New-York tribune., 1896-05-09
THE HEART OF THE COUNTRY.

Between Pennsylvania and the western border
of the Dakotas, including Missouri. there are
152 electoral votes In all that vast region. the
very heart of the country, there Is one state
with IL electoral votes for Allison. fraction OF
another for Cullom. and the rest OF the delegates
are for Governor Mckinley There are yet to
be chosen from that section delegates from
Ohio, 4 from Kansas and 6 from Missouri, ana
no one doubts the roll will show 2G4 votes from
these States when all the delegates have been
chosen, against 40 for all other candidates. 1t
is this overwhelming preference In the great
central region which has made the nomination
Of Mckinley possible, and apparently Inevitable
But this same preference marks a tremendous
change In public opinion
Four years ago these States cast GO electoral
votes for Harrson-his own State. Illinois, WIS
consin and Missouri voting against hlm-Io for
Cleveland and 10 for Weaver. No one now
doubts that the experienced Republicans who
have assembled, thousand or more In each
State Convention, understand right well what
they are doing when in every State except Iowa
of this entire region they prefer the Ohio can
didate, and in Iowa they would prefer him TO
any other candidate except Allison. Practically,
he is the unanimous choice of the twelve States
which will elect the next President With their
votes and the 33 from Ncw-England, 50 from
PENNSYLVANIA and 13 from California and Ore
gon that are certain, he has majority with
out counting anything from Connecticut, New
York, New-Jersey, Maryland, Delaware West
Virginia, North Carolina. Tennessee Kentucky
or any of the silver-mlning States. The heart
Of the country Dames the candidate, and with
no more help than is assured can elect him. For
ho of urD
lection for American industry. will assuredly
carry every disputed Eastern State and some
at the South. and the silver States will have to
choose between Democrat who wants free
wool and Republican who does not want free
coinage Of silver.
After all, the people are leyel-headcd. They
waste no time in supporting men who have
strength only in certain localities. Mckinley
has more than two-thlrds of the regularly elect
ed delegates from the South, but these ought to
count for nothing If they are not in accord
with the delegates which have to elect Prcsi-
dent. He has a fraction from silver States also.
and probably will have the electoral votes of
several because they cannot afford TO fool away
their influence in battling for impossibilities
when a lasting victory for Protection Is within
their reach But the key Of the whole situation
Is the preference Of the people between the Ale
ghenics and the Rocky Mountains for the cham
pion of the Protective policy and that settles
the business.
1t Is not pleasant for political bosses 10 find
that they have actually no power whatever. II
is not pleasant for those who have been willing
to act rs their tools 10 find that they dragged
into losing fight against tho overwhelming
preference Of the Republican party. The
chances are that the various bosses will find
harder shedding In years that are 10 come. be-
cause they have managed 10 use the votes Of
great States for Their own convenience and am
blton against the will of the Republican voters.
If they lose their power TO dckcr. as II some
great States belonged 10 them. so much the bet
ter Republican principles are mighty enough
to win without their aid.