The Republican journal., 1896-10-22
The Political Situation in the West


The Political Situation in the West
Especial correspondence of The Journal. I
CHICAGO, Oct. s, 1896. l received a
letter from friend in Maine shortly after
the ''Pine Tree State" rolled up such a
tremendous majority for ''sound money
says: ''It looks like Mckinley in Maine,
but what will the great West doe'
The results of elections held during the
past four years have brought such sur
prises that there seems to be very little
reliability in political predictions, but to
people who have travelled in the West
this fall only one result seems probable,
and that is that the States in the central
and northern West will come into the Nc
kinley column with good majorities. We
fully expect to carry Chicago for McKin-
ley by from So, 900 to 50, 900, and the State
Of Illinois by -, 000
A year ago, after ''Coin's Financial
CSilcpi " t'o FttUllSlltli anu III general ClI-
culation among all classes in the West,
there was large silver following in the
country districts. ''Coin,' as it was usu-
ally called, was a very plain and concise
statement of the silver arguments, and
there is no question but that il caused a
large number of voters to believe in the Is
a |
when business was at Il standstill, when
farmers were getting very low prices for
their products, when the demand for
labor was at minimum, and the people
were looking for a Moses to lead them
out of the wilderness. The conditions
were ripe for Just such a book, and the
silver men took advantage of it and push
ed the sale of it all over the West. Peo-
pie of all classes, but especially the
farmers, tiocked around the silver stan
dard, and shouted for free coinage Of tie
white metal at ratio of Is to /.
The Chicago convention is now mat
ter of ancient history, and everyone is
familiar with the events which culminat-
ed in carrying the convention for free
silver.
AT that time the ''silver craze was at
its height, and if the election had been held
very much in doubt.
But the people have been to school since
then; OF rather the school has been to the
people. Republican orators have been in
every town and village. and they have
pointed out the fallaces of the silver
arguments. The Republican campaign
erature, and at the present time are send
ing out ton day from Chicago alone.
The result has been to change the opinion
of the masses.
/ happened to be in Dixon. Illinois, "a
city of about TO- 000) a short time AGO, and
it happened that Gov Altgeld was to
speak there at the University, which is
about a mile from the center of the city.
| was told that he ''did not dare to come
down town for fear he would be mobbed. -
THIS shows the sentiment Of the people
there. At Elgin short time ago bust
ness was practically suspended that every
one might 60 to hear Senator John NJ.
Thurston of Nebraska. Senator Thurs
ton was elected to the Senate two years
ago, and had William J. Bryant as an op-
ponent.
Ninety per cent. of the business men
out here are for Mckinley. A short time
ago $50 men (all old line Democrats) went
from two of the large dry goods jobbing
houses on pilgrimage to Canton to see
Major Mckinley. l have seen only one
business man in the city of Chicago who
wore Bryan button. | don't mean to
convey the idea that there is only one
Bryan man in business here; but that only
one among the large number of business
men | meet every day was willing to show
that he was supporter of Mr.. Bryan.
There is hardly village in this section
but that has its Mckinley Club All the
large business interests have their organ
izations for Mckinley and sound money!"
1t looks now as though there would be
the largest vote polled this fall ever
known. Everybody takes an interest this
year, and it is considered the most i'm
portant campaign since the war.
There seems to be no doubt about the
result in the West, and when the votes
are counted on Nov. Sd it will be found
that we are solid for ''sound money and
prosperity" J. A. GANIMANs.
The Coming Session.