Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-27
SITUATION IN ILLINOIS,
Possible Action of the Dunkards,
Who Usually Do Not Vote.


Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.
CHICAGO. August "a. 1896.
The opening Of democratic national head
quarters here has stimulated interest in
the local canvass an interest that Jagged
Just trifie after Mr.. Bryan's departure
for the east. The local" canvass in
| cludes all Of Illinois, for it is now generally
| conceded that on the county of Cook hangs
the hope of democracy. From the corre-
spondents view point things are very
much mixed. The showing gold democrats
will make is an unknown quantity. Just
now 1t seems that they are on the aggres-
sive, or perhaps 1t would be more proper to
say, they are whistling a lively graveyard
air, and threatening all sort of mischief
to their former associates.
1t Is but the truth to say, however, that
the men behind the democratic bolt in Il
lir OILS are not men who have led the peo-
pie. Franklin MacNeagh is known princi-
rally for his wealth; Gen. Black for his
scars, and his penchant for disagreeing
with nearly everybody; Fornan for his
swerving devotion to President Cleveland
and Senator Palmer for his absolute post
cleo ton independence of the voter
The general, it will be remembered, owes
his seat in the United States Senate now to
a fusion of democrats and populists. They
are all strong men of conceded ability. but
| here, where they are best known, they are
rot regarded as in very great sympathy
with the masses Gen. Palmer, himself a
eincere patriot and an honest man, is of
! the old school, who loves his country and
| his countrymen In the mass, but who Sc
| lects his own personal associates very
carefully. He realizes that his official life
| Is drawing to a cloSe-that in the nature of
| things. ne cannot be a participant in af-
| fairs for many years longer, and he can
therefore afford to do Just as he pleases.
| Black is an annuitant, Forman a country
| lawyer and MacVeagh a financier They
| may be called the Big Four among Illinois
| bclters, and as has been said, the extent
| of their influence Is altogether protlemat-
| ical Some assert that they will poll as
| high as 10000 votes in the state, while
others declare they will not receive more
| than 1900 and that 80 per cent of these
| 1000 will be cast in Cook county.
| The point made by this latter class Of
guessers is that in the city it is not Gus
| tomary for men. few ardent reforners
| excepted. to throw away their votes, and
! that those who do not support Bryan will
go to Mckinley.
Active Republican,.
The republican leaders undoubtedly be-
| lieve this, and are carrying on a very act
| i've propaganda among the well-to-do
| classes, realizing that a vote for the gold
standard democrat means only half vote
| for Mckinley Many of the leaflets sent
out by the republican literary bureau dwell
| strongly on the one point that democrat
| may Still be a democrat and consistently
| vote for the republican candidate in order
| to rebuke population" There seems to
| be no doubt now that the republicans in
Cook county, as In the state of Illinois.
will have to meet the allied forces of the
! democrats, the populists and the silverites.
Gen. Black for Governor.
| The nomination of Gen. Black for gov
ernor has been agreed on for weeks. A
| committee Of three well-known hard money
democrats has been appointed to wait upon
| 1T, ell 70 fIo
| Nothing remains to insure the nomination
| Of Gen. Black except that gentleman's con-
| sent to make the race. and 1t Is confidently
| asserted that the general is willing. Gen.
| Black is at present out Of the city, but the
committee appointed to wait upon him will
go to CARING, Canada, where he Is spend
| Ing his summer vacation, to make the ten
| der to him. The committee consists OF
| Adams A. Goodrich. Jacob H. Hopkins and
| James Sheehan of Galena. 1t was ap-
! pointed after a caucus of the gold demo
| cratic leaders. which was participated in
| by men Of prominence in sound money
| democratic circles from various parts OF
| the state.
influence of Dunkards.
A good deal Of interest is being taken
here in the probable course of the Dunkard
Church this fall. The announcement has
been made by a-leader of that religious
body that the Dunkards would break their
| usual rule this year and vote. 1t is not
customary for them to go to the polls at
all except in what they consider crisis In
the affairs Of the nation. The elder inter
viewed said he cast his last vote for Abra.
ham Lincoln in 1854, but that now he and
his people thought 1t their duty to express
| themselves in favor of gold and the integri-
| ty Of private contracts. OF course this in
| terview was printed in a Mckinley paper
and your correspondent gives it merely fol
what 1t is worth without undertaking to
| vouch for its authenticity.
The Dunkard Church is very strong In
Illinois. Indiana, West Virginia and Ohio
and II 1t should vote as body its induenc: