Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-09-24
BRYAN m THE NORTHWEST
A Washingtonian Thinks His Cause Lost
One.
Impressions Received From q Trip
to MfnnesOta-Estimate Made
by Republicans.
To the Editor Of The Evening Star:

DULUTH, MIMI, September H. 1&H
AS an old resident of Minnesota and one
interested in its development 1 left Wash
IL gton city q month ago to study the po-
litical situation, especially in the sixth and
seventh congressional districts, which are
now the chief battle scenes of the state,
and which are holding the attention Of
politicians everywhere Before leaving
Washington I had heard much Of the ex-
istence of the free silver ghost. which was
alleged to be wandering around the
prairies Of the gopher state, and which
was stated to be much in evidence in Min
neapolis, Duluth and the farming districts.
The experiences Of month have convinced
me that the same talk we hear in the east
Of the cy clonic wave OF free silver, which
threatens to engulf the west and sweep
everything before it, is merely the echo
Of what Is said in the west of the great
ste nm center in the east, and that there is
no real foundation in fact anywhere Eek
cept, perhaps. in the south and the mining
states) OF that great Bryan storm that is
to colhe and sweep everything before 1t.
have talked to many hundred people of
all conditions and classes and can assure
you that the people of this state are keeniy
alive to their best interests. and know
that the salvation Of this country depends
on the election of Mckinley and Hobart
and a republican Congress. A very con-
servative estimate places the republican
"A
bury of Minneapolis. a very good authority.
places the majority as high as $4,000 and
even 10000. These estimates are not made
upon personal enthusiasm, but are based
1t is intended to take at least two polls of
the entire state before election. so that
all doubt as to how Minnesota will go will
be eimiI ated. If vote could be taken
next week l have no doubt whatever that
McKinley's lowest majority would be 25.O0D,
and just as certain for him as Pennsylvania
will be or Maine has been. The truth is
the silver people are losing ground every
day. The republicans are becoming more
aggressive, more thoroughly organized, and
alive to the issues, and are fighting their
opponents to the DEATH intending this time
to bury the silver craze so deep that 1t
will never be resurrected again as a polit-
ical issue. l new. r before witnessed such
erthusi. SIN thrown into campaign as
this. Everywhere you find republican
headquarters open day and night, with
workers armed with literature and facts
that are making a telling and convincing
impression.
In Congressman Eddy's district found
thorough canvass in progress. Mr. Eddy
is making a strong fight. is an earnest
worker and makes hosts of friends wher-
ever he goes. If he cannot succeed in this
district mo other republican could. l be-
lieve ~ will be elected. In GAINESVILLE,
Mimi, In his district, l found quite veri-
table boom in progress. Sixty thousand
acres of fine agricultural lands have been
purchased since spring by the farmers:
good brick blocks are being built, one of
them by silver republican" who has
joined the free coinage cause for the rea-
son. as stated by him. that there Is a lack
Of money in the country.
In this district. the sixth, all the signs
point to the defeat of Congressman Towne.
He started OFT with the claim that he
would be re-elec ted by 25OOO majority. To-
day his supporters have reduced the claim
to 5000 majority whilst the friends of the
q ard I'D De-
Morris, are confident that those figures will
about represent the judges majority. Free
silver republicans are daily DESERVING
Towne. whilst the number of democrats
who will vote for Mckinley and Morris
are two to one for every silver republican
who will vote for Bryan and Towne Towne
begins to see the handwriting on the wall,
and is working day and night for success.
His republican opponent is popular,
shreWd campaigner. fine speaker and an
untiriTg and Jealous worker. He has the
sympathies of all the men and organiza-
tons that stand for the credit and good
name of this city, whilst Towne is no longer
greeted by the solid citizens, but is avoid
ed as he walks through the streets. Every
day l have seen solid citizens leave their
business and devote several hours to hard
political work for the success of Mckinley
and Morris, and they expect to keep this up
until election. You can rest assured Du-
luth understands fully where it's interests
lie. Its people and the miners in the iron
ranges north of this city are too familiar
with the sight Of gold to be insensible to it's
power. The wages of the miners are to
this day being paid in gold, as has been the
custom, ever since resumption, among the
mines on Lake Superior, and he would be
a daring innovator. indeed, who would try
to make the miners believe that 1t were
better for them to have their wages paid in
d deprecated silver COIN
From what l have seen and heard in six
OF the western states-claimed to be pivotal
Il will go back to Washington with the
conviction that Organism Is dead, that
Maj. Mckinley is already the choice of the
people. and will be elected by a majority
| so large that 1t will be phenomenal, and
people will wonder how 1t was possible they
ever could have made themselves believe
| 1t could have turned out otherwise. s.