The San Francisco call., 1896-10-18
LYDELL BAKER, Who Predicts
That Mckinley Viii Garry Ore
gon BY a Rousing Majority.

in Congress in recent years. was beaten in
the contest for his seat in the Senate be-
cause he was opposed to the free coinage
of silver except under international agree
ment. Then the contest between gold
bugs and silver cranks began.
"Mr. Herman, who had been in the
lower house OF Congress for twelve years,
was beaten for denomination because be
was in favor of unconditional free coin
age, and in the Portland district at the
June election the gold Republicans, as
they were called, but who iii reality were
international agreement silver men, re-
fused TO support the re. ular Republican
nominee because he had voted for the
Senate free-coinage substitute TO the Re-
publican tariff measure of last winter
They put up an Independent candidate,
Judge Northup, who surprised every
BODY by the large vote which he received.
1 myself supported Judge Northup and
spoke In his behalf, and under similar cir
cumstances would do SO again. because he
stood on the National Republican plat
form, and the regular nominee did not
''But the inexorable and unequivocaI
declarations of the st. Louis platform
have checked the silver craze in our State
thrown it back on the defensive, and no.
where i5 Bryan losing ground more rap
idly than in Oregon.
''In the first place, the travelling man
the much abused drummer-is doing us a
great deal OF good. travel great deal
on the train, and everywhere l find him
always ready for an argument on the
money question, and remarkably we'll
posted from a business standpoint.
'At a meeting IN one of the little towns
1 saw six farmers who had changed within
three weeks, and this is indicative of the
landslide which is going on all over the
State. Palmer IS going TO get very few
votes in our State. The gold Democrats
are coming to US in BODY, and they con-
stitute the brains, the character and the
ability OF the party.
''As another indication" continued Mr..
Baker, 'of the way things are changing,
might refer to the crowds which gather on
the streets of Portland arguing the money
question. They are composed mostly of
workingmen. Two weeks ago man who
opposed the election of BRYAN could not
speak without having men on all sides
putting questions to him, and often in a
very bitter and sarcastic tone of voice. To-
day there is marked change. The Nc
KinleY men are the ag tresslve ones. 1t is
beginning TO dawn upon the workingmen
that the free coinage of silver would drive
the gold out OF the country, and this they
don't want"
When asked about the betting. Mr..
Baker said 1t was in favor of Mckinley.
Il know OF one bet, he added, "oi $1,000
to $500 that Mckinley would carry Oregon.
I myself feel absolutely sure that the
State will go Repu blican. The people are
not now and never have been repudia-
tionists or revolutionists, and all that is
necessary is for the issues of the cafnpaipn
to be presented squarely to them to have
an old-time rousing Republican majority -
Mr.. Baker formerly lived in San Fran
cisco, and is graduate of Hastings Col
lege. He is an eloquent speaker, and old
campaigners will remember his efforts for
the Repu blican party during Biaine's can
didacy. He is prominent in Oregon
politics and was defeated for the Re-
publican nomination for Attorney General
by seven votes. Mr.. Baker is nephew of
Colonel E. D. Baker, whose name has
gone down In history as one OF the most
eloquent men the Republic has ever pro-
duced.