New-York tribune., 1876-07-14
GENERAL CAMPAIGN NEWS.
THE CAMPAIGN IN THE NORTHWEST.


THE soFTs.
FRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRiBUNEi
. CHICAGO July 1O.-The first meetings to ratliy
the ST Jouis nominations are hardly over, and the
plans of the Democratic politicians for the campaign
in those States which practically center here cannot
be said to have been fully farmed. 1t is easy to see
however. even at this early stage of the canvass,
what will be its objective point. IL is safe to say
that the German vote is likely to he the chief ground
of contest and that it is upon their hopes OF large
accessons from this element that the Democrats
formed their plans to carry States invariably kepl'
lcan and which have voted for the kepubiican
Presidential ticket ever since the formation OF the
party Secretary Bristows popularity with the Ter
mans before the meeting of the Cincinnati ConVeh-
ton was very marked, not so much because OF any
personal qualities OF his own as because OF the re-
form labors with which his name had been asso-
ciatcd With them the absorbing idea seemed 10 DC
that Of reform III ell branches of the Government
and the Democratic politicians, since Mr. Bfistow
failed to receive the nomination, have been planning
TO divert this awakened sentiment To Gov. ll!den as
in their opinion, the most prominent remaining rep
rcsentatvc of the reform idea. They count upon 'he
independcuce of the German voter, which leads him
TO wear party ties easily, and Will make an aggres-
sive and vigorous campaign in the hope of conylnc-
HAYES. Gov. Tidcn's popularity with the Germans
in his own party unquestionaby great, even ne
fore his nomination. Whether he has 4 correspond
ing strength among the Germans outside of the
marty is a question that cannot be answered at tins
early stage of the canvass The Republicans deny
that he has Just as stoutly the Democrats assert
their claim.
Wisconsin Michigan. and Illinois have been such
steady Republican States, with two exceptions III
the last two or three years, that II might wen De
supposed that the supporters of Gov Tildon would
expend their efforts in more doubtful states anu
leave these to the ordinary campaign made Tor the
sake of local Offices and places i'll Congress and the
Legislatures, with contingent interest IN Natlonai
success. But there is every indication that the he
publican hold in each of these States Will he hoty
contested 1t il in Wisconsin that the strongest
efforts are likely to be made by the Democrats with
apparently the highest hopes OF success Indeed
lcadino Democrats long familiar with the affairs Of
the State refuse to admit that they can lose H.
Th,y insist that all il IS necessary for them to do is
to hold the ground they have gained. They point 10
IN. fact that Tavlcr was elected Governor IN 1873,
b,. thc Democrats and GraugcTs combined, by
majority of $1,000, and that, when nominated lor
reelection, nc WAS defeated py oh'y Hti No,s,
though his administration had been conspicuous
fa,lure and hr himself was lacking III popularity.
Ills opponent. on the other hand, they say "a' 80
popular that ne received many brii"'IaU' N".cs'
among OthrrJ that Of 80 prominent p,iu"cf"t a.
Alexander Mitchell. In Wisconsin TIE Democrats
have always had larger share "i tie "rlh'ah Vote
than in Illinois, whore II las always p'n SlI",eIy
Rrpuhliran. irdr.l, ~ D.mucratlc pult!cldhS CLAIM
Iarrr majority of If in the former state, inuch pl
their strength coming from MiIWanar,, Whir IN ms
city the German vote Is su'''as iIf hcP',"u,'I. az
There is large representation of Eastern men ana
influences in the STATE which ar" supposed to h'
friendly to Gov. lidcu. The hrmoclalIr managers
are relyirg somewhat also GOV. llldchS 'isoiI
riik ia lac l
a number of lis railroad enterprises; mas Nl-l," u
MANY times, and has become "idrlY ,hi""h 10 Tvs
pcoUc. IL l. evident, hnWcScr, thdt lh' j''hotialS
are aa,ing their cal nlation on me 'o'e' Oi OH
wears" since tire last Presidential lection, ad not
on the Presidential year i!~cIi; ne h,p9"i'al'
claim the State confidently by 10000 or l1.oI' ma
ioIity. IHc msjuUty for Grant lt 1917 was iN,uOo
Even Michigan, which gave Grant Go,ooo over
Greeley, is Ia bc seriously contested. Here tue
Democrats base their expectation, on the drm"T"l-
iz,tion of The Republicans which la, resulted from
the Chandler regime. The Republican majority AT
the last election but little over 5oo", ana the
Democrats not aware that victory was SO nca ~
WITHIN their grasp distributed no printed tickets III
the lumber region, the upper part o the State lhS
wear they say there will be- few judirously handed
around. Skilled politicians here. however, dp not
seem a. all sanguine of the venture. Some OF them,
at least thoaght Illinois would be an easier State to
"turI" than Michigan. In tins State the Democrats
Wisconsin. They counting on the opposition
,u,iority Of over o. 900 given in ISL and ou hold
iug or even increasing, the German strength they
oc1urrd in that ycar. EX-Guv. k0crnor Is quoted
,s saving before the -. Louis Convention met, that
II TiIdcn shoud he nominated he knew OF 5000
German Republican votes that would he changed III
the XVIII and XVIII Congressional Districts alone
and German Democrats in this city make the mast
cxtrayagant claims rs To tine proportion oi the Ter
man Republican vote they VIII secure Hcfc,
sope even asserting that they will get one
half and more This was, however, before
Carl schurz had made ms position known. The
RcpublIcans admit that number Of Ger
mans who have been acting more or less with the Re
publican party in years past will vote for Iilden, but
DENY that there is any Formidable Detection There
viii uIob1bly De a bid made for the Granger vote hv
uniting GTangcrs on the Democratic state ticket. II
is not little curious - notice the widely different
ways in which Gov. Hcndr'ckS Is accepted rs can
dldatr by different factions of the party. WIN fhe
sCf.noley man hc is of course IN especial iay0rtc;
the hard-lnoucs han finds hIm hard dose, or per,
hans is courageous enough to defend his record and
DEFY YOU 10 ud any vote cast 10y MI. lirndIlchs III
CCrgr - or any speech made outside until last year
thai was not sound the money question: Tie
average politician thinks h,s nomination snhdlirf
cauivocal position the finances viii be an
advantage 10 him. One Of the soundcst hard
money men of this city and man of large wealth
said that hc knew Gov. Hendricks to be Il hard
money man. that he just "A well satisfied of his
s0undncss on this point as he was OF Gov. Iildcn's
lie said the newspapers had ralscds howl which
Gov Hendricks mad had the dignity TO disregard
II was sufficient evidence of tins gcntleinano sn-
ccrify that he at the same time denounced the ST.
I.ouis platform as surrender "a rcpudiaionisis.
fl the harl-inOicy States in the West as well a III
The East Gov Hendricks is the weak half of the
ticket and the Republicans evidently propose 10
utilize him to the fullest extent 10 neutraze the
tendency, IA the Democrats assert IL 10
be, of the Gerlaan vote to Tden. His iden-
tifcation witht soG-mOney faction will be- the
first and strongest argument; then his lack of sym
pathy and cooperation with the Union men during
the war; his signing the Baxter law Indiana, and