Rock Island Argus., 1896-10-12
PULLING HANNA'S LEG
The Silver ssstiment Continues tn Erev
In Every Part Of the Coaotry-what
sRailroad Omcial Found Out IN
the south-The Result of
Some Test VoeeS

Chicago. Oct. Especial. .1-Convinc-
Ing evidence is accommodating daily al
National Democratic headquarters tina,
Mr.. Bryan will sweep the southern.
western and central middle states in
November. This claim is not based
upon reports of enthusiastic politi-
clans. but is the result of careful in
vestigation. and very careful canvasses
made in the debateable territory by
national, state and local managers of
the free silver campaign. The wild
statements sent out during the past
four or five days by the Republican
managers. in which they claim certain
western states by majorities so large
that they appear ridiculous even to Re-
publicans. is further evidence that they
nave nothing on which to base their
claims. while their only hope lies in
making unsupported claims in the vain
hope of bolsterins up a lost cause. 1t
Is known. however. that inside reports
obtained at the Mckinley headquarters
are widely different from those given
out to the gold press. For instance, IL
Is known that a Republican canvass
OF Nebraska gives that state to McKin-
ley by only 5000 majority. This report
is clouded by the statement that, in
order to carry Nebraska desperate
work must be done between now and
November, a sure indication that the
Republicans have no hope of carrying
that state.
A Democratic canvass of Nebraska
shows that Bryan will carry it by not
less than $4,000: the Democratic poll
showing a Republican detection in ev-
cry county of the state. including
Douglass county. and Omaha. of from
20 to 25 per cent. The Republican man.
ayers are sure of this fact. and rely
wholly upon wild and unsupported
claims to keep up the courage of their
followers. The same thing is true in
Kansas, except that Republican Lead
ers have actually conceded that state.
This being the case. it is absolutely
certain that Bryan will carry every
state west of the Missouri river. clear
to the Pacific coast.
1t is also known that the Republican
managers have privately conceded to
Bryan every southern state. A prom
nent Chicago railway official. in close
touch with Republican national head
quarters. has. within the past two
days. made the candid admission that
Mckinley stood no more chance Of
carrying any southern state than he
has Of carrying Colorado. and he ad-
mitted that Bryan would carry Colo
RADIO by 5000 majority. This railway
official. in the same private conversa-
tion, stated that any man who offered
to bet 81 on Mckinley. was either a
born fool or painfully anxious to prat
with his money. He further stated that
the talk about carrying Texas, Ten
nessee. North Carolina and other
southern states for Mckinley has been
manufactured by a clique of southern
Republican politicians solely for the
purpose of pulling Mark Hanna's Leg"
that they had succeeded in doing so.
and that was all they expected; that
not one of the states would fail
In giving Bryan an overwhelming ma
1ority. This view, he stated, was OBJ
tained from a personal trip throughout
the states in question.
Reports from every so-called debata-
bic state received during the past two
weeks show that the silver sentiment
Is increasing at a rate never before
known since the inception of the move
ment. Republicans everywhere, espe-
cially among the farmers and laboring
men, are coming out boldly and joining
the Bryan ranks. In many of the
counties of Ohio. Indiana. Illinois,
Michigan. Iowa. Wisconsin. and Min
nesOta there is q wholesale stampede of
Republican farmers to the support Of
Bryan. Instead If being on the wane.
the silver movement is growing more
rapidly than it has at any time dur
ing the past two months. One or two
instances will show this feeling. d. H.
Harts of Lincoln, Ills, reports that q
careful poll has been made of CLAY.
Wayne, Christian, Logan and Sanga-
mon counties. showing a net gain over
all disaffected Democrats of tventv
votes to precinct, making a total NET
gain Of 1000 votes in these counties
a
ence OF 5000 votes In the majority. and
Will cary that congressional distric, bv
the largest majority ever known. Sim.
liar reports come from Ohio. Wisconsin
and Iowa.
A prominent Democrat in Lancaster
county. Wis. the banner Republican
county of that state. writes that n
careful canvass of that county show.
q large majority for Bryan. Three
fourths of the Republican farmers in
the county. he says. have come out for
Bryan. A secret poll Of factory en-
ployes in one OF the large factories Of
Rockford. Ills. gave 4e1 for Bryan and
IL for Mckinley. This poll. ii IL un-
necessary TO state. was taken without
the coGnixance of the managers of that
A poll was taken q few
days ago among the dock laborery at
shs mouth e the Chicago river. IN shas