Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-10-20
A LANDSLIDE
Is What a Western Man Sees Coming Nc
kinley's Way.

Hon. S. j. Chadbourne has received
under date of Oct. 16 letter from l..
W. Starbird. secretary and treasurer
of the Wisconsin Savings and Loan
Association, at Madison, Wis. that has
considerable of interest for those who
are watching the political struggle in
the West. Mr.. Starbird is a Maine
man, but has passed the last 16 years
of his life in the West, much of the
time being spent in travelling. Mr..
Starbirds headquarters were in Chi
cago for several years and he is well
acquainted with political conditions
in the Dakotas, Minnesota, Wisconsin,
Indiana and Illinois. He writes Mr..
Chadbourne as follows:
My Dear Chadbourne:Wh it is true
that for Il short time after the Chicago
convention l was troubled in mind ~ To
the probable result OF the election. am
confident now that Mckinley will be
elected by very large electoral vote
ana as requested, | will give you the
ground of my belief with no attempt
however, to logically state the reasons
that lie in my mind.
Time has been and is an important fac
tor in our favor. the sober second thought
of the masses leading them to see the
faliacy of the silver craze.
The argument on the question at issue
IS all on one side: The press, especially
the great dailies; is practically unit on
the same side. Nearly All the leaders
and representative men OF the Democrat
party repudiate Bryan ana his platform.
The business men without regard to
former associations are practically solid
for sound money and law and order The
clergy are the same way. The Republic
can campaign organization is the most
perfect ever organized and the number of
speakers. the largest. not to say the abb
est ever sent out in this country. The
amount OF printed matter that has been
distributed is simply stupendous and the
attendance on political meetings beyond
al precedent.
The better tone in the money market
and the flow of gold TO our shores: the
rise in wheat and other farm products;
If these things are not to determine. to-
%ether with the not to be omitted great
fact of right. the result in November then
indeed have we cause for alarm. All of
the forces that ought to influence and de-
termine questions of the nature We are
to pass ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. patriotism
and morality. as well as those before
enumerated, ought 10 be and are largely
arrayed on our side.
| might mention the Chicago demon
stration the 9th. together with the
Records postal card vote which shows
for Bryan. further very strong rea-
sons for the ground of my belief Also
the registration which confirms the postal
vote. And the German vote. which is so
numerous. nearly. all solid for sound
money. Among the states you mention
Kansas is the only one | do not conf
IDENTIFY claim in our column. The great
states of the West will be found in the
company of those of the East when the
votes are counted.
The Republicans are handicapped by
their state tickets in Illinois and Mime
sofa. but will win on wide margins. the
former by a round 100000 and the latter
40. 900 to 50000 a letter from Gov. Austin.
who is campaigning in Minnesota just re-
ceived. states he feels no doubt about the
result there. He also writes North Da-
kota is safe but I've claimed that all the
time.
To conclude. while claim to be neither
a prophet or the son of one ! am willing
to go on record as predicting Il landslide
for Mckinley"