Omaha daily bee., 1896-09-25
MANY LEAVING THE BRYAN RANKS.
Western Stutcs very Likely to Give
Mckinley MniOritics.

- Nsp -
Western Stutcs very Likely to Give
Mckinley Mnioritics.
An Omahan who has just returned from a
ten days trip through Utah, Idaho and
Wyoming has. this to say regarding politics
in those states:
I'm Utah the people are worked up to a
frenzy over free silver, and there one hears
but little else talked. Bryan's picture is
seen about everywhere save on the coat
lapels Of visitors.
Idaho has been regarded all along, even
by many republicans, as certain to cast its
three electoral votes for Bryan. 1t seems
to me that the disposition of these three
votes is very much in doubt. I asked a
number Of free silver men where was
Bryan's stronghold in Idaho, and they all
replied in Washington county | spent a
week In Weiser, the principal town OF that
county. and was much surprised at the
number of McKinley's followers. a grand
ratification meeting, addressed by the free
silver nominee for congress, was attended
by but a few over 100 persons, and was any
thing but enthusiastic. The merchants of
the place are uniformly for Mckinley. Back
in the county there is considerable wool
raised, and you may depend upon it that
there will not be many Of these wool growers
vote against the protection of their
industry. There is another class Of
men in this Bryan stronghold who Will vote
for Mckinley and protection to the WOOL
industry. 1t is composed of Transfers who
have, during the past year or more, made
good wages by hauling the wool to Hunting
ton, a distance of twenty-three miles. On
account of what they allege to be discrimin-
ating rates by the railroad, viz, better rates
east than west, the wool growers have been
sending most of their product by teams to
the Oregon Railway q Navigation company's
line. This hauling has given work to
many men, and in the present politi-
cal conflict they stand by the WOOL
growers, The Mckinley men in Washing
ton county declare that they Will give the
free silverites an even fight, and | shouldn't
be surprised if they made their declaration
good. This is the condition of affairs in
an acknowledged free silver district. over
in Boise City there is a tremendous Nc
Kinley sentiment. Senator Shoup and his
daily paper. which is everywhere read in
these parts, have plenty of followers, ana
are fast winning over those who in July
went wild over Bryan and his Chicago per
Torrance. 1t would look as though the
republican majority there ought to be able
to overcome the democratic majority else
where in the state.
six weeks ago republicans of Wyoming
felt pretty blue and conceded the state to
Bryan. There has been a remarkable
change since then, and these same men are
now enthusiastic in their belief that Wyom-
ing will be found casting its vote for Nc
Kinley when the electoral college Convenes.
A Mckinley club of 1000 members in Chey-
enne is doing splendid work, and is said to
be able to overcome the small majorities
by which Bryan is expected to carry three
western counties. That the free silver men
are desperate is shown by the fact that
they are resorting to much the same
methods as were exhibited at the Bourke
Cochran meeting. in this city. In Chey-
enne they have torn down the Mckinley
posters time and again, and have es-
pecially directed their vengeance against
the well known circular, picturing "the real
issue" A reward has now been offered
for the capture OF the sneaks who have been
engaged in this work, and it has had the
result of forcing the free silverites to
abandon this policy"