Evening star., 1896-10-31


except Iowa, Illinois and Ohio, which L
class as doubtful, with leanings to Bryan.
Doubtful States.
Il consider Illinois as largely in favor
of Bryan, and If 1 should be required to
put 1t in either the Bryan or Mckinley col
umn 1t would go into the Bryan column.
Iowa and Ohio are doubtful states, with
reasonable chances in each for Bryan.
There are elements of doubt in both states.
If the election were a week off there would
be no doubt about Bryan carrying both
Iowa and Ohio. In the city of Chicago
there is a large element of doubt. No
body has yet been able to place that city,
but the best-posted democratic local mar
ayers say the city will be stand off. The
balance of the state will give Bryan 40UO
majority. Iowa is state in which the con-
ditions made it easier for Bryan to carry
than many of the other states l know, but
the democratic managers delayed work in
1t little late, conceding 1t to the republi-
cans. The work done there lately has
shaken the state from one end to the other
and the chances are bright for Bryan.
almost any combination that can be
made elects Bryan. Taking my former es-
innate Of 252 votes, for instance, Bryan
could lose Maryland and be elected. He
could lose West Virginia and be elected
The republicans are now claiming Ken
lucky, which they will never get. But If
We lose Kentucky Michigan will make up
the loss"
Senator Butler was asked why he felt so
confident when the betting in the country
is largely in favor of Mckinley and is
supposed to represent the opinions of cool
men. His answer was: Because the re-
publicans have a large amount of money
on hand for campaign purposes, which they
can't use effectively on the voters, and
their last chance is to use it as big bluff
Suppose they have five million dollars
which they can't use without its becoming
boomerang. Then their hope is to blow ii
into betting to try to influence the DRIFT
wood vote. 1t is desperate blind throw
of money into the dark without seeing any
good to come from it except the hope that
1t may influence voters somewhere"
Chairman Faulkner's Confidence.
Il have no reason to change my opinion
one iota,' said Chairman Faulkner Then
the Senator proceeded to say that his con-
fldence was increasing. One reason for
this, he said, was the returns being re-
ceived at headquarters from the blanks
sent to clubs some time ago. These returns
are being received every day. Chairman
Faulkner declared that he put greater con-
fidence in these returns. alleging that they
were facts and not fancies They showed
he said. the feeling of the people as lnuch
as anything else.
Secretary Gardner oorroborated this,
and Assistant Secretary Mexican went
over the returns from several states to
prove the correctness Of democratic claims.
Here are reports from twelve clubs in
illinois, said Mr.. Mexican. They have
just been received These twelve clubs
show total membership of 1887, Of which
4S2 are republican, 205 populist, 63 prohibi-
tionists and 10 independents. This is a re-
publican percentage Of about 20 and gain
of about 40 republican votes to the pre-
ctnct. There are 3,23S precincts in Illinois
Should this republican increase keep up at
every precinct, the democrats would gain
from the republicans alone 129,52O. They
would gain, according to the same estf-
mate, 67,99S populists. This does not in
clude republicans who do not belong TO
clubs and who will vote for Bryan. To be
on the safe side. chop down this estimate
30 per cent, and there will be a gain Of
nearly 100000 for the democrats. Nothing
was asked of the clubs to warrant them in
overdrawing the situation, and we are con-
fident they have not done so
'In Kansas, out of thirteen club reports
received yesterday, there were two consti-
tuted wholly Of republicans In the thlr-
teen clubs there are 1889 members con-
sisting of 459 democrats, 3SS republican ns
and 1908 populists, 80 prohibitionists This
furnishes its own conclusion. There are
nearly as many republicans supporting
Bryan as democrats. The same conditions
prevail in all the western states'