Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-10-30
i Correspondence of The EVENING STAR

Special Correspondence of The EVENING STAR
BUFFALO, n. Y, october %.
Whatever may be said to the contrary In the
eastern part OF the state by republicans there is
ground for believing that the Independents win cut
no 1nconsiderable figure in the election OF next
tuesday In Erie county. In Buffalo, as elsewhere,
the republicans affect to believe there is nothing in
1t to give them any uneasinesS One OF the most
active and wellinformed Independents here is Mr..
W. +. Kip, young lawyer. He said to-day that
there are in Buffalo 400 Garfield republicans who
have pledged themselves not to vote for Blaine
and who are openly active In the Independent
movement Mr. Kip estimated that Erie county
contained fully 5000 republicans who have deter
mined not to vote for Blaine. or this number
probably $500 will vote for Cleveland, the re-
mafrder staying away from the polls or voting for
St John. When asked TO indicate the data on
which he based this estimate, Mt. Kip said he
formed his opinion from his own knowledge OF the
extent of the quiet feeling against Blaine from let
tiers received from all parts OF the county from
ports by different members OF the Independent
organization, and from the secret lists which the
executive committee have In their possession
These lists contain the names OF hundreds OF re-
publicans who Will not vote for Blaine but who for
obvious reasons, do not wish TO advertise the fact
They give literally to the campaign fund. but their
disaf1ecton is known only to their intimate friends
and TO the executive committee OF the independ-
entS AS to the charge made by ex-Congressman
Roberts that the Independents were counting as
bolters the names Of thousands of repub-
licanS to whom they had merely sent docu-
ments, Mr.. Kip asserted 1t was a mis-
take. He knew well the rnodus operandf
or the independent national committee, and their
claims were based On the very best grounds. While
perhaps their natural enthusiasm might lead them
into slight exaggeratiOn, he did not believe for
moment anything like Misrepresentation would be
cOuntenanced by the gentlemen OF the committee
He thought their estimate OF the strength OF the
movement In the state was not too large, and felt
entirely satisfied that Cleveland would carry the
state by handsome majority. III the state went
for Blaine he would never again have the least
faith in political signs or venture prediction on
Hon. JAS. NJ Matthews, editor OF the Buffalo En-
press, which supported Cleveland for governor,
took very different view OF the situation. He
said:
81 am very hopeful that Mr.. Blaine will carry
the state, but not entirely confident OF 1t. think
he viii have majority anywhere from twenty five
to fifty thousand. 1 will be more surprised il It
goes below thirty than above fifty. have no fig-
ures on The probable Independent vote In Buffalo,
but am satisfied Ii will be small The claim OF the
Independent committee that they have 6OOOO
names enrolled in the state is like the declaration
OF some young men here that they would get 400
prominent Buffalo republicans to sign paper vim
dcating Cleveland's character. They got l6
names. That, think, Will be about the ratio Of
the independent vote for Cleveland TO the claims OF
the leaders.
"Ihe independent vote will be more than Offset
by the Irish detection from the democrats. / have
yet to meet an Irishman who is not at heart for
Blaine. While do not meet many, have met
some very influential ones think the Catholic
hierarchy is for Blaine. About the Butler move
ment, do not know, though believe many who
were at first for Butter have gone back to Cleve-
land. On the other hand, the same tendency is
noticeable among prohibitionists, who are largely
returning to the republican ranks.
"My opinion is not OF greater value than most
other mems l have perhaps better means OF
Information than some men, and 1 think that II
enthusiasm and systematic work count for any
thing we will carry this state. We will carry
Buffalo, which gave Cleveland about 5000 for gov
ernOr, by at least 1000. The county gave Cleye-
land 7,o0O but Blaine will get 1t by 5000. New
York, In my opinion. is the only northern state at
all doubtful, and we have just as good chance TO
rlad
have to carry New York"
MIR. Wilson S. Bissel, Gov. Clevelands law part
ner, and Mr. Peter c. Doyle, both OF whom take an
active part in democratic politics, felt no doubt
whatever that Cleveland would carry Buffalo and
Erie county. The former placed the probable
majority in the county at $780, and the latter at
Zoo to 2500 Garfield carried this county by $500
Both these gentlemen had no misgtvings as to the
result in the state.