New-York tribune., 1896-10-30
NO DOUBT OF INDIANA.
SHE WILL MARCH WITH HER CONTIGU-
Gus STATES FOR MKINLEY.


OUs STATES FOR MKINLEY
PLURALITY OF 22ooo TO 5000 VOTES THE
GREATEST EVER GIVEN A PRESIDENTIAL
CANDIDATE. PREDICTED FOR SOUND
MONEY CHAIRMAN Cow
DY's FORECAST.
trRoM STAFF CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE ]
indianapolis Oct. 29.-Indiana has lost this
year the singular distinction 1t long enjoyed in
National politics, tnat Of being the only really
doubtful State in the Middle West While for
twenty years Ohio. Michigan. Wisconsin and
lllinois-all political and geographical neighbors
were giving unvarying support to Republi
can Presidential candidates. Indiana shift
ing it's electoral vote with puzzling regularity
from one set of nominees to the other Thus in
1872 Grant carried the State against Greeley. but
in 1876 Hayes lost IT again to Tllden. Garfield
won in 1850. Cleveland in 1884. Harrison in 1SSS
and Cleveland again in 1892. Since 1876 the
Presidential pluralities have all been exceedingly
narrow Tilden's margin in round numbers was
5.5O0 Garfelds. in 1880. $500: in 1884 Cleve-
lands margin was $500: Harrison's four years
later. fell 10 2,34S. and Clevelands. in 1892
reached the top notch Of 1.123.
Those the golden days Of Indiana politics
when intense partisan attachment and minute
partisan organization kept the opposing forces
evenly balanced to leave the determination
Of an election 20 chance, caprice. the keenness or
managerial strategy or the opulence OF man.
agerial resources New conditions prevail here
now The campaigns Of 1892. 1894 and 1896
have set new forces to work in Indiana the old
narrowness of partisanship has disappeared, and
with IT the old tendency to political singularity
and isolation
THE INFLUENCES AT WORK.
The influences which have controlled the poll
tics Of the rest Of the Middle West have In the
last few years obtained frmer and more sub
stantial hold on Indiana. An increasing solidari-
ty Of sentiment shown even In 1882 when
Indiana giving Mr. Cleveland the largest Fresi-
Dental plurality recorded In many years. was
followed into the opposition camp by Illinois
and Wisconsin. while in Ohio the Republican
electoral ticket pulled through mirus one eector
by a little over 10000 votes. In 1894 the anti
Democratic tidal wave "a pronounced here
as in any of the neighhoring states. and this
year the influences and interests which are en-
listed in Ohio. Michigan. Illinois and Wisconsin
70 defeat the Chicago ticket and platform are
just as keenly and effectively at work here. In
diana will cast her vote next week for Mckinley
and Hobart for the same reason that lllinos' or
Michigan or wisconsin. or Ohio. will' and the
victory here for sound money will he as en-
phatic and as gratifying as in any one ct the
surrounding States
As DOUBTFUL AS HER NEIGHBoRS.
Indiana is this year as doubtful as they are;
no more no less The campaign here began
as in nearly every other Western State with
a rather gloomy prospect of Republican sue
cess Not that on the vote and on tho issues
ot 1894 the Republican organization could not
Justly look forward to another sweeping victory.
but the sudden shifting Of issue at Chicago
and tho first wdnce spread of tho Bryan gos-
pei Of short-wegh. payments coupled with IN"
threat of Democratic Populis. fusion on Presi-
Dental electors plunged the Republican leaders
here into momentary despai- Indiana had been
saturated for a year with silver literature o'
tho Coins School" variety. and proved at frs.
n RHO field for tho boy prosclyter and his lien'"n-
ants
From 10000 ~ 5000 Republicans. chiefly
farmers I'm the lower counties 81 tho stat" were
swep, away i'm the frs, rush ~ tho new crusade.
and when the fusion between tho Two wings NJ
tho Boy Orators following was effected the
Repuhlican managers were brought fac" 20 face
with the realization that the splendid hold-ovc
advantages with which they had entered the
canvass of 1896 had suddenly melted away.
What the Republican margin Of advantage was
can be plainly shown by comparison of the
Presidential vote OF 1892 with the votes for
Secretary Of State and Congressman In 1871.
DECEPTIVE FORECAST
Hero are the figures: