The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-10-09

some one to touch elbows with Mr..
Hagan has seen so many instances of
this that he is satisfied there is in the
Democratic ranks a. large silent vote
that is determined to go for Mckinley
or Palmer without saying q word about
it either before election or afterward.
There is a tendency among all men in
politics to exaggerate the Importance
of the movement with which they are
identified Iney do SO honestly, I'M
consciously. 1t is the optimism of hui
man nature, and is tendency which
the observer of human nature must al
ways be on his guard against. Mr.. Ha-
CANS estimates, in my judgment are
too high. If 10000 Kansas Democrats
vote for Mckinley and 1000 for Palmer
my expectations will be met
There are minor elements of the sit
uation which deserve mention The
middle of the road Populists have put
UP an electoral ticket of their own and
viii set on the official ballot A con
siderable number of Populists are dis
gusted because their party has been
swallowed up by the Democrats. Some
of these, former Republicans, will come
back to the old party and vote for
Mckinley Many more, according
to the opinions of the well inform
ed, the vote of ThOs. Z. Watson
ticket. Only guesses can be made of
the number in either case Fifteen
thousand votes for the middle of the
road ticket IS a claim made by one
POpuliSts but I should think this par
ticular claim needs dividing by five The
Republicans expect to make gains from
the Germans, Scandinavians and BO-
hemians from the railroad vote and
from the business vote, which does not
always get to the polls.
One thing seems sure, and it is that
the Republicans will elect their state
ticket There are in Kansas thousands
of Democrats who will vote for Repub-
Hcan state officers at every opportunity
in order to save their state from being
cursed with ROpullSm again, and yet
these same men will vote to inf1ict Pup
ulism upon the country at large By
the same token many of the Republt-
cans who are running off after free sill
yer viii try to save their conscience
and the reputation of their state by
voting against the POpulist candidate
for governor For these reasons it
seems clear that Governor Morrill, viii
be reelected, whether Mckinley car
ries the state or not.
The congressional situation is inter
esting. I have made careful inquiries
as to the various districts. and think
the following is q conservative estimate
of the situation. The Republicans are
sure of two districts, the First and
Fourth Their chances are very good
in the Second. Third and Fifth The
Sixth is Populistic. while in the Sew
enth jerry Simpson is waging merry
war against Chester Long, the sitting
member. with the chances about even
The congressman at large viii doubt
less go with the national ticket. It is
safe to say that the Republicans will
cation, even if the fusionists carry the
state.
A complete sound money victory in
Kansas would do more to stop Mr.. Bry-
ans talk of another war on business
and confidence than success in any 9TH
er state now considered doubtful Can
it be won2 The greatest factor in the
answer to this question IS the sterling
the surprising vitality of the Republi-
can party of Kansas. Through all its
vicissitudes it has lost the state only
twice in a quarter of a century. Only
twice since the rise of the Farmers AL
lance and POpulism has it failed to
carry the state over all opposition
From a minority Of So 600 in the cyclone
year of 1890 the Republicans fought the
combined Democracy and PopuliSts in
1892. and though it was a low tide year
for Republicanism the allied forces car
ried the state by only 1000. Two years
with majority over all In the presi-
Dental election of four years ago the
Democrats who are opposed to POpu-
ism- The magic name Of Mr.. Cleve
land caused all Democrats to suppress
their prejudice and stand shoulder to
shoulder with the Populists. Yet the
Republicans polled 157 coo out of q to-
tai vote Of 325 600. inclusive Of PrOhibi-
tionists and scattering.
These 157 600 Republicans are still in
the state If 1900 of them go over to
Bryan and silver there will be left 145,-
600. Add 10 600 sound money Demo
Gratis and 5000 Popuists who were
formerly Republicans and McKinley's 4
vote is 15S 600. Add 1000 foreign vote
for business. railroad and labor. and
the total is $50 900. Of the 1853 900 fusion
votes cast for Mr. Cleveland four years
ago so. 600 only may now be called Dem
ocrats while 133. 600 are Populists.If s.
600 Of the latter and 10 600 of the former
go over to Mckinley the loss of II. 900
silver Republicans is counterbalanced /
Further losses to Palmer and to the
middle Of the road ticket of 1000 or 5000
votes altogether would wipe out the fu-
sion majority of four years ago.
All the indications are that Kansas
is very close. I do not know that the
situation can be better described than
in the words of s. prominent Kansas
Republican who said to me; They are
coming down the home stretch Bryan
is a half-length ahead. but Mckinley is
running faster and easier. 1 hope Ne
Kinley viii come in first"