The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-11-06
Night Before tho Battle.

lucIo mas ptOUhOIy Oeeu no tlmo eluCe Tue
campaign opened when the subject of politics
has been universally discussed as yesterday
and last night Among the travelling men who
CHANGED to be spending the day in the city, and
among such citizens as congregated down town,
no other theme was introduced in conversation,
which pretty generally took the shape of euesses
at the probable results, rather than any dis.
cussions of campaign arguments. In and
around the. hotel corridors little knots Of men
we're collected, each with an opinion to express,
but none SO confident as to back
their statements by money. Betting has
gradually fallen very low; due to q lack Of
confidence on the part Of Democrats. While
they invariably assert their firm belief that
Cleveland is to DO the next President of the
United States, the large number of unaccepted
bets on Harrison and Morton only evidence the
fact that such expressions emsnate more from
party fealty than actual belief While rot
of any great value as . logical inference
these straws indicate, to some extent the way
in which the wind blows. Later on it il be-
lieved that when the true north wind Of Repaid
hcsp conviction reaches the present incum be nt
of the Presidential chair he will be convinced Of
the folly of his preference for the mlder South
ern breeZes II wss not embarrassing or
Improbable to listen TO some OF the
conversation among commercial travellers
at the hotels last night, for from no more reli-
able source can a general IDEA of the country q
political complexion be gained.
1T won't do for Us to say much in public
print remarked one representative of one Of
the largest pipe and smokers smporiums of Bal
timore, because we meet with men who are so
narrow-m minded as to refuse to buy of q man IN
less he lie on the same side of the fence as him
SELF But since you have asked me how have
found the enthusiasm over the country 1 have
no hesitancy IN telling what any man can see il
he travels. / never have voted but once, and
then l voted the Democratic ticket l
never have been at my home during
but remember very we'll the
political campaigns have passed through, and
/ have never seen one to equal this If am
any judge of mems actions. think there is no
doubt about Harrison's success. In New York
/ never have witnessed much opposition
against Cleveland, and believe that has had
more effect on the politics Of the country than
the Democrats realize"
"You Will vote the Republican ticket" he vas
asked.
Eyes. shall vote it from principle. lido no,
intend to lose my vote this year ii / can avoid
il. And just let me explain why. On my line
of goods there Is a duty OF 20 per cent. and the
Mills bill proposes to reduce this 10 40 per {.
Now, while this reduction wouldn't materially
affect me. 1t would reduce the wages OF the
workinemsn in our pipe factories throughout
the land from 40 to so per cent. For this very
reason you won't find merchant in my line
anything but Republican. AT least he would
be au exception"
@. ". r Reed has been lifelong Democrat
of Madison, Ind travelling for the tea house OF
j. H. Catherwood, Philadelphia. He has ter
ritory covering twenty States, and since the
campaign opened he has made the complete
circuit. 81 have found enthusiasm on both
Sides he said, "but in some localities where
least expected it l have found opposition to
Cleveland. Take Missouri, for example. ! was
talking with one of the leading Democrats IL
st. Louis recently, and be made the remarb
that It would be a good thing If bis State would
so Republican in this election, simply because il
would rid il of the odium of being denominstet
a part of the solid South. The contes,
will be close there and many believe
that the Democrats control of tbs State is at ar
end
An agent for New York fancy goods house
who has been and is O stanch Democrat, sail
last night: There is one thing that speaks FOL
itself. although it may not seem 70 be Of AM
consequence. Our house has IN sde specialt!
| OF importing campaign badges / myself startes
| out with an immense supply. carrying four time
| as many Republican as Democratic. and yo,
| have my word for il when I say that sold 81,
| Harrison badges where sold one for Cleveland
| We came 10 look upon the latter as draes on tn
market These sales were made right in New
| York State"