Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-01
SEVERAL SOUTHERN STATES
Republicans Are Hopeful of Carrying Them
for Mckinley.
West Virginia, Maryland, North Caro-
lima, Alabama and Georgia Regard
ed ms Good Fighting Ground.

The republicans are hopeful Of carrying
several southern states for Mckinley. They
regard West Virginia, Maryland, North
Carolina, Alabama and Georgia as good
fighting ground. Maryland they regard is
pretty nearly a sure thing. The situation
in Georgia. as represented by gold democrats.
is much more favorable to Mckinley than
might naturally be supposed, even with the
practical certainty that the middle-of-the-
road populists will fight the Bryan ticket.
Can't Resort to Old Methods.
Gold democrats say that 1t will not be
possible this year to resort to methods
heretofore practiced to build up democratic
matorities, and that, with a middle-of-the-
read popuist ticket in the field, Bryan can
rot carry the state. What they call the
'skillful count" when dead mems dogs
and dusters' are voted for the democratic
ticket they say. is not now practicable. A
count by which the votes Of certain districts
amount to from one-half to two-thirds the
entire population, men, women and chill
dren. cannot be indulged in. These big
counts are represented as necessary to hold
the state to the democrats, and 1t is said
that in the sections Of the state In which
they have been made the anti-silver senti-
ment Is strongest, and the expert counters
will not exercise their talents in behalf of
Bryan. On the contrary, the gold demo-
Gratis will see to 1t that there is fair cleo
ton. and that the anti-Bryap populists, as
we'll the republicans, get all the votes
cast for them, and that tine democrats vote
no dead mems dogs
This view of the situation comes from
democratic sources.
Uphill Work in Maryland.
In Maryland 1t is confessed by the demo-
Gratis that 1t will be an uphill fight for
Bryan, with the chances against demo-
cratic success. In some sections of the
state a few republicans have declared for
silver, but their number is Insignificant
compared with the great number of gold
democrats in Baltimore who will support
the republican ticket. 1t Is argued that If
German, with the state machine in his con-
troll, and not embarrassed by the silver
question, could not carry the state last
fall, II can hardly be hoped that it will go
for Bryan next November.
North Carolina and Alabama.
In North Carolina and Alabama much de-
pends upon what the democrats can do
with the populists. In these two states the
Bryan people are anxious to fix up things
with the popuIists. They have already
made substantial overtures, and they are
ready to make liberal concessions. To aid
them in their efforts, they have the active
cooperation Of Kolb in Alabama and in
North Carolina, the assistance of Butler
provided he Is permitted to dictate terms.
If they accomplish fusion I'm these states,
the prospect for Mckinley will not be SO
good there, but failure to get all the ele-
ments together is likely to throw one or
both to Mckinley.
West Virginia.
Senator Elkins has great confidence in
his ability to carry West Virginia for Nc
kinley, and the gold democrats in the state
are very numerous. though there is consid-
cradle silver agitation. Wilson and Faulk-
ner, who represent two elements of the
democrats, are both gold men, Wilson ag-
gressively SO, and Faulkner not believing
In free coinage Of silver, but willing to put
forth his best efforts for the democratic
ticket.