Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-10-24

this fact the arrest Of the Bullock county off,
Gals for an alleged attempt to prevent a fair
ballot would furnish it, That this incident did
not indicate game of bluff subse quent pro-
ceedings of a similar charac ter, such as the
Montgomery and Macon county mandamus
cases, will prove.
VISITING STATESMEN.
That the democrats regard these men as in
dead earnest is clearly demonstrated by re-
peated manifestations Of alarm. The most I'M
usual symptom of this character lis recognized
IN the invitation to nonresident statesmen to
come and stump the state. In fact, Alabama
has been harvest field for the big men Of all
the parties. Gen. Fields candidntorial laurels
had hardly been thrust upon him before he
was here, demonstrating his claims to an cleo
ton to the Vice Presidency; he quickly
followed by bis running mate, Gen. Weaver,
accompanied by Mrs. Lease both Of whom
preached the new party gospel in Alabama and
the south; the republicans have had Mr.. Magee,
who came on a mission Of peace, and ex-Con-
gresham Miller of South Carolina, who has
starred the state for the past month; the
democracy has been honored BY the presence
OF Gen. Stevenson and Speaker Crisp, both of
whom have filed several appoin tmsnts at diff
ferent points These distinguished exponents
OF their respective parties have been supple
mented by a contingent of statesmen of lesser
note, who have tested their campaign oratory
FORECAST OF RESULTS.
With this enumeration of the chief incidents
of the Alabama campaign, which forms u brief
review of the situation from beginning to date,
1t would be proper to supplement it with an
estimate of the probable results that will mark
the termination OF this remarkable struggle.
Political predictions, independent of strong
evidence to support them, differ little from the
averaged guess of the prophet who presides
over the weather bureau at Washington. This
10 meant less as a reflection on our
national weathercock than expression Of
doubt in the science Of human fore
sight when applied to weather conditions
which are not entirely without analogy to the
relations that govern things political. With
this fact well in mind the reproach which gen.
orally attends predictions that fail to mate
rialize into certainty is hereby waived. Based
on conditions which at present exist and which
will probably remain unchanged to the end Of
the campaign. prospects point to the election
OF the democratic electoral ticket With two
distinct sets OF electors to divide democratic
opposition plurality for the Cleveland ticket
Is practically assured This much WAS ascer-
tanned when 1t became known definitely that
tho Stevens ticket would not be withdrawn.
Another fact in support Of this esti-
mate Is recognized in the accession
or, rather, return to the democratic ranks OF
large portion of the kolb followers A month
ago it seemed that that gentleman would be
able to control practically HIS entire following
for the fusion ticket. IL he can now retain
more than 65 per cent Of the men who voted
for him for governor in August he will perform
feat not at present regarded political proba-
bility. 1t Is remarkable the effect that the
cent arrests of democratic officials has exerted
against the fusionists. Independent Of anv
merit that NAV have been involved. the Bullock
county incident has been worth thousands OF
votes to the organized democracy, and these
votes come directly from the ranks of those
at whose instance these arrests were made. As
a remedial mt assure the United States district
court has been called upon to decide, but rs a
party policy II was the very essence Of stupidity.
The democratic press welcomed II long
wished-for opportunity to introduce the force
bill an issue. and democratic orators, includ-
ing Gen. Stevenson, have rung the changes on
the theme till Mr.. Lodges election bill can al
most be repeated down here by heart. 1t has
been the means of conversions that no other
cause could have produced and given organized
democrats a new title TO claims Of
hope and confidence. These claims, for
reasons shown, NAV be regarded well
founded, for it would take the unexpected to
destroy the chance the democrats possess today
of carrying Alabama for Cleveland and Steven
son in November.
There are three congressional districts that
may be termed doubtful, with chances favoring
the fusionists. In the fifth, the district now
represented by Judge Cobb, the democrats will
in all probability be besten-in fact. this result
seems inevitable. In this (the second) district
the alliance nominee is very strong and is max
ing vigorous fight A majority Of the
counties in the district we're carried
by the alliance in August, and 1t
is thought this result will be repeated
next month, in which event the democratic cam
didate will depend entirely upon his ma iority
IN this and one other county for election. This
is contingency which is not assuring to the
democrats. In the seventh district the alliance
is making formidable fight. 1t is an anti
democratic stronghold. and an alliance Con-
gresham as a successor to Gen. Forney is
something in the nature of probability. As
for the other districts-the first, third, fourth,
sixth. eighth and ninth-democrats viii likely
continue to represent them as now.