
out issue of standing behind Pres
ident Harding who is an Ohioan
All of the spellbinders of President
Harding's cabinet either have beer
or are to speak there in behalf OF
Congressman Fess--yet a compari'
son of the poll for several days
shows that Pomerene gains a little
bit every day. The same is true ir
the contest for governor. Carm'
Thompson, the republican candi-
date, is a close personal friend OF
President Harding's, yet in 49,
600 straw votes cast Thompson is
$500 votes behind the democratic
candidate.
Among the men who have votee
in the Enquirer's poll, 700 who vot.
ed for the republican ticket in 1926
will vote the democratic ticket II
1922. and $40 who voted the demo
cratic ticket in 1920 will vote ths
republican ticket in 1922. Among
the women 735 who voted the re
publican ticket in 1920 will vot'
: the democratic ticket this year, ant
$50 who voted the democratic tick
ct two years ago will vote the re
publican ticket.
The Tribune concludes that II
many respects the average vote
Of Ohio is and has been thinking
along the same lines as the aver
age voter of Montana, SO tar a
the Harding administration is con
cerned. This being so, 1t is sat
to say that in those states, such a
Montana, where the normal vot
Of the two parties is of about tn
same size, democrats this year will
win out.
Congressman Riddick aspires t
the United States senate on tn
ground that he will stand b.
.--v Tc NEor&,r, ur%orc ~