The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-08-13

1t is universally conceded that there
will be a considerable bolt from the Re-
publican party in all the states west of
the Mississippi, while the Democrats
will lose very few votes. As matter
of fact the Democracy in adj those
states has been running on free silver
platforms for the last four years.
Whatever Democratic elemenn will re-
fust to support Bryan because CT the
silver plank in the platform was lost
four years ago. The SILVER Republicans
constitute from to 70 per cent. of their
party in these states, but while they
Will increase the Democratic majority
they are not essential to it.
The Republicans had majorities in
only two states west of the Mississippi,
in 1892, Iowa and Wyoming They car
red Minnesota and Nebraska, il is
true, but only by a division OF the BIZ
mefadlists. With Bryan at the head of
the ticket there is no danger of Ne
bIdSka to the Democratic ticket. Min
nesota. may possibly be considered
doubtful. There is a Democratic-Pop
list majority there of 5,400, but there
are some gtoldbug Democrats. AS, how
ever, bug bolt from the Republican
party ON the silver issue, headed by
the lieutenant governor and two CON-
gressmen, has already taken place, the
chances are decidedly i'm favor OF Dem
CcraGic success.
South of the Ohio there are but two
states which can be considered in amy
way oubtful-Kentucky and West Vir-
ginia. Indeed, in most of the other
southern states the Republican party
is prosilver, and thousands OF former
Republican votes will go to the Demo-
cratic ticket on that issue.
The principal reason for chasing
Kentucky as Republican is that it
went for that party by small major
ity in the last state election. This is
a very poor reason for expecting it to
be Republican in the presidential con-
test CoLonel Wat Hardin the Demo-
cratic candidate for governor, made
Uhe contest last year under the most
dasadvantageous circumstances. He
ran on a goldbug platform, which he
opposed, and which lost him thousands
of PopuMst votes. The gold men
worked assiduously to defeat him, and
the gold men were much stronger chen
than they are now. There has been
wonderful awakening in Kentucky on
the financial issue, as was shown in
the late Democratic primaries, when
the state, which the goldbuSs had car
ried but a few months before, was
swept for silver. When we remember
by now slim a, majority the Democracy
was defeated in Kentucky on a goldbuS
platform no one IAN doubt it's success
today.
But we have not taken into consider
alton the central western suites, where
the campaign will be waged- There
will doubtless be a campaign in Ohio,
but we do not at present see any
chance of success there. On the other
hand, Indiana and Illinois give every
hope of victory. Indiana has always
leaned that way, but Illinois promises
even better There is a handsome mar
gin of 1920 in that state. Moreover,
the Republican strength is concentrate
ed in the rural districts, and it is the
farmers who feel the oppression OF
gold bugism most and have Joined the
timetable ranks in consequence. No
where in adj the country has the silver
question been studied more carefully,
and nowhere have there been SO many
converts. Unless we are greatly mis-
taken, Illinois will be for Bryan by a
large majority.
With Illinois he cam dispense with all
the doubtful states and have eight
votes to spare. There will be a pretty
fight in both Michigan and Wisconsin,
where the Democracy Will undoubtedly
lose many votes because of its silver
plank, but where already there has
been a big bolt from the Republicans
ON this same issue. How this inter-
change of votes will affect the result
can be guessed at only wildly. In fine,
Mr.. Bryan starts out with 208 votes
sure and the following in the doubtful
column:
Illinois 49,. Observation-Disclosures. "a
Indiana ............. .............'.-. 10
Iowa .............. ........... ......... 10
Michigan ......... .--.-...-'..-.. 1890 II
West Virginia. ...................
Wisconsin ............... .........'-.. Il
TOTAL. ..........-.. -. ;. - - o1
If he gets all of them, ne WIFI nave
5S more than he needs and majority
of 115. but this is scarcely likely. OF
course the silver plank has damaged
the Democratic prospects in the east
and perhaps lost New Jersey, Connect
cut and New York, with its large cleo
toral vote. The Democratic losses Will
be mainly in states where they Will
do no more than increasing Mckinley s
maiorities; their gains will be in close
states, which they will bring over 10
the Democratic column.
The nomination of a goldOug Demo-
cratic ticket would probably help the
silver cause rather than lnJure 1t, Tor lt
will prevent the godbug Democrats
from going over to Mckinley, where
most of them are likely to otherwise
land. Altogether the Democratic out
look is brilliant since 1T took UP the
Democratic fight for free silver, when,
only a few weeks ago, 1T was recognized
by all to be hopetess.-New Orleans
TimeS-DemocTat.
AMI yxuAD