Evening star., 1924-10-22
Politics at Large
BY N. O. MESSENGER.

alarmed over the menace of the choice
OF the presidency possibly being
thrown into Congress. with the re-
sultant train of grave possibilities
and unrest in business, upsetting OF
industry and all the other sad conse-
quences which may follow. Several
recent events have served to accen-
tuate the danger apprehended, not
withstanding the reassurances Of the
Republican leaders and the favorable
news from neutral observers fore
casting a Coolidge victory at the
polls November 4.
One Of the incidents which operated
to renew the alarm over the possibil-
tiles of the election going to Congress
was the statement of William G. Nc
Adoo this week. Politicians and
others construed Mr.. McAdoo's re-
marks as an almost overt invitation
to the La Toilette people for an al
lance with the Democrats to prevent
the Republicans from securing a ma
jority of the electoral college and
thus paving the way for an alliance
which would make II possible to
bring about the election of Charles
w. Bryan as Vice President and
thereby the capture of the presidency
X X
The recent statement from Chair
man Butter of the Republican nation
al committee asserting that he had
definite knowledge of conspiracy
between Democratic and third party
leaders in at least $50 conferences
to accomplish this purpose added to
the alarm. It is recalled that John
w Davis himself had gone out of
his way to take up the cudgels for
Senator Wheeler-the third party
for Vice President, In his
controversy over Wheeler's alleged
frame-up in the indictment now pend
Ing against him. Numerous minor
instances have served to strengthen
the belief In many quarters that there
is in fact a working understanding
for the carrying out of a genuine
effort to give up the cards so that
It would be impossible for the Re
publicans to obtain a majority of the
ELECTORAL college
In all circles in New York little
is talked about but the possible
menace of this suspected conspiracy
and it's direful effects. 1t is believed
that the result Of this will bring
of conservative Democrats
to the support Of the Republican
ticket and that their example will
be widely followed throughout the
country. There is thought to be no
doubt that this will be the case in
New York, New Jersey and New Eng
land.
The higher leaders In the Repub-
lican party privately do not expect
anything short of a substantial vic
tory at the polls November 4, but
welcome these exhibitions of prospec-
tive conservative Democratic support
as a measure OF safety Their con-
fdence in a victory over all IN the
electoral college is based not only
upon their own reports from their
captains at large, but upon the re-
ports of neutral observers who have
been making a country wide survey of
political conditions. They are not de-
pending altogether upon the polls re-
Gently taken, realizing that these often
go astray, but upon more substantial
assurances.
from Missouri, where reports show
that La Toilette is slipping and that
the battle in Missouri will be be-
tween Davis and Coolidge. La Fol-
lette appears to have made a bad
break in that State in his recent
speech in St. Louis and to have
estranged the German, vote upon
which he had counted. They are
said to have shocked the German
descended vote with the radicalism
of his speech and just at a time
when he seemed TO be in the way
of securing a large vote from that
element. His recent population by
Charles Nagel. one of the most po-
tential leaders among the German
descended voters. also added to his
d iscomf1ture.
La Follette's invasion of the East
after the abandonment of his foray
OF the Far West is awaited with some
anxiety by the managers / under
stand from Standard Oil sources that
in the industrial sections of New York
and New Jersey La Toilette has re-
Gently lost some of the support which
earlier had been seemingly likely to
be given to him. Apparently he has
been apprised of this and is coming
back to build up his fences. He is
going to make a drive in New Eng
land as well as in this State and in
New Jersey in the closing days of
the campaign. Earnest missionary
"
parties in the labor unions of these
sections and the La Toilette doctrines
are being fought with great yigor.
The governorship contest in New
York State is working up to a white
heat. Col. Roosevelt, the Republican
candidate for governor, has developed
unexpected vigor as a campaigner
and is putting Gov. Smith to his
PAGES. 1t is we'll known that Col
Roosevelt is counting upon taking
of the expected heavy vote
to be cast for President Coolidge to
swell his vote in the State at large
and possibly to bring the State ticket
through with the presidential ticket.
There Is no thought in the minds
of practical politicians other than
that Coolidge will carry New York
State by a plurality of all the way
from 500, 900 to possibly 00.000. Fair
minded Democrats when they talk
not for publication-admit the proba-
bility of Coolidge carrying New York
State. Some of the more optimistic
of the Republicans predict that he
will even carry New York City But
not all the Republicans are confident
that Roosevelt can beat Gov. Smith
when they get down to brass tacks.
The betting men, while putting their
odds at to 1 on Coolidge carving
New York, hedge their bets and will
not wager on Roosevelt coming
through with him. In New Jersey
an emphatic Coolidge victory is prac-
tically conceded by the best informed
politicians when they get away from
their political prejudices. Senator
Edge. Republican candidate, also Is
regarded as assured of re-election
by vote larger than he received on
his first election
x X X
AS the country at large is surveyed
from New York headquarters it pre-
sents very ro-Republican aspect
tyocr %