Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-11-02
SlTQssATIoN IN CALIFORNIA
The Republicans Are Handicapped by Past
i, Declarations.
Indiciftion< Show That the State IL in
t.e Doubtful Column. With
CHANCES FavOring Bryan.


special correspondence of The Evening Star.
SAN FRANCISCO, October a. 1896.
The state is a very uncertain element,
and although generally spoken of as a re-
publican state. it has gone democratic about
as often as republican during the past six
teen years. good deal Of enthusiasm was
aroused here during the campaign Of 1894,
and resulted in a general republican vic
tory, the democrats and populists not fus-
ing. The table which follows shows the
congressional vote in the state by districts
at that election. BY 1t 1t will be seen that
while the republicans elected six of the
seven Congressman by fair pluralites,
nevertheless. the democrats and populists
combined had a good majority over the re-
publicans in every district in the state.
The total democratic and populist majority
IN the whole state being 46,S99. If no
fuson existed this year California would
undoubtedly return six republican Congress
men and give large plurality for the re-
publican electors
There has been, however, complete fusion
on electors by the democrats and populists
and complete fusion on Congressman in all
the districts except the first and fifth.
Inc fusion has been very general. and has
extended In most cases to candidates for
the senate and assembly, and in many
cases to the county officers, so that the
republicans are met with practically COM
plete fusion.
All parties in this state have been declar-
ing for free silver for half dozen years,
ana every newspaper in San Francisco of
any Importance has been preaching it up
TO the present campaign. The result is that
the republicans are rather handicapped by
their past deciara tons
Nearly all the owners of the Nevada sill
Yer mines live in California. Their oreani-
zatlon here is strong one. is supplying
the sinews of war to carry the Bryan
campaign, and for several years past has
been actively engaged in flooding the state
with free silver literature. As in the east,
the free silver idea has taken strong hold
in the farming districts, and in those els
tricts the fusonists will undoubtedly hold
their own and may make some gains. This
Is true of tine great interior valleys of the
sacramento and San Joaquin. The free
silver idea, however, does not seem to
nave taken well among the miners or the
lumber men in the mountain and coast
counties. and those counties. from all the
indications, will snow small republican
gain.
Chances Favor Bryan.
The business men in the large cities,
without regard 20 former party affilia tions,
are very active In working for Mckinley
They are. taking far more interest than
ever before and are apparently working
their hardest to secure his election.
San Francisco has generally given large
democratic majority. This year ii is ex-
pec,td 10 go republican by from six TO ten
thousand. IT II reaches the higher figura,
1t will probably give the state to the re-
publlcans. The democrats claim that the
working men are generally for free silver
but there has been nothing here to indicate
that such Is the fact. 1t is conceded, how
ever. that the republicans must make re-
markabie gains in the cities and towns %
overcome the adv erse majority of over
4O,HD.-S "a ... E1.
iAtithe present writing California should
be Dll VgI in ~ dDllbf II no
chances rather favoring BRYAN. The re-
puhlCan CouSreSSrGen will probably run
sc Nov hat ahead Of the presidential cleo
tors. and from present indica tons the dele
cation will stand four republicans and
three democrats.
In Washing; on and Oregon the fight is
very bitter. with the chances about even.
California congressional vote. 1894: