Evening star., 1896-09-28
kA N S AS is DOUBTFUL
What Claims Are Made by Republicans and
Free Silver Men.
Work Being Pushed i'm Every Dfrec-
tion by Both Parties Watson's
Visit Had No Eject.


TOPEKA, Kan, September 26, 1895.
The republican managers of Kansas do
not relish the statements made in the east
which place this state in the doubtful CIR
Bryan column. The recent estimate made
by Congressman Grosvenor Of Ohio, which
placed Kansas in the doubtful column. has
not had a tendency to inspire the republi-
cars who are in the management of The
campaign here. They say that while Kan
sas is doubtful state it tends to discour-
age the rank and file Of the party here to
be reminded of it by the leaders at Wash
ngton and New York. The fact that Mr..
Grosvenor, in his table, gave Major Mckin-
ley such a sweeping majority in the cleo
toral college east of the Mississippi river
creates the impression here that Chairman
Hanna will not do much in a financial way
to save Kansas, and that he Will not heed
its electoral vote to elect the republican
candidate Whatever may be his inten-
tions they insist that he ought TO stop the
estimate makers who persist in giving
Kansas to the opposition. Further, The
republican managers say he should send
enough money and speakers into the state
to insure the return of a solid republican
delegation to Congress and a republican
legislature. which would insure a repuDli-
can as successor to William Alfred PETER
in the United States Senate
VIII Continue a Battle Ground.
Kansas will continue to be one of the
| battle grounds between the sound money
and free silver forces without regard to
the action Of national committees. 1t
was thought that the recent visit of Tom
Watson to this state would result in di-
vision Of the fusion forces, but Watson
himself was unable to stampede the mid
de -of-the-road element He came Tito
the state unattended, and he departed un-
har cd IA "a n
| the free silver forces he was regarded as a
| meddler in matters in which he had 10
| interest II his visit accomplished al y
thing 1t was to more thoroughly cement
| the opposition to the republican party. ii
| is not believed that the ticket which will
| bear his name as the candidate for Vice
President will receive to exceed 1000 votes.
The free silver republicans democrats and
populists say it is not the interests of men
| they are fighting for, but principle which
| is dearer than all else. Therefore, they
| will vote for Bryan and Sewall because il
| is the only practical way Of defeating the
| republican party.
Pushing the Work.
| 1t must be admitted that the republicans
are pushing a more thorough and deter
| mined campaign than the free silver com
mittees: They are aggressive, and their in
| f1uence is being felt among the farmers. Th'
| speakers are invading the country dis
1
| day and school house meetings at night
| People turn out and listen by the hours ts
| mediocre takers. They never Were 81
hungry for information. The reDublica:
| state committee is holding at least los
meetings a day, and this record will b'
| kept up until election day. The nationa
republican committee have thirty goof
| speakers in the state and they are averag
| ing meeting each per day. In addition
| to this the local committees of the 10.
| counties of the state are pushing schoo
| house campaign, holding an average o.
| five meetings in every county per day
Tons Of literature have been scattered
| through the state, while the state an,
| local press TEEN with sound money doe
| trine.
The free silver forces are working hard
| but their campaign is not so thorough ant
| systematic Instead Of delegating tn
| work to one man as manager, there ar,
three heads-the populist. democratic anC
| free silver republican chairmen. This ha
| greatly retarded the campaign, and a:
| the work of directing the speaking cam
| paign has finally fallen on Chairman Breid
| enthal Of the populist committee, he ha:
| organized for a thorough canvass of th'
| state, and from this time till election dal
| the school houses of Kansas will resouns
| with the logic and oratory of local FREE
| silver advocates.
Different Party Claims.
Republicans claim to have made gain
during the past two weeks which warran
them in claiming the state for Mckinley
They say the sentiment is changing Yer.
fast, and with another month for activ
work they expect to win over to the sount
money theory at least 10000 votes.
they do this it will give them the state b.
| from 5000 to 10000. At the free silve
| headquarters the state is claimed 70
Bryan by 22.OO0 majority. This claim 1
based on the expectation Of securing 1900
free silver republicans for the Bryal
l he hcct inf ,os in,,n hon
and from reliable sources, the free silve
detection I'm the republican party will no
exceed 5000, while this loss will more thai
be eQualed by the gains from the SCUM
money democrats. Notwithstanding thes
claims and estimates. the fact remains tina
Kansas is a doubtful state. with tn
| chances in favor of Bryan, and il the elec
ton was held now the republicans woul
| l,xy 30