Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-10-04
ILLsNelSIN GREAT DOUBT.
Indications That the Republicans
May Lose -.
rNow York Times Special. J

New York Times Special
CHICAGO, September 30.-Nothing is
more certain to provoke laughter and
dcrlsion in Republican circles in New
New York, Indiana, or Illinois than the
suggestion that Illinois is q doubtful
State
Having travelled over considerable
section Of this State and seized opportunl-
ties of talking with men on the road,
business men from large towns and poll
ticians Who are kept informed at the
Headquarters, the talk about the doubt
fitness of the State no longer seems
ridiculous. II is unquestionably true,
and TO make il otherwise before NOvem-
Der 9Th will require the most strenuous
efforts Of the National md State commit
tees Of the Republican party.
Illinois u divided, north and south,
into Republican and Democratic sec
tons, the Republicans predominsting
in that lection that IS above line drawn
across tho State at Springfield The
larger share Of the population IA in the
noltbern section and nearest 10 Chicago.
II is within reach of the daily newspa-
pers, and those newspapers have had a
great deal 10 do with guiding the
political opinion Of the people whom
tbcy reach. From reading these vigor-
Gus and enterprising journals and learn
ing to believe in them they have i'm
bibed great many opinions that are
now finding expression IN way 10 for
tifv the assertion that Illinois IS a
doubtful State. Chief among the news
papers here, it may he admitted without
hesitation, is the Chicago TrfbUgc. 1t
has been zealously Republican ever
since it reached the party on Its
return from n disastrous diversion
for Greeley. 1t even supported
Blaine in 1894. so that there can
he 10 doubt Of its attachment to the
Republican organization. But for years
it las been a lOw-tarif paper, insisting
from day to day. with unrestricted earn
estncss, upon a reduction Of tariff taxes,
approving tue utterances Of all the lead
inc Repnbllcaus who have insisted that
the unnecessary taxes Of the war period
should not be maintained to flood tho
Treasury with accommodating funds. 1t
has been particular as well as general.
Il los indicated when and how the tariff
ought 70 be amended.
The Republicans of the State think bet
ter Of the principles they have learned to
believe IN than they dOOf the teacher from
whom they acquired those principles.
For that reason, primarily. il Illinois en-
titled 10 DE cessed as doubtful State.
The chances are that 1T will give it's
electoral vote to Harrison. but from what
can be learned OF the poll Of the State
10y the two parties, the Republicans
would not he astonished if it should 60
for Cleveland 10y ss large a majority as
il did for Hayes in 1876 IL does not re-
quire much investigation to prove THAI
the changes in tie vote on account OF the
tariff question will be large.
The farmers are full of the " free
trede hercsy, and the laboring men
vino arc not farmers have opened their
ewes 10 the fact that they have long been
deceived by catchwords and 10y the use OF
their votes TO insure excessive profits to
classes 81 men who have been growing
rich while the farmer has remained
poor and the miner and mill-worker
are no better OF than before. Right
nm the heart OF the Fifteenth dis-
trict. which has repeatedly elected Mr.
Joseph G.. Cannon 10 Congress, and may
elect him again, / find several farmers,
strong Republicans. who told me that
they were entirely ont of patience with
the Republican attitude on the tauh
question, and that they should vote for
Cleveland as the only resort left for
them. They still called Themselves Re
publicans, and supposed that they had
been pollcd as Republicans 10y their pre-
clnct committeeman.
st Decatur, an important railroad
junction, where / was obliged TO spend
two hours aWaitinga train on the Wabash
roa ?. every man on the wellfrequented
platform was talking tariff. Some OF
them were Republicans, and they were
hearing the gospel OF low taxes from men
az PLAIN spoken as themselves. They
knew what they were talking about.
The takers on both sides had read and
thought. Their illustrations were their
own. but they illuminated principles as
broad and strong rs the foundations OF
the overlooking hills
Along the Chicago and Alton railroad,
which runs through fine agricultural
section. | found the low-tax advocates in
every group Of farmers travelling from
station TO station. They made no secret
IF the fact that they would vote, al
though they had been and still were
Republicans, for Cleveland and lower
taxes.