Evening star., 1896-11-03
KANSAS SAFE FOR Mckinley.
The Situation as Observed by a WASH
tngtOn Man Now In the State.

Ine situation as Observed by q Wash.
1ngton Man Now In the State.
Mr.. H. d. Walbridge has received let
ter from Mr.. George 8. Chase. practicing
attorney Of this city. upon the situation
IN karsas. Mr.. Walbridge, in transmit
ting the letter to The Star, says that his
correspondent was formerly a resident of
Kansas ana has business relations in all
parts Of the state, and is familiar with
Its politics; that he ia not q rainbow
chaser. nor likely TO be deluded by appear
ances. Tho letter is dated at Topeka, and
Is as follows:
Kansas is unquestionably safe for Nc
Kinley by anywhere from 10000 to 25.OOO.
l base this on Indications too numerous
to specify in a hurried letter, but by facts
like these: The eastern belt by far the
most populous) is simply Overwhelmingly
for sound money. Topeka is a city of
$1,000. l have kept account of about 300
displaying portraits of candidates. All
but nine are of Mckinley and Hobart.
Numerous polls are being taken on incom-
Ing and outgoing trains. Every one that
very large majority. and the average is
about five to one. Many schools have
been polled. OF course. the children do
not vote. but they reflect the sentiment of
their homes almost exactly. They have
been, so far as l have seen the results,
about in the same ratio as the train polls.
A fortnight ago there was big soldiers
reunion and flower festival here, which, L
am told, was magnificent affair. Rail-
road rates were nominal and there was
tremendous attendance from all parts of
the state. The camps were thoroughly
polieS, and resulted, as l told you would be
the case, in almost unanimous express
sion for Mckinley.
In short eastern Kansas and Nebraska
are more uniformly for sound money even
than Washington city. / believe the
eastern third of the two states will run
three to one. In the extreme west are
the old soldiers, where they have settled
In order to secure service Communication on
their homesteais. The ratio there In Nc
Kinley's favor is even greater than in the
east. The middle belt of the state. like
that of the nation, is where the only trou-
BILE exists. Bryan is possibly little In
the lead there, but nothing near enough
to make up for the Mckinley strength in
the extreme east and west.
These are some Of my reasons:
After looking the field over-a field, with
which l am we'll acquainted, and of which,
coming as do fresh upon it after quite an
absence, l can perhaps judge even better
than those who have been in the hight from
the fiIst-I feel greatly relieved l feel as
IT Kansas were at last coming to her senses
and determined to vindicate herself A few
years ago she was the pet of the nation,
but for the last decade she has been
masquerading in every grotesque character
that fanaticism could suggest. i, like other
formerly of Kansas" people. have grown
exceedingly tired of being et-rnally on the
defensive in the states behalf; of having
to apologize for Kansas at all times ana
under all circumstances, and of having
Jerry Simpson and Mary Ellen Lease men,
toned with smile every time the state is
referred to-
Kansas has less illiteracy than any state
In the Union, except one. Its institutions
are in the very foremost rank. II has sent
Its ilustrious men into the front ranks of
all the professions, who have become an
honor to the whole country. Its people are
energetic and progressive, and there is no
good reason why they should longer be
called upon to rise and explain" on every
occasion how 1t came that the hirsute the
sockless and the sans culotte got posses
sion of the state and held it so long