Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1896-10-28
BENT ON BEATING DOLLlVER
Iowa TopOCrats Hope to Secure at Least
One Eminent Scalp
CONGRESSIONAL VOTING WILL Be CLOSE
situation In the Tenth Town District
sim FnNors the incumbent, hut
Has Some Uncertainty
In Its Mnkc-Jp.g

JEFFERSON, Ia, Oct. 27.-tSpecal)-Th
word has gone out among the workers for
free silver that Doliver must be defeated
in this, the Tenth congressional district.
and every energy will bend to accomplish
this end. The principal weapon used to
defeat Doliver will be the claim that he
is merely a tool of Wall street. Free sill
yer leaders also expect to profit by repub-
lican over confidence and the size of his
plurality two years ago. This piece of in
formation was unintentlonally let out by
one of the leaders of the party in this
county, from whom 1t was learned that
the free silver men expect to carry seven
out of the eleven congressional districts in
the state. Four years ago Delivers oppo-
nent was Ryan of Webster county, and the
latter was defeated by about 5000 plurality.
At that time 80 900 votes, in round numbers
were polled in the district of which Dol
liver received $4,000 and Ryan II 900
hard fight was made and approximately the
full poll was brought out In 1894 Doiliver
was opposed by Baker man absolutely
unknown, residing in the extreme northern
part of the district, and only about 35 600
votes were polled, OF which Dolliyer had
approximately $4,000 and Baker II 600 Civ
Ing Dolliver plurality OF 1900. 1t will
be noticed, however, that he polled only
1000 votes more than in 1892 while Tho
democratic vote fell off 5000 AS the voting
population was unquestionably increased
during those two years, 1t is reasonable to
suppose that fully 5000 democrats failed to
vote in 1894.
The free silver people are banking upon
the proposition that republicans are LAYING
back on that Ia 900 plurality of two wears
ago, and feel secure that Doliver cannot
be defeated In this supposition they are
to quite an extent right. 1t has been the
common talk that Dolliver was all right!
that he was elected two years ago by ii 600
plurality, and that Romans might as well
remain at home and save his campaign
expenses. Mr.. Dolliver. personally does
not look at the matter this way He Is fully
aware that the conditions in 1894 were par
ticularly advantageous to him; that he was
opposed by an unknown man, and that he
has no such walk-away this fall.
The one thing that may be set down as G
political certainty is that every vote will be
polled on the Sd of November There will
be no stay-at-homes. The man who is
apathetic upon the financial question in this
campaign Is an unknown quantity, so far
as this section is concerned. and II there
were any such excuses as dis
lance or business engagements, they
would not avail to satisfy his
committeeman. Conveyance would be
furnished and means OF overcoming other
difficulties would be Immediately found
accomplish the victory upon it's merits. SC
! far as the development OF the full votinc
| strength is concerned.
WHAT THE VOTE SHOULD BE.
| 1t is safe to assume that fully As 900 votes
| will be cast in this Tenth district. OF this
| number Mr.. Delivers normal vote would
| be about $4,000, and Mr.. Romans II 900
| The populist vote under similar conditions
] would approximate 3600 Complete fusion
has been effected Romans having been en-
| dorsed by the populists and bimetallists
| giving him the solid SUPPORT of every ele-
| ment except the sound money republican,
| and democrats. The drawing OF party line:
| in an ordinary contest would give Mr.. Dol
liver from 5000 to 5000 plurality, but this
condition does not exist this fall. and ever.
the opinion of the best posted politicians ir
| the district as to the extent of free silver
| republican and sound money democratic dis
| affection, Is very uncertain. This Is con-
| clusively shown by the wide range OF esti-
mates made by committeeman in the re-
| publican and democratic parties. Even in
| wards and precincts 1t is utterly out of the
| question for committeeman to arrive at
| anything like sure conclusion. Voters are
| not only exceedingly reticent about express
! ing themselves, but in a good many cases
| their assertion Is not to be taken posi-
| tive evidence that they will vote as they
! talk. The fact of the matter is that II is
| not unusual to find men who talk one way
| to ono person and another way to the next
| individual they meet. Then there is an
| other class that is so lightly perched on
| the fence that one day they are for free
| silver and the next day for sound money.
| AS a result. the conservative committee
man has a longer list under the head
doubtful" than under the head sure"
| In every precinct this class is large enough
| to throw the balance in favor of either side
| by a large majority
| congressional race; moi only in point OF
normal plurality, but from the standpoint OF
| probable results and general indications.
| He has served the district four terms, and
| during that time has applied himself with
| more than customary diligence in taking
| care of his constituents and attending
| promptly to all matters brought before him.
| He is very popular with the farmers, as
we'll as the politicians, and has a clean
record. Doliver Is a shrewd campaigner
| This fall he is making thorough school
district canvass, covering some OF the
| ground twice. and is looking very closely
after his fences.
| ROMANS ALSO A REPUBLICAN.
| ]. b. Romans, the fusion candidate. is q
wealthy business man of Denison and per-
| sonally above reproach. He is a protec-
| Zionist OF the rankest sort, and a most un-
| compromising republican upon every point
except that of finance. His nomination
was clearly bid for the free silver repub-
| lcan vote, and 1t is believed the efforts of
| the party will be concentrated to elect him.
| He is confident, himself, of success, claiming
that a change of twelve votes in each pre-
| cinct in his favor will defeat his opponent
| and says he has knowledge of precincts that
| will show gains OF four times this number.
| However. well-informed republicans in
| Crawford, his own county, say Romans will
| not gain votes there The canvass in Car
| roll county clearly shows that the demo-
Gratis, who have had 1t all their own way
| there for years, on account of the pre-
| ponderance Of the German population, will
| lose several hundred votes, d, The Germans
| are largely for sound money. In this
| (Greene) county, an extremely conservative
| estimate will not decrease Delivers plural
| ity, and in Webster, Hamilton and Calhoun
reports indicate gain for Dolliver. In the
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