Evening star., 1896-10-31
KANSAS IN DOUBT,
A Majority of 1000 to 5000 Expected
for Mckinley.

Correspondence Of The Evening Star.
INDEPENDENCE. Kan. October o. 1890.
Sixty days ago 1t was expected that be-
fore now the situation in this state would
clear up somewhat, SO one might judge as
to the final outcome with some degree of
certainty, but such is not the case. Both
sides have polled the state, after a thor
ough and energetic canvass. and both are
claiming it, just as they did in July and
August After visiting the headquarters
of the republican and fusion state COM
mittees and talking with the men who are
managing the campaign OH both Sides one
comes away with only one thing settled In
his mind, and that is that Kansas has been
correctly set down as doubtful.
And yet. while all predictions are largely
guesswork, the drift has seemed to favor
the republicans for the two weeks past.
and among the more careful and conserva-
tive observers there appears to be q grow
Ing opinion that the republican state ticket
will be elected by from 5000 to 10000 and
that Mckinley will carry the state by a
small majority of 1900 to 5000.
The rule. of course, has been that the
presidential candidate runs ahead of the
state ticket. but this year a good many
silver republicans express a purpose to
vote the republican state ticket and local
tickets. while voting with the popocrats on
President and Congressman. Hence. the
preoictioH thot AChIniey Will Iau behind
the vote for governor in Kansas
AS to Congressman the republicans feel
certain that Broderick in the first and
Curtis in the fourth district will be re-
elected by safe majorities. and that proba-
bly, Harris will win In the second. Blue. it
is hoped. will pull through with the cleo
toral ticket. Long in the seventh district
appears confident Of beating jerry Simpson
while Kirkpatrick In the third and Calder
head in the fifth are fighting hard. as Is
also Ellis in the SIXTH But outside the first,
second and fourth districts. nobody can tell
the result till the votes are cast and count
ed.
more ago, and his fight against the fusion
here on Bryan and Sewall, has stirred up
considerable feeling among middle of the
road populists, which promises to help the
republicans to some extent, While the sound
money democrats are quite active, and will
in measure offset the republican loss on
the silver question. In fact the silver ques-
ton, which overshadowed al lothers in the
beginning Of the campaign, is not now at
tracing so much attention, and the repub-
licans have certainly succeeded in pushing
the question Of the tariff to the front. with
apparent advantage to their cause This is
| a noticeable feature of the campaign dis
cussions. and seems to give substantial
ground for the hope expressed by repuD-
licans that they will carry the state, This
is also reinforced by recent Manifestations
OF friction and disagreement among the
populists. democrats and free silverftes
composing the fusion forces
1t il. by all Odds the most sineular. ram.
paign ever seen in Kansas In some Iespocta
and certainly there Ia significance In the
fact that two states like Kansas and KEN
tucky have all along been clasaed toeether
In the doubtful list, when we remember thaf
Tor 20 many years they represented the op-