The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-10-07
POLITICS OUT WEST,
wuA7Ex-eovERNoR NORTHERN, OF
GEORGIA, SAW AND HEARD.

lisves that Bryan Will Carry Illinois and
Iowa-A Very Interesting Interview.
ATLANTA, Sept. Ex-Governor Nor
thern has just returned from a West
ern tour of three months, during
which time he went through eleven
states and stopped at 100 or more
towns and cities. He made the trip
on immigration business, but took adj
vantage of the opportunity to study
the political situation. In order that
he might get at the facts better, he
went about the political headquarters
and mixed with the crowds incognito,
heard their street discussions, sounded
men of every class and every shade OF
political opinion, and took note OF
every straw that showed which way
the wind blew. lie had some inter
estine experiences and comes back
probably the best posted Georgian
who has been West. He tells what he
found and relates some OF his expert
ences in the following interview:
1.-The West is not solid by any man
ner of MEANS" said he. Il have never
seen such political conditions. arty
lines are obliterated. If you address
a man as Republican he says:
"Dont speak to me as Republican,
wa are not known as Republicans or
Democrats any more, but as advocates
of the gold standard or the silver STAN
dard."
"Old landmarks are gone. You have
to seek new means of measuring for:
ces, and when you do it is so mixed
that you can't fell anything about it.
Nothing short of count of heads will
reveal the result. Thsy are constantly
polling the trains and the people who
travel are usually gold standard advo-
Gates. The best result I saw was four
votes for Bryan out of % on a sleeper.
A laboring man said. That's pretty
good for a sleeper, but wait till the
work train comes
II couldn't get any satisfactory in.
formation from the party headquarters
on either side. There it was all gold
or all silver. The polling of trains
showed nothing. The best method I
could find was to take up each class or
occupation separately and question
the most intelli gent men in that pur-
suit as to the sentiment of his associ.
ates. In this way I tried to get at the
sentiment of business men, farmers,
mechanics and all the classes I could
think of. When 1 got through the
evidence I had collected was so con-
fiicting that I could not form any con-
clusion."
When Iowa was mentioned as
State which some Democrats and Pop
ulists conceded to the Republicans, the
Governor said:
Son the contrary, I can give you
just as strong evidence on the other
side. At Cedar Rapids I talked with
the clerk of the court, very intelli'
gent man. 4 know this State will 60
for Bryan said he, and I will show
you why I think so. There is Clar-
ence, a town of 647 population, with a
voting strength of about 125. Of this
number I personally know thirty
eight Republicans who will vote for
Bryan Besides him sat dealer in
hats. I am Republican, said he,
and I shall vote for Bryan. My part
ner is a Republican, and he will vote
for Bryan"
One of the most interesting facts
brought out by Governor Northen's
study of the situation is that Illinois is
likely to go Democratic. He did not
reach this conclusion until he had
studied the situation for several weeks.
II canvassed Illinois thoroughly"
said he, ''and was in different parts of
the State. The first thing that made
deep impression on me was the Popu-
list convention at Springfield. saw
il, and it was an enthusiastic indorse-
ment of Bryan. The Mckinley paper at
Springfield said that this meant a vic
tory for Bryan in Illinois, and remark
ed thakit was strange the Republicans
had overlooked such an important fac.
tor as this convention. Still I was
not convinced, for I knew there was
an immense population of working
men, and that the Republicans were
canvassing this element with tremend-
GUS energy. thought the labor vote
would give Mckinley majority in
Illinois. This opinion was changed
on Labor Day. There was an i'm
mense demonstration and 10000 peo-
pie went out. The Republican nation
al committee adjourned out of respect
for the occasion and started out to at
tend the exercises. Then it occurred
to some OF them that they had received
no invitation to be present. Some
one went to the master of ceremonies
and suggested.to him that he had over
looked Mr.. Hanna's committee. No,
said he, Mr.. Hanna has not been in
vited, nor will he be invited If this
incident is any indication of the senti.
ment of the workingmen of Illinois,
it is important, for if they 60 against
Mckinley he loses the State. 1t is my
opinion after what l saw that Bryan
will carry Illinois"
In regard to fusio n, Governor Nor
then said: Until recently Kansas
and Nebraska were regarded as safe
lor Bryan, but complications connected
with fusion have disturbed matters
very much and the result is not GER
tain"
The Governor gave a picturesque
description of the street debates which
constitute an interesting feature of the
Western campaign. THE discus
sions are continuous and uninterrupt-
ed," said he with a smile. ''They
know no Sundays and night is robbed
of sleep. Two neighbors will meet on