Jasper County Democrat, Volume 6, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 February 1904 — THE POLITICAL OUTLOOK. [ARTICLE]

THE POLITICAL OUTLOOK.

Cincinnati Enquirer: The political forecasts depend so much upon the local environment and personal prepossessions of the prophet that they have little real value beyond giving the impressions of an individual, colored by what he thinks ought to be true or would like to have true. Like the Weather Bureau predictions, they are made up of views gathered from a wide area, and, like them, they are very liable to be mistaken. This is particularly the case at a time like this, when there is more or less confusion in all camps, no standards having been set up, no battle cries adopted and no leaders chosen. Some things, however, a careful observer cannot fail to notice. On the republican side it has been taken for granted both that Roosevelt will lead and that he will be elected, but an apparent chill, growing steadily into a good deal of a shake, is fast driving away the rosy flush of confidence, and politicians and voters are beginning to say to themselves, “After all, is Roosevelt the strongest man we can put up? We have nothing in particular against him if he can win, but there is no reason why we should take chances for him.” And thousands everywhere say: "Give us Hanna, or if he won’t run, Taft or some new man.” Business men in all sections very generally say that they want some one more conservative than Ropsevelt, and more in touch with financial and commercial interests. He is said to be too little amenable to advice and too sudden and unexpected in what he does, producing in the country a continuous feeling of uneasiness and apprehension. Still, the preponderating Republican opinion is that Roosevelt will be nominated, and of course, there is no open doubt expressed in regard to his election, but in quiet talk it is quite different. Among themselves thousands of Republicans are saying: “It is time there was a change. It is good neither for the ooontry nor the party in power that it should remain too long in control. It makes the jaarty arrogant and careless and tends to blunt every sense of responsibility. It breeds corruption.” Furthermore they are saying, "We want some modification of the tariff, which the stand-pat policy makes impossible, and as our own party will make no concessions as to reciprocity we will get it where we can. If the Democratic party puts a conservative candidate on a conservative platform we will vote for him.”j There are enoogh such republicans scattered through the North and East to tarn the scale on a cloee vote. These men believe

that if their views are met Roosevelt can be beaten. Coming now to the Democratic situation, it seems to be clearing up a good deal. A platform may be considered as assured which will commend itself to all Democrats and to the sound sense and business instincts of the country at large. The choice of a candidate, which, after all, will determine more votes than the declarations of the platform, is not settled. The main judgment is that the choice should be left to New York New Jersey and Connecticut. Let the convention select a man who can carry those states and the Democracy of the country will do the rest.