Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-10-09
THROUGH NORTHERN OHIO
Canvass Of Belt Of Representative Buckeye
Counties, -
OBJECTIONS From Both PARTIES. hut
the Democratic Boilers Arc of
the Most Consequence.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.
GAINESVILLE, Ohio, October Z. 1894
A careful investigation Of the political
situation in nine counties stretching across
northern Ohio from east to west will give
fair idea Of the conditions existing in the
whole state, for these counties are fairly
representative, In that some of them are
strongly republican, others surely demo-
cratic, and still others are very close,
sometimes going one way, sometimes the
other, by a small plurality. The coun-
ties in which I have made such investiga-
ton are Belmont, Guernsey. Licking,
Knox, Richland, Seneca, Wood, Henry and
Defiance. No large cities are located in
any of these counties, but their citizens
are made up chiefly Of farmers and en-
ployes of the many small manufacturing
industries which have grown up in Ohio
IN the past dozen years, and which have
nour1shed under the fostering care Of q
protective tariff, aided by natural gas.
cheap 1uel. oil and transportation facili-
ties. The direct beneficial influence OF a
protective tariff has nowhere been more
positively felt than in Ohio, and it is not
uncommon to find democrats who admit
ton, and yet they propose to vote for Mr.
Bryan because they believe in free silver"
Nowhere are the changes of political faith
more noticeable than in these country sec
else and how he stands politically.
stemminx the Tide.
The democratic organization is counting
on large accessons from the farmers Of
Ohio, but from my inquiries among this
class I find that while some Of them have
Topped. others are in doubt, and the large
majority will remain steadfast to their
former political beliefs. Those who are in
doubt now were for free silver six weeks
ago, but the splendid campaign work by the
republican committee, added to the influence
OF the press Of the state and the speeches
made by Major Mckinley to visiting delega-
lions, have brought them to a better under
standing of the issues Another condition
that has greatly aided the republican ticket
Is that so many prominent business and
professional men in these counties have
come out for sound money, and in some
instances are doing more effective campaign
work than the leading republicans. For in
stance, IN Belmont county the president Of
steel rolling mill is making speeches. In
Guernsey county the president Of the Cen
trail National Bank, lifelong democrat is
stunning the county for Mckinley and
sound money.
Other Converts.
Two prominent attorneys, who have al
ways been democrats, are doing the same
thing, and a former candidate for Congress
on the democratic ticket Is working for
the Palmer and Buckner ticket. In Licking
county a prominent business man, who was
In the southern army and has never voted
anything but the democratic ticket, Is ac-
lively at work for Mckinley. A democratic
banker Is for Palmer, the largest dry goods
dealer two lawyers and doctor, who have
been big guns in the democratic party, are
now for Mckinley. In Knox county two
families of prominence as extensive farm
erS, who have prospered, have changed
from democracy to republicanism. In this
county there is a large Catholic vote, which
is being Influenced for the republican ticket
this year. In Seneca county an ex-Con-
gresham, who is a lifelong democrat, is
for Palmer. and Is making many converts
to sound money.
The POpulist Vote.
And so it goes in every community. do
not wish to be understood as implying that
there have not been changes from repub-
licanism to free silver, for there have been,
but rule they are not prominent men
in the communities. The democratic vote
this year in Ohio will be swelled by 90
per cent Of the $4,000 popuist votes cast
for Coxey for governor, and these access
sions, added to the farmers who believe
that free silver is panacea for low prices
for farm products, give encouragement to
the democrats. and make the contest in
where, the chief gains to republcanism
this year will be In the large cities, re-
versng the usual order Of things. and, in
my Judgment these gains will overcome all
possible disanection among the farmers
the latter having been greatly overesti-
mated.
At Senator Sherman's Home.
While at Mansfield 1 saw Senator Sher-
man, who had Just returned from a western
trip and appeared to be thoroughly rested
In response to my question. the Senator
said there could be no doubt about Ohio
giving Mckinley handsome majority and
of the national democratic movement, was
perfectly safe. He spoke Of the f1attering
receptions he had received in the silver
states, and especially in Montana. but be-
heved the electoral votes of those states
would go to Bryan, unless there was some
radical change in the situation before No
vember 3. From information received from
friends in all parts of the country Mr.
Sherman believes Maj McKinley's election
Is assured, but he expressed the hope that
the verdict would be so nearly unanimous
that 1t would mean the end of the agita-
ton OF policies which so threaten the well
fare of the country.
In the evening I attended a meeting of
the Republican Sound Money Club of Mans
field. and heard the Senator talk to his
neighbors and fellow townsmen. He had
invited Col. w. c. Cooper, formerly Con-
gresham from this district, to make a
speech to the club, and did not intend to
say anything himself, but the audience In
sisted on hearing from him. In a somewhat
dlngy hall, with an audience largely COM
posed OF Workingmen, the Senator made a
speech which made greater impression
on me than any of the speeches he ever
delivered In the Senate. He spoke with an
earnestness and vigor which showed the
intense interest he feels in the issues of
this campaign. The Senator's remarks were
FULLY appreciated by his fellow townsmen.