St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-08-11
WITH BUTLER and ST. JOHN IN THE
FIELD


The present presidential campaign pro-
misses to be the most complicated, and, there
fore, the most interesting which the country
has ever witnessed Not only have party
lines and party doctrines been ignored by a
respectable number of voters, but there are
no less than four presidential candidates in
the field, for it is now conceded that Butler
and st. John will not only enter the race but
that they viii make an aggressive campaign.
States which have hitherto been Democratic
may, under these conditions, be carried by
the Republicans, and Republican states will
probably be found casting their votes for the
Democratic nominees.
However much Democrat and Repub-
leans may sneer at Buffers candidacy, it is
certain ne will have no incon siderable fol-
lowing in many states, and may do much to
decide the election. He is a shrewd mana
ger, and accomplished politician, and is
popular with certain classes. In his
own state especially he is very strong, and
will draw many votes from the Democratic
party, and very considerable number from
the Republican nominee. This is equally
true Of New York, where Butler will have
larger vote, In both New York and Massa-
chusetts he will probably draw more votes
from the Democratic party than the Republi-
can, but the difference will be partially or
entirely covered by the Independent
vote. In the west his vote, outside
of Michigan, will be light, and
will be drawn from the Republican party.
Under these conditions Massachusetts, is al
most certain to remain Republican state,
while New York will occupy the same posi-
ton in politics that she has for years past
that of an unknown quantity.
What Butler is to the east st. John Is to
the west. While his following in the eastern
poll in western states may go far toward de-
Gliding the electoral vote of more than one
state. Butler and st. John will draw three
votes in the west from the Republican party
for every vote drawn from the Democratic
party. In Iowa, where there is a large pro-
hibition vote, st. John will prob
ably run well. The state is none
too sure for the Republicans as it is, as the
German vote must be counted Democratic
hereafter. With st. John drawing votes
from the Republican party it will make Iowa
at least doubtful state Kansas will also
give st. John heavy vote, and it is possible
that Kansas, Iowa, Ohio and Michigan may
go Democratic by small pllIralities, if Butler
and st. John remain true to their intention
to stand by their parties, while fusion be-
tween the Grcenbaek and Democratic parties
in Wisconsin will give seven of the electoral
votes of that state to Cleveland and the re-
mainder to Butler.
1t is evident that these new factors in
polit IS cannot be ignored. Butler running
in the east, and simply for the purpose of
revenge would probably defeat Cleveland;
but Butler, making campaign for the pur
pose of securing as many votes as possible in
all the states, will more than balance the
Democratic loss in the east by the votes he
will draw from the Republican party in the
west, while st. John viii probably poll, in
the entire country, 10000 votes, large
majority of which will come from the Repub-
lican party Butler and st. John viii make
the result of the election more doubtful, and
upon the votes cast for them may depend
the election of Blaine or Cleveland.