Evening star., 1896-10-26
Democrats in Illinois Seem to Have
Regained Courage.
THEIR CLAIM as TO THE POLLS
Effect of Col. Morrison's Attack
on Gov. AltgeId.
THE L E G S l. n T o r E
CORRESPONDENCE of The Evening Star.

Correspondence OF Inc Evening Star
CHICAGO. October q. 1S9G.
Surface indications continue to favor the
republicans in Illinois, but at the same
time there seems to be a slight reaction
While the republicans are still confident
that MCKINLEY will carry Illinois. and by
a big majority. they are beginning to 1eei
nervous about it. On the other hand. the
democrats seem to have reeained some OF
their courage. They now make boasts OF
success ard appear to be more IN earnest
about it than they were.
While Bryan is in the air more than
before it Is difficult to find grounds for
the claims of the democrats. Every poll
is agains. them. A very careful poll was
made by the republican county commit
tee in Chicago. and this showed that out
of 100000 people interviewed majority OF
10000 were for Mckinley, and In this
estimate the republicans have deducted
$1,000 voters who either refused to answer
the questions asked or declared them
selves for Palmer, one of the MINOR
candidates Polls of factories ard other
labor centers Office buildings, and In fact.
every poll. including that which has been
made by the Record. show the same re-
suits.
What the Democrats Claim.
That these polls may be correct is freely
admitted by the democrats. That Is to
say, they concede the figures TO be ac-
curately added and the men who take
the polls put down the answers to their
questions as given by those whom they
interrogate ted. But they contend that the
very men who say they are going to vote
for Mckinley will vote for Bryan. They
insist that the men make false statements
Of their political belief III order to avoid
dismissal from the employ of the firms
for whom they work. They say that at
least 1890 of the men VINO have asserted
that they will vote for Mckinley are lying
ard will vote for Bryan This is the sole
basis CT their confidence and their ef-
forts are all directed to proving the truth
cf their statements.
The writer has endeavOred to inve stiga.e
the truth of these assertions. He has not
been able to find single case CT man
who WoCld admit that he was for BRYAN
ard was forced to say that he was for Nc
Kinlsy. He has talked with men of all
classes. has interviewed griDmen the
cable cars. conductors, railroad men and
workmen, and he finds that all CT them
who are for Mckinley ostensibly arc for
him in reality In doing this he has gone
so far as to argue in favor of Bryan in
hope that IL the men were On their guard
and assembling they would then reveal
their true position. Eut it has been With
out result. and apparently there is little
or nothing of the revolt against alleged CO.
ereion on which the democrats count so
strongly.
This Is not admitted by the Bryan par
tsans- Any one of them VIII insist streru-
ously that he knows dozens of men who
viii vote for Pryan. hut at the same time
pretend to be for Mckinley. But ask them
for names and facts, and they will not
furnish them The Irresistible conclusion is
that the talk is bluff.
Ground for Democratic Confidence
Some ground for the democratic conf
geld has been making a tour of the state
and Bryan entered it at Danville this morn
ing.
Much is expected from Bryan's speeches
although experience does not seem to show
that the expectation is justifable Alteeld
mas been making many speeches and his
meetings nave been attended by the largest
auH1ences OF the year. Twice as many peo-
pie attended Altgeld'S citing on the south
side night before last as attended a"Torn',
Reeds address at the same point 1t mNst
be remembered. however as has been
pointed out in these letters. that Altgeld's
vote Will be much larger than that Of
Bryan The republican leaders concede in
private. that If Mckinley's ma ajorfty is less
than 3o.pe Tanner will probably be beaten
lot governor This is in spite of the fact
that the republicans are using every effort
20 get the members of their party to vote
the straight ticket. But polls which show
Mckinley in the lead often show Altgeld
aiso ahead- One was made at factory
recently. which showed: Mckinley. oo6.
Bryan. 81 The same men voted: Aitreld
l6l' Tanner, So This poll Is excentionaI
but 1t suf1ices to show the strong hold Ait
geld has upon the workingmen
Belief as to Altgeld.
Morrison's attack on Altgeld was a great
surprise. 1t was believed that Morrison
would at least tacitly support the regular
party ticket The boldly reiterated charges
against Altgeld of dishonesty, malfeasance
In office and mtsappropriat.on of state
funds coming from man of Morrison's
prominence cannot fail of effect. 1t will not
have much in northern Illinois. but down in
Egypt, where Morrison is the biggest man
the party ever had. and where he has still
a strong following. 1t will have a great ef-
fect Ben I. Gable sad to The Star cor
respondent that he thought it would cost
A.tgeid 1.UO votes. 1t Is believed that
Morrison will vote the Palmer ticket.
The democratic managers affect To be-
iieve that the attack VIII! amount to nothing,
but the broadsde from the veteran Is not
reitshed by them nevertheless.
Various reasons have been given for Nor
rlson's attack. One that has not been much
discussed but is probably as strong as any
suggested is that the democrats have in
uorsea Jehu Baker in Morrison's old con-
m.
bered in Washington as tie man who de-
feated Morrison for Congress and forced
him out of the legislative halls at Washinr
ton, to which the Egyptian statesman has
not since returned. Morrison's friends have
been very sore over this, and they are ike
iy TO resent it. Morrisons letter NAV have
the enect OF .nsuring the defeat of Baker.
Danger Spot to the ReDublicans.
The danger spot in the republican cam
paisn seems to be the legislature At
present 1t consists of 2O4 members. with
republican majority of A on Joint ballot
Ihe democrats hope to be able. to over
come this through fusion and send Alteeld
TO the Senate The republicans are di-
Flded In several districts. Many of tbair
Sahldates have nasty records and bitter
iocal hshts are being made in many sec
tons- The members are elected under
an aprortlonment made by the democrats
ior tne purpose OF perpetuating their DOW.
er. but which failed of its purpose at the
iate eiectlon They believe. however, that
II u the republican majority is less than
$1,000 they will be able to elect a success,
sor to Senator Palmer
William E. Mason will not follow, Brv.,
around when he is in Chicago. This was
the intention, but IL has been abandonad
1t was learned that Mason would meet
with a warm reception 1t had been ar
raj ged to pelt him with decayed hen fruit
AND vegetables when he entered democratic
bailiwicks. This was broadly intimated
by Secretary Burk Of the democratic conn
~ committee and Is believed to be resnon
Sihle for the determination No, - -.