Volume 14 , Issue 45

1912 October - Taft Loses Heavily On the Early Vote

The front page headlines in The Evening World, out of New York, Tuesday, 5 November 1912, reported that Taft was losing heavily on the early vote; gains for Wilson, big vote for colonel.

All of the managers were claiming victory as Wilson makes gains in the first returns, big vote in New York, with more than half the city ballots in at noon, with Bronx leading; Only Bull Moosers had trouble. McCombs issued a statement declaring that Wilson and Marshall were sweeping everything.

Reports were received from all over the United States at the headquarters of the Democratic, Republican and Progressive parties in this city and all news collecting agencies told of a tremendously heavy early vote. The greatest ever known. Election day nearly everywhere was as fair and pleasant as it had been in New York.

The managers of the three campaigns differ each from the other of course in the conclusions they draw from the heavy and early voting. William F. McCombs, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, exhibited telegrams from every State in the Union in which Wilson leaders said that their earlier estimates of the Wilson vote were all too low and that a sweeping victory was all they could see ahead.

Claims For Taft & Bull Moose

As for the claims for Taft and the Bull Moose, Chairman Hilles of the Republican National Committee said, "Advices from all the States show a splendidly strong vote for Mr. Taft and indicate a mighty victory for the Republican ticket."

Senator Joseph M. Dixon had telegrams to show also, and said, "Already we know it is a landslide for the Progressive party."

Crowds at the polling place were held up by slowness in voting three ballots. Upstate voters crowded the polls in all counties that year. There were riots at polls that were barely averted.

BUT . . . Back to the present . . . We know who won that year, back in 1912, and became the next president - Wilson, of course.   |  View or Add Comments (0 Comments)   |   Receive updates ( subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

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