The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-10-21
Bryan Committee Says McKin-
ley VIII Lose the State.
Place the Free Silver Majority
at $4,000.
A TURN OF THE TIDE
In the Last Few Weeks Toward
Bryan,
Owing to a ssGum Shoe'' Cam
paign of Small Meetings.

Cleveland, O., Oct. 21.-The Plain
dealer publishes the following special
from its correspondent at Columbus:
If one may judge from the air Of
mystery that pervades the headquar-
ters OF both of the great parties in this
state. the result in Ohio will be a very
close one. Neither state committee is
looking entirely happy. OF the two,
Secretary Taylor of the Democratic
executive committee is probably the
more cheerful. He claims Ohio by
a majority of $4,000, and brings figures
in support of his assertion. On the
other hand, Secretary Mathews of the
Republican state committee, the J. K.
Jones of the institution, viii smile
blandly at the casual visitor, and claim
the state by $50, 000
The fact Of the matter is that the
events of the last two weeks have made
many an anxious man on both the
committees. 1t is an open secret that
up to two weeks ago the Democratic
state managers had no idea of carry
ing the state, or even reduc-
ing the majority more than would be
accounted for by the accession of the
Popunsts and Prohibition vote. Their
despondency was caused by the fact
that they had no money to spend, ap-
parently, while their rivals have mon
ey, speakers and literature in abund-
ance.
But about two weeks ago the tide be-
gan to flow toward Bryan all over the
state. Tt was at once noticed by the
gentlemen who make a business Of
keeping their finger on the political
pulse Of the commonwealth, and an
alarm was sounded.
Secretary Taylor points to his bundle
of letters, from every county in the
state, and says that even if he should
discount the reports that the county
chairmen are sending in, the percent
of gain indicated is still large enough
to carry the state for Bryan by 25.-
900.
AS result, the committee has be-
gun to push matters as it has never
done before during the campaign. The
committee has no money to speak of,
but it has speakers in at least fair
quantity and of more than fair quail
ity. These speakers are assigned quiet
~ to the villages and hamIets which
may be benefited by a talk on the is
sues of the campaign. No newspaper
parade is made of the fact that there
are speakers of national repute in the
state. When George Fred Williams
spoke here the other night hardly
man in the city knew that he had been
speaking in the state. The same holds
good in numberless other instances.
A gum shoe campaign is being car
ried on.
In the case of AugIaize county Chair
man Cooke reports an average gain OF
20 to each voting precinct in the coun-
ty. Auglaize is normally Democratic
but if this rate of gain holds good the
county will outdo anything ever
dreamed of by the county committee.
The poll shows a gain considerably
larger, but this is not wholly accepted
by Mr.. Cooke, as he is not of a natur-
ally sanguine temperament.
With the accession of Hon. John De
Golley to the ranks of the Democrats.
Morrow county is sure to return
Metz of Wayne county says that his
county polls an enormously increased
vote and he has no hesitancy in say
ing that it will make a big gain over
anything previously shown, leaving the
Populists out Of the question. Chairman
Crawford of Delaware county, one Of
the most conservative Republican cOun-
ties in the state, says Bryan viii carry
it by 5O0 and he even has hopes of
electing the entire county ticket. Ham
iltOn county will not return a large Re-
publican majority. from reports re-
ceived here, as the Republicans there
are too much engaged in local fights
to do anything for Mr.. Mckinley. Lake
county is making gains at an unpre-
cedented rate.