Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-10-08
BURR'S OHIO REVIEW.
Home Talent Carrying on the
Great Fight There Al
most Exclusively.
STATE ISSUES SECONDARY
To the Two Leading National Ques-
tions of Tariff and Silver.
REPUBLICANS HOLD THE LEAD.
The Odds thus Far Clearly Against Camp
bell and His Party.
STATE ISSUES SECONDARY
REPUBLICANS HOLD THE LEAD.
THIRD PARTY PROSPECTS PETERED OUT
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DISPATCH!

COLUMBUS, Oct. There are many
amusing figures in this campaign in Ohio so
far, and they are likely to multiply during
the next four weeks. Although the skirmish
has been going on for almost two months,
the real battle is to be fought from to-day.
One month tomorrow the decision of the
fighters will be rendered. and the country
may well wait for the climax, for what may
be Justly called the phenomenal canvass in
Ohio, among the many remarkable ones.
1t is so for many reasons. Heretofore
when big contests over ballots have taken
place in this political State both parties
have received money and wind from the
outside without stint. This year both ap-
pear to be depending on themselves to a
greater or less extent, and there is little
chance for the cry of fraud. Until very
recently little has been heard of the Demo
cratic flag. Its trainers preferred a waiting
race. The Republicans have in conse-
Guence been getting the best of the pictor-
ial part of the campaign up to this hour.
Hence they have dominated the situation,
simply waiting for the Democratic gladi-
ator TO throw his challenge into the ring.
He is here now and to stay.
NOW FOR THE HoMEsTRETCH.
For more than a week past the Democracy
has shown good signs of life, and they seem
ready to meet within the next four weeks q
confident opponent. The gauge of battle
has so far run in his direction, because he
has been left alone. But how about the
hOmestretch? 1t does not look to me as
though there could be such shift as would
change the handwriting on the wall. There
are various reasons for this judgment.
The Peoples party spent its force early
in the campaign. While the farmers were
holding their picnics, and were out for q
frolic their orators could find audiences; but
when the test comes, they turn out the very
weakest end of fox's tail. Their money
seems to have been spent before the fight
began, and hence the words of its speakers
have grown dreary or silent in the critical
moments of battle. They are like all camp
followers in war; exceedingly brave and
windy before the shells start to burst, and
then turn toward the wagon train when
men begin to got killed.
Unless all signs fail the Peoples party in
this State will cut no significant figure in
this game, and without them the Democracy
is hunting a hedgehog late in the winter,
when that festive animal, about which
there hinges so much romance and super
stition, is supposed to be resting quietly in
his hole, far beyond the reach Of the hunts
mau. Never have 1 seen an alliance be-
tween a guerilla band and mighty army
produce such petite results, as has been
born of the alleged connection of the Peo-
pies party and the Democracy of this State;
which, unfortunately for ITSELF has been
the cradle of all the 'Isms'' which have
been fatal to the national organization.
CALAMITY HowLERs FAILED
|, II
er's Alliance" are poorly attended, now
that the season is over when people assem-
bic for the purposes of being amused. The
short-haired women, and the long-haired
men imported from the various parts of the
country to tell the most prosperous hus-
bandmen on the face of the earth how poor
they are, have nearly all departed, and only
a few local orators are left to tell on the
street corners of the iniquities of our pres
ent form of government and the sufferings
of the people.
AS rule they lack listeners, and the new
crusade has worked its paddle to the limit,
and with q powerless arm and tongue in
drifting down the stream with the tide. The
Democracy of the State have felt this for
the past three weeks, and think have re-
GREETED any communion with the revolu-
tionists. 1t is never well to leave a battle
10 your skirmish line, especially when they
are not trained soldiers.
Governor Campbell is personally an ex-
ceedingly popular man. He talks well,
and as John Sherman told me, is well liked
by the people: but he is a second Samson if
he can carry the load which has been lain
upon him, and l think no one appreciates
that fact better than himself. His party
lack spirit, and what little it has he gives it.
The Chairman of its State Committee sug-
that fbav s,ro cfill bupf. l,,,.
there are no appearances of it in any part
of the State that / have visited. The party
lacks belief in itself, and I cannot observe
Just at this moment how they are going to
get up enthusiasm in a campaign like this,
where their opponents have already won
two heats out of five in race.
REPUBLICAN CHANCES THE BEST.
Yet 1 have seen that record beaten, and
perhaps it may be done this year. L should
rather take the chances of the party which
has only one notch to cut than the one which
must put in the whole three in succession
to win. / think that is the general feeling
here among all classes; but this sentiment
must be discounted by the fact that the Re-
publicans have so far made all the show
and parade of inspection of forces, and have
warmed up its hosts far in advance, while
the Democracy have lain quiet behind the
WOODS OF unuer the DrOW OF n1ll, getting
ready for the final stroke. Therefore it
looks all one way Just now, but three weeks
hence there may be changes along the battle
line worth Studying, but it is difficult now
TO see the point of attack.
So far the campaign on the Republican
side has been conducted with a vim that has
never before been known in this State when
the people of the Buckeye realm have had
TO paw the bills of it themselves. Their
plan OF battle has been picturesque and
telling one. They are also fortunate in
having a candidate whose personality has
added a great deal to the rather dramatic
ends which the State Committee or some
one else must have carefully outlined in
advance.
SUGAR AND TIN PLATE.
The rolling in of a barrel of sugar on the
platform as practical exhibit of the Re
publican policy, and of the American tin
that is along every fence corner are good
campaign thunder, and have helped to fill
the average Republican mind with a good
deal Of confidence in his party. In other
words, the men who represent Major Nc
klnley, or perhaps it would be better to
say whom Major Mckinley represents, are
the aggressors, and therefore have the call
on the ambitious end of the campaign. L
do not.see how the Democracy are going to
head them, and yet over-eonfidence is dan
gerous.
To start with, the Democracy had no |
show to win except that the Peoples party |
would draw very large number of votes |
from the Republicans in excess of those |