Evening star., 1896-10-31
Representatives of Them Interviewed
on the Outlook.
OPINIONS OF TIE COMMON PEOPLE
Results of Visits to Hotels and
Railroad Stations.
THE VIEWS RESSED


comes from the leaders of the two parties
and trained correspondents. Leaders would
not say even If they knew that they would
be defeated, and even trained correspond
ents are sometimes misled by Information
given out at political headquarters. Among
the masses, as a rule, the wish is father
to the thought they have no opportunities
for judging beyond the limits Of their ac-
quaintance, and they seek their political
friends largely among those who believe
as they do.
The people are to decide the question,
and The Star therefore gives the prophecies
of the people who reside in the so-called
doubtful states. Reporters were assigned
yesterday to the hotels and railroad depots
to learn from travellers the true conditions
as they believe them to exist. AS rule.
ardent partisans are at home, fact that
the small number of people registered at
the hotels amply demonstrates. Thousands
know how they themselves will vote, but
possess no opportunities to judge as to
their states. So far as possible no inter-
views were had except with those fitted to
make an intelligent statement as to the
states in which they live, neither were any
interviewed who reside in states conceded
to be certain. Nothing like q straw vote
was attempted. bat only short statements
as to their opinions and the reasons upon
which they rest.
The states disputed, some of them upon
slender grounds, are Connecticut, Della
ware, New York. Pennsylvania. Maryland.
New jersey, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Mich
igan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota,
South Dakota. Iowa. Nebraska, Kansas,
Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Car
olina. West Virginia, Virginia. California,
Oregon and Washington. Several Of these
were not represented among the strangers
passing through the city, but nearly all Of
them were, and they are given in alphabet
ical order.
California.
R. A. Hendrick of San Diego, who is en-
gagged in the cattle business, was seen en-
route to his home. which he hopes to reach
in time TO vote Tuesday evening" Il am
unalterably In favor of the free coinage of
silver at a ratio Of 16 to IT, he said, land
until short time ago was enthusiastic
for Bryan. Had the election taken place
a month ago there is no doubt in my mind
that California would have gone for Bryan.
Both parties in their state platforms are
pledged to free silver, and no man could be
elected there who did not favor 1t. But l
shall vote for Mckinley and the republican
ticket. In this 1 will be Joined by thou
sands who believe as 1 do, and who have
been for Bryan. The reasons for this are
partly that the populists have put out
regular anarchists. Their nominee in my
district, now represented by Congressman
Bowers. Is DR.. Castle, who called all SOL
diers assassins, and who advocated openly
the killing of the republican leaders. The
teriff has cut more figure with us than it
ruined by the Wilson law, and Bryan'S
views. if adopted by Congress. would Grip
pie us so that we could never recover. l
left home two weeks ago, and the tide
was then turning irresistibly. Bowers will
BE- reelected, possibly. McLachlan and the
Mckinley electors will have a majority of
from 10000 to 1900 l don't think l can
be mistaken. 1 have lived in California
nd 7 I'm ho sfa 70
Connecticut.
"Who told you that Connecticut was
doubtful?' was the reply of ]. A. Sperry,
a jewelry manufacturer Of Meriden. 1T is
a democratic state. but not that kind, just
as 1 am a democrat, but not that kind of
a democrat. don't know what McKin-
ley's majority will be, but one thing is GER
tain. it would take more money than the
whole amount the democrats have had this
year to carry Connecticut for Bryan"
Mr.. c. e. Simrall. grocer of Bridgeport,
Connecticut will give heavier majority
for Mckinley than 1t has ever given
presidential candidate. Ex-Congressman
Bishop Of Bridgeport, a lifelong democrat,
democrats are all that way. McKinleys .
majority in Connecticut will be $4,000 or
10000"
P. c. Hutchinson, farmer, living near
Kenton, said, when seen at the b. and o.
depot: Il am a straight republican, but
am not going to vote this year. l don't be-
lieve in free silver, but some Of my neigh
bors who are republicans do, and few Of
them will vote for Bryan. Most of them
will not vote at all. We are tired Of this
constant wrangle between Higgins and Ad-
dicks as to which shall boss the state, and
III n LOT hon I
at the polls. Delaware don't count much
In the electoral college, and the people up
my way don't think Mckinley will need it
and while 1 don't know what Wilmington
Will do out In the state we have made up
our minds it is time to smash the whole
machine and stop the everlasting row. The
country vote will be surprise. and be-
ieve Bryan will carry Delaware"
No one could be found from Wilmington
but the republican managers claim the
state TO be safe for Mckinley. If, how
ever, Mr.: Hutchinson represents a very
considerable element, Delaware may be
counted upon as truly doubtful
AL. D. Busey, a merchant Of Rantout
Champaign county, was seen at the Ma
tional Hotel and said: II am for Mckinley,
and the wish may be father to the thought,
but don't think so. l have q considerable
acquaintance throughout eastern central
Illinois. When Altgeld was elected gov
ernor there were many of my friends who
supported him, now there is not one who
will vote for either him or Bryan. l made
a list about a week ago Of the men whom
l knew who voted for Altgeld before, and
there were over five hundred Of them. Not
one will vote for Bryan. ! have a brother
living in Coles county, in the southern part
of the state, and he writes me that it is
the same way there. Bryans old home is
in southern Illinois, but SO Is that of Tan
ner, the republican nominee for governor,
and Tanner is much stronger there than
Bryan. The rise in the price of wheat has
knocked out the only chance Bryan had
of carrying the state, II he ever had any.
I do not mean to say that he has no sup
porters in my section, but none of them
are republicans or have been during the
past ten years, and Senator Palmer will
divide the democrats with him."
r. L. Wellington. q real estate dealer Of
Chicago, said at the Pennsylvania depot /:
Chicago is the only part of Illinois where
the principles advocated by Bryan ever had
chance of winning, and, as that is now
concededly republican, the state is not in
danger" .i.i.-.s -
One Bryan man was found from Ininois.
but he declined to give his name or express
an opinion, saying only "he will get INV
vote, whether he gets any others or not"
Indiana.
J. J. Freeland, q clerk in the pension Of
fee, was in the depot en- route to his home
In Coshen ''I am for Rryan nv solF h a