Evening star., 1896-10-23
PEOPLE GROWING WEARY
The Thinking Voter Has Made Up His Mind
on the Silver Question.
Efforts i'm Chicago to Get the Float.
Ing Vote - The Result Cam
not BE FOrecasted.
special Correspondents of Tn. Evening Star.

Et3nQlnS out prominently amid all the
doubt and uncertainty Of the outcome of
the election here in Chicago is one fact SO
apparent that lie who moves about at all
may read 1.-THE people are at last growing
weary of the campaign. 1t is not COM
forting fact to the politicians, but it is a
fact, just the same.
For the first four weeks after Bryan's
nomination and the joining of issues in
tho platforms the business of this city
was seriously impeded by the fierce and
heated discussion of politics which went on
everywhere. The streets were frequently
blockaded with dense mobs of excited poll
tictans, shouting and gesticulating at one
another; scenes in hotel lobbies were re-
productions on smaller scale Of those
IN the streets, and almost any merchant or
other business man would leave his work
to engage in heated political argument
with customer or anybody else who might
venture to broacn the all-absorbing ques-
ton of silver. Men and women. too, went
crazy on the subject, and to a calm out-
side observer the whole proceeding raised
the question whether madness had not be-
come an epidemic.
Now all this is changed. Though the
election IS only a few days off, the politi-
cal atmosphere has grown much Quieter, If
no clearer. The endurance of the politi-
clan seems to have about exhausted itself.
Signs like this are frequently seen now in
the silver question; my mind is made up"
Inquiry as to the conclusion merely calls
out an index finger pointing to the sign.
While this Is true of what might be call
ed the street phase of the campaign, there
seems to be little falling off in interest in
political meetings where speakers of repu-
ta ton hold forth. But even at these gath
erings there Is not the fierce struggle for
adm1ttance that attended the earlier meet
lngs. 1t Is safe to say tnat the thinking
reasoning voter has already made up his
mind as to how he Will vote November g.
The unthinkinS. unreasoning voters, of
whom there are, unfortunately, a great
number here, will probably decide some
hfteen minutes or less before they enter
the voting booths.
Yet, 1t is for this worthless, venal, even
dangerous, element of our electorate that
all the noise and fuss and feathers of the
campaign fs being kept up to the end For
tnls element the managers Of both political
parties are exhausting every. means to
ma out now the man Of principle is going
to vote. If 1t can be demonstrated to the
band wagon" vote which way the tide Is
setting, II will only be necessary to shout,
Jump in. Otherwise 1t may require 81
bill to convince the doubtful one, and in
return get 10 assurance that he will de-
liver the goods.
The Result in Doubt.
AS to the result of the efforts to fore
cast the outcome, 1T can be asserted posi-
lively that no apparent progress has bean
made by either party. The result here is
in as much doubt as 1t was a month ago.
Both sides are claiming everything for pub
lication, but get the shoutsrs Gained down
a little and they will acknowledge, mot for
publication with my name, of course
that they really have next to no evidence
upon which to base their claims.
Both sides are claiming victory from the
unprecedented registration, yet a dispas-
sionate analysis of The increase shows that
IL Is about evenly distributed through the
democratic and republican strongholds
alike. OF this tremendous registration, and
the efforts which brought it forth, 1t may
be remarked that nothing so dangerous to
public welfare nor SO disgracefuI in meth
DDS has ever occurred before in the history
Of Chicago politics. That fraud and per-
jury have been resorted to by wholesale
is acknowledged by all who are familiar
with the facts. The ignorant, degraded, Off
securing of Europe have been rounded up
like SO many wild cattle, 7corralled in court
rooms and the brand Of American citizen
ship burnt on by the rankast kind of per-
jury. Each side being satisfied of its abil-
ity to make the most Of the outrageous
business, neither has the courage to call
a halt on the other. Even partisan judges
turn sick with disgust at the wholesale vio-
lation Of the spirit and intent of the law,
which, however, is conformed to in the let
ter.
While the public shows signs of weari-
ness and exhaustion over the campaign.
many of the speakers, prominent and un-
important alike, are showing more marked
evidence of fatigue. Speaker Reed has
nearly worn his voice out, and Gov Alt
geld has little left of either voice or
strength. At his' last speech at the Audi
torium he was SO near collapse that the
morning papers stationed reporters at his
hotel all night, pot knowing but that news
of q most serious character might develop
from his alarming condition. How those
two old veterans, Palmer and Buckner,
manage to keep up az we'll as they do is
the wondering comment of the politicians
on every hand.
The most thorough and intelligent effort
which has been made to catch the drift of
public sentiment here in the doubtful west
is that being made by the Records postal
card vote. Out Of the results both parties
profess to find certain evidence of success.
The Postal Card Ballet.
Though the total vote here in the city
for Mckinley is nearly five times that
given to Bryan. the democrats, figuring on
certain percentages, claim it shows vic
tory for their candidate. Instructions We're
sent out to the silver men not to participate
Ia the ballot. This furnishes a ready ex-
PLANTATION on the bart Of .he leaders for
the small total, while the percentage of
former republicans who have turned to
Bryan, they claim, shows that he will pull
through on this element of the electorate
Ihey also point TO Inc total vote Tor NC
Kinley as evidence in their favor. 1t is
well known that the republican MANAGERS
desired a full expression from republican
voters in the straw ballot. Their speakers
and daily papers indorsed the scheme, yet
only about $1,000 out of a registration of
877,OOO has been cast for the republican
nominee. This may or may not be signif-
can't
The great parade on Chicago day un-
doubtedly had decided effect favorable to
the sound money" party. But even that
has been somewhat discounted by certain
things which have developed since. Later
estimates have shown that the figures rep
resenting the numbers In line were too high
by almost half, and the parade revived
the old cry of coercion by the democrats.
Careful estimates. based on the vote for
state treasurer III 1894, and for mayor here
in 1885, show that at least $1,000 republi-
can votes in the state must change over
to Bryan outside of Chicago to overcome
the expected democratic gdefection to Nc
Kinley in Cook county.
The republicans say they will come up to
Cook county with 100000 plurality.
The democrats confidently claim 5000
in the same territory, and even claim Cook
county.
Men of both parties who are willing to
give their candid convictions frankly ad-
nit that as the election draws nearer the
situation becomes more involved and uncer-
tain and there you are. d. /. M.
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