Evening star., 1896-10-23
Effect of Chicago's Great Registra-
tion on the Campaign.
DEMOCRATS CHARGING FRAUD
Gov. AItgeId Has Three Strings to
His Bow.
REPUBLICANS CONFIDENT
Correspondence of The Evening Star.

vote caused by the large registration Tues
day again encouraged the republicans. For
some reason the republicans claim all of the
benefit from the increased registration.
They assert that the larger the vote the
bigger majority Mckinley will receive In
this city. Naturally, this is denied by the
democrats.
The republicans now assert that they Will
carry Illinois by 100000 or more, and that
something like that majority will be given
in Cook county. On the other hand. equal
ly as confident claims are made by the
democrats. Governor Altseld now says
that Bryan will carry Illinois. but he has
somewhat impaired the confidence of his
supporters in his ability as a prophet by
declaring, his return from New York.
that the empire state would be carried by
Bryan.
Evidently the democrats expect a large
majority for Mckinley in Cook county.
This is apparent from the fact that they
are already making charges of fraud. In
the first place, they have asserted that
thousands of republicans have been Illegal
ly registered. and intimate that the fact
that the election machinery is under The
control of the party will be responsible for
the size Of the majority here.
Frauds in Naturalization Charged.
1t Is also limited by the democrats that
there have been frauds in naturalization.
Chairman Alexander Jones of The demo-
cratic campaign committee has begun pro-
ceedings to allow the clerk of the court to
show his records 1t is alleged that there
have been gross frauds. and that, they say,
is why Magerstadt would not show his
records Jones has played rather a sharp
trick by writing to the Civic Federation,
which Is organized in favor of the better
Ing of municipal conditions, asking its CO.
operation A majority-a vast majority-of
its members are in favor of the election of
Mckinley.
iS not haI;a ,ha,
any frauds or that any are in con.em pla-
tfon, and most people agree with the re-
pubhcans, who say that the hullabaloo has
been made simply to give an opportunity to
evade the responsibility for the defeat of
Bryan in the state.
A new complication which has arisen to
vex the republicans is that many support
ers of Altgeld, who are also for Mckinley
and there many of these have beer,
told that to make certain of their Altgeld
vote they should vote for Bryan Under
the ILLINOIS ballot law. which seems framed
TO discourage independent voting, if
cross is made at the head of the ticket
and another cross Is made against the
name or candidate on another ticket. the
ballot Is void, although the intention of the
voter to cast his ballot against only one
man on his party ticket is very evident.
The workmen, who supporters of Alt
eeio, nave been warned that to run no
rsks they should put a cross at the head
OF the democratic ticket, and as there are
many men who care more about the cleo
uon or Altgeld than anything else they
may take this advice so as to make sure of
their vote for the governor
however unpopular Altgeld's attacks on
government by Injunction" ETC., NAV be
IN otner parts OF the country, it is unques-
uonapIe that he has strong following in
Illinois ON that ground alone
The registration of women has been ra-
ther large, perhaps cocoa ballots will be
. easl IN the state Under the Illinois law
they are allowed to vote for trustees of the
State University, and a small proportion
avai themselves of the right. Each party
mas nominated a woman this account
ana ShouId the vote be close both women
would Win- as experience has shown that
the women who vote generally vote for one
or their own sex At the last election the
women led their tickets, and they are
likely 10 DO so again this year.
Thirteen Tickets.
thirteen tickets will appear on the off,
cial ballot. They are as follows: Demo-
crat. republican, prohibition. peoples party
socialist labor party, national party mid
dle-of-the-road party, Independent gold
standard democracy. independent party in
dependent democratic party, independent
silver party, independent republican party,
rational silver party.
The middle-of-the-road party is the
straight populists who declined to fuse
The gold democrats have the Indianapolis
electors, under the name independent gold
standard democracy"
The gold democrats have practically
closed their headquarters. Controller Eek
els and Governor Flower are touring the
state W. s. Forman, the candidate for
governor, who is running to defeat Alt
geld. is also stumping- The result of the
gold democratic bolt has been small. 1t
is not expected that the ticket will poll
over 10000 votes Vice Chairman Hopkins
claims 10000. Most of the gold democrats
will vote for Mckinley, if they vote at all
While the offices of the national head
quarters are becoming deserted and very
is
lively around the city and state headquar-
ters- The fight the local tickets is be-
coming more intense There is every in
dication mixed tickets will be elected in
many counties The democrats seem to be
giving strongest support to the legislative
candidates, which lends color to the report
that Altgeld is ambitious to go to the Sen
ate should Bryan fail to become President
and place him In the cabinet. --
AItxeId's Three Strings.
Altgeld, by the way, has three strings
to his bow. He may be either a member
of the cabinet, Attorney General is the
office on which he has his eye. or he may
be governor OF Senator. He may fail Of
all, but his supporters think he will get
the other.
at the Auditorium which was one of the
best In point of attendance during the
campaign During the next week ne will
stump the city until Bryan comes here,
when he will go to the state Either Alt
geld or Bryan will speak here every day
from now until the Sunday before election.
William E. Mason, who will be remem
bered in Washington as the BILLY" Mason
of the first Reed Congress, the rival Of
John Allen for the honor of being the wit
of the House, Is to follow Bryan around
while the candidate Is in the state and
speak at halls in the vicinity. Mason is q
as good man a man could be had for
the task. He has developed into one of the
best rough-and-ready orators in the coun-
try. He has been doing some excellent
work in Illinois for the republican ticket,
and has spoken nearly every night for the
past three months. Mason's ambition is to
return to Washington United States
Senator from Illinois. and he has made
many friends by his canvass of the state
who will be of service to him in furthering
that ambition.
Great Activity ON All Sides.
Although the republicans assert that al
ready 900 meetings have been held In Chi
cago. there Is to be diminution in the
vigor with which the campaign will be
fought. Aside from Mason a score OF two
of other orators will be here during the
next two weeks, and at all hours of the
day or night speech may be heard. The
: democrats intend to be quite as active.
Never was a political battle in Illinois as
keenly fought, and the time between now