The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-09-09
TURNING TO BRYAN.
MANY REPUBLICANS LEAVE THEIR
PARTY TO SUPPORT HIM.

straws Showing tho Way the Political
Wind is BIowing-Democratic Clubs Be-
ing Organized in All Sections Of the Coun-
try.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 30.--As straws
which indicate the direction of the po-
litical wind, here are handful OF ex-
tracts from letters received at Demo-
cratic headquarters here today:
M. p. Holland, secretary of the Bry.
an Free Silver Club, of Nebraska,
says;
1--WE have a Bryan free silver club
organized here with membership OF
ITO, and still growing. Seventeen
Republicans are among the number"
j. w. Bovgess, president of the
Bryan Free Silver Club, of Pax, Mo-,
says that his club numbers at present
LOG members. three-fourths OF them
being Republicans. Pax is mining
town.
From Horton, Kan, W. I. Short,
secretary of the w. j. Brayn Free
Silver Club, writes:
1--WE have club here Of 46O mem
bers 1S0 of them Republicans, and we
are growing daily. Weare organizing
free silver clubs in every precinct"
G. Fl. Morgan, of Frederick, Nd, ]
In making application for the Bryan
and Sewall Free Silver Club in the
national association, says:
"Our club is composed mostly OF
the working and farming element,
among them several Republicans, and
it would take Gatling gun to turn
them"
Edward M. johnson, secretary Oh
the Bryan and Sewal Club, of Ell
town. Nd, writes:
There is a strong and growing silsy
yer sentiment here, which we wish to-
promote"
T. B. McJenkin, president OF the.
Bimetalic League, of Butler. Pa says.
"Ws have silver league here, with
700 members, one.fifth of whom were
former Republicans"
M. L. Lockwood, president OF the
free silver club, of Zelienopee, Pa,
writes: -
"If there is any such uprising in the
Eartern part of this State as there is
here we will sweep the State"
Alpheus A. Fidler. of Arlington,
w. Va, writes:
II called a meeting to see if we
could not organize . Bryan and Sewal
Club out here. Before I could get In.
the house that night the crowd was
calling for speech. I took ayote to-
see how many would support Bryan
and Sewall and the silver cause. Not
withstanding the crowd was made up,
of about one-half of men who have
been voting the Republican ticket
heretofore, only one man in the crowd
would not vote for Bryan"
Charles E. Chappealear, Mayor Of;
New Lexington, Ohio, and secretary
of the Bryan Free Silver Club writes:
1--WE have just organized a free ail-
YER club, with a membership OF nearly
300, 20 per cent. being former Repub-
licans. There are scores OF other Re.
publicans who are on the fence and
need but little to help them over on
our side. Within the next ten days
there will be a free silver club in ev-
cry. voting precinct in this (Perry)
county. Although Republican by $50
majority last year, we will carry it by.
500 for Bryan and Sewall and Fink,
our candidate for Congress.
A. r. Altman, Of the Bryan Silver
Club of Salem, ILL.,, writes:
"Our club numbers about 600 MEM
bers, seventy of whom were former
Republicans, and we will increase
thatnumber largely"
Secretary Charles 8. Dix, OF the
Bryan Free Silver Club, of Prospects,
Ohio, writes:
'The Democrats and free silver
Republicans of this city have organiz-
ed Bryan club of over 200, and it is
still growing. OF this number twenty
or more havealways been Republicans.
The Republicans have been having .
majority OF Ell ghteen to twenty In thus
township, but we expect to make II
| from seventy-fve to q hundred Demo.
cratic. Can assure you that We will
carry the township"
J.H. Grier, secretary of the Silver
League, of Aurora Mo-, and also Sec
retary of that city's board Of trade:
1.-THE situation here is this: We are
a lead and zinc mining camp, and in a.
Republican Congressional district, the
Fifteenth. We have about 100 he.
publican voters out of total vote OF
900 who are dissatisfied and have ad-
vocated silver for some time, but the
Republican managers are after them,
trying to whip them in line. l under
stand the situation, having been q vot-
er for twenty years, but this will be
my first.