The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-08-26

could not be eli CteQ IN preIoroICt u
candidate with a good prospect of sue
cess.
From the first the Populist conven.
ton was in favor of Bryan's nomina
ton, but its members desired TO act in
manner that would preserve their
own organization intact and not merge
it in the Democratic organization. The
Texans were more earnest than others
on this point, because of their great
strength in their state and the much
larger strength of the Democracy
But with them, as with all, the talk
of middle of the road candidate for
the presidency was as nonseDslcal as
the talk of a ''side ditch" bolt from the
action OF the convention is now.
The nomination of an independent
Populist candidate for vice president
accomplishes all the so called middle
of the road delegates wanted. IL pre-.
serves the identity of the party, and
instead of injuriouslv affecting the
presidents vote will serve to increase
1t.
The last vote in Texas for governor
was. in round numbs RS: Democratic,
242, 600; Popullst. 100, 900, aud Rspubli-
can, SIS, 600. A Populist boltin Texes
would mean the cutting down Of the
Populist vote 80 per cent and the con-
sequent increase Of the Democratic
vote.
With the Democratic vote in the
west strengthened and increased by
free silver straight Populist nominee
for president would only lose the Popu-
lists the four states they carried with
Democratic help in 1892-Colorado,
Idaho, Kanses and Nevada.
3. Will the detection of the gold
Democrats defeat Bryan2
In considering the amount of dam
ger to the Chicago ticket from the dis
affection of the gold Democrats, it is
important to remember that such dis
affection is serious in onl y limited
number of states and is scarcely Of
anv account whatever in the west.
OF the New England and middle
states Maine, New Hampshire, Yer
mont, Massachusettsand Pennsylvania
elected the Republican electoral tick
cts in 1892 and may be conce ded to the
Republicans now. Any gold Demo
cracy movement in those states is inn
material. If half the Democrats
should repudiate the Chicago candi-
dates, they could only swell the Re
publican inajorities Conn, cticut,
New York aud New Jersey are, on the
other hand very important Democratic
states. With Della ware. Maryland and
West Virginia, their electoral votes
were cast Tor Cleveland in 1892
1t is claimed that the gold Democrats
will turn over Connecticut, New Jer-
sew and New York to the Mckinley
Republicans in this election.
In the section most affected by the
silver and Populist moSe nents through
the mining and agricultural Interests,
live states ran no Democratic electoral
tickets in 1S92-Colorado. Idaho,
Kansas, North Dakota ard Wyoming.
In Nevada, although Democratic
electoral ticket was in the field, the
Democrats generally voted with the
Populists. Colorado, Idaho, Kansas
aud Nevada were in consequence car
ried by the Populists by plurallties in
Colorado of ii 964, in Idaho Of ], 1921,
in Kansas of 1874 and in Nevada of
4,453. In North Dakota the Populists
obtained 1S1 plurality in the state, but
the three electoral votes went one to
each candidate. In Wyoming the Re-
pdblicans secured 732 plurality.
In the other western and Pacific
states combination of the Democratic
and Populist votes in 1892 would have
made these changes in the results:
California, carried by the Democrats
by LA plurality, would have given
25, 496 plurality over the Republicans
Illinois, carried by the Democrats
by 26, 993 plurality, would have given
them a plurality of AZ, 200. <.---"
Indiana's Democratic plurality OF
7,125 would have been increased to
~, 1888.
iowa's Republican plurality of 22,-
965 would have been reduced to 1870.
Michigan's Republican plurality of
20, 4l2 would have dwindled TO $50.
Miunesota's Republican plurality OF
81, 9O3 would have been changed to a
plurality of 7,4lO against the Repub-
licans.
Montana, instead of giving 1870
plurality for the Republicans, would
have given plurality of 6,064 for the
Democrats.
Nebraska's Republican plurality of
1, ,O93 over the Populists would have
given plurality of 20, $50 against the
Republican ticket.
Ohio would have reversed the Re-
publican plurality of 1,072 TO plu-
rality of l3. IT'S tor the other side.
Oregon, which gave mixed vote,
showing a small plurality for the
Republicans, would have given plu-
rality of 6, ,2O6 against Harrison.
South Dakota's plurality OF 8, 3A4 for
the Republicans would have changed
to 737 against them.
Washington's Republican plurality
of &, ,65s would have been wiped ou: and
a Democratic and Populist plurality OF
IL, 5O7 would have turned the state to
the other side.
West Virginia's Democratic plural.
ity of 4, ia would have been increased
to S.34O.
Wisconsin's Democratic plurality OF
.6,544 would have swelled to 1G, 453.
Wyoming, which gave Harrison
732 plurality, would have doled out to
him only 202.
Allowing to the Chicago Democrat
ic candidate only the states that are
believed to be certain for him, what
ever the gold Democrats may DO, the