Evening star., 1924-07-12
CAPTURE of West Held
Democrats Best Hope

Continued from First Page)
largely on the way the issues are
crystallized. AS for the individuals
nominated, they will not be the vital
factors that personalities were in
1912. For the Republicans and Demo-
Gratis have nominated two strong men
whose character is unimpeachable
and whose integrity is beyond ques-
ton. Senator La Toilette, who runs
on A third ticket, also is man of
rugged lIopesty and capacity.
Issues. Not Personalities.
The campaign will not turn on per-
sonal fitness. but on issues. When
Wilson and Hughes were the nomi-
nees in 1916. the country was ready
to accept either personality, but the
west had a conviction that the Will
son foreign policies needed to be
upheld. In 1920, neither Warren
Harding nor James NJ. Cox were
themselves factors in the result The
tide of resentment against the Will
son administration for neglecting re-
absorbed in foreign policy would
have made the landslide as great. no
matter who the Republican candidate
had been. ~
So in 1924, Calvin Coolidge is not
the issue. The east is more or less
contented from an economical view
point, and is unconvinced that change
is desirable. The west is IN the
throes of economic discomfort, and
ready to grasp at straws to obtain re-
lief. Neither the Republican or Dem
ocratic national convention really ap-
praised the western political situation
at it's proper value. But 1t is slgnih-
cant that John w. Davis does He de-
liberately selected Gov. Bryan OF Ne
braska as his running mate as nrst
proof of his interest in the west.
Now he will campaign there. and en-
deayor to convince the west that
their hope lise in a Democratic con-
gress and executive.
Up to Davis
Can Davis make the west feel his
progressivism? Will the feeling of
last Republican Congress crystalline
in the west?
The Republican party's record OF
the last four years will be contrasted
| with the eight years of Democratic
rule and the problem of getting for
eign markets SO as to improve the
prices of farm products will be de-
bated most this year west of the Mis-
sissippi.
Agricultural questions do not wor-
| ~ the east. The cry about neutral
! ity and keeping America out of the
war was a vital thing in the west in
| 1916 at the very same moment that
| the east was criticizing Wilson for
vacillation and praising Hughes for
| his straight from the shoulder
speeches about protecting American
| rights. After election the country
woke up to find that the west and
solid south could win an election.
That's why this year one cannot
dismiss lightly the chances of John
w. Davis without being sure tnat
| the west is not on the point of revolt
Then the election of Calvin Coolidge
can be regarded as a foregone con-
clusion. But the Democratic oppor-
| tunity must first be disproved, and
| here is the Democratic chance-its
formula of victory. If the combina-
| tion fails, no other will win, for the
east is for Coolidge and Dawes.
700 for Davis.
Here is the electoral table which. at
the moment, seems to indicate the di-
rection of Democratic opportunity:
Alabama, IL; Arizona, 8; Arkansas, 3;
California, Is; Colorado. s; Florida,
6; Georgia, IA; Idaho, 4; Indiana, 1e;
Kansas. 10; Kentucky. 10; Louisiana.
10; Maryland, 8; Mississippi, 10; Mis-
souri,, IS; Montana, 4; Nebraska, 8;
Nevada, 8; New Mexico. 3: North Car
olina, IL; Ohio. "a; Oklahoma, 10;
South Carolina, g.; Tennessee. IL;
Texas, 20: Utah, 4: Virginia, IL; Wash
ington. Z; West Virginia, 8; wyoming,
8. Davis total-290.
Republican--Maine, s; New Hamp.
shire, 4; Vermont 4; Massachusetts,
1S; Connecticut Z; Rhode Island, S
New York, As; Delaware, 8; New Jer-
sey, IA; Pennsylvania, 3S; Michigan
lis; Illinois, %; Iowa, 13; Oregon, s
Coolidge's total, z06
Independent Republican-Minneso