The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-10-09

OF THE DAY.
of the way as 1t turned out. You
must remember that in 80 the drift
was against the Republicans. 1T was
SO everywhere. and it was so in kan
sas. We did not make sufficient al
lowanee for it. This year the drift is
with us. The surprises, the unexpect-
ed, are all likely to be in our favor"
A number of well informed Republi-
cans told me they thought Bryan was
still a few thousand votes ahead, but
that whatever lead he has now would
be wiped out before election day.
The fusionfsts do not know anything
about it, They are densely ignorant Of
the art of politics. They have sent
out some literature. and their speakers
make speeches. and that is all For
the remainder they trust to luck. They
claim the state by various figures, ac-
cording to the mood they are in. One
day it is $4,000 another $4,000, another
10000 1T is all guesswork. for they
have made no poll, and ROpulistlc
guesses are additionally and uniformly
wild The fusionists may be right in
their claim that they are going to carry
the state. but their organiza ton IS not
a very potent factor in securing that
end. Chairman Breidentha1. a stats
officer, has just taken hold in an effort
to organize the scattered and ineffec-
tive fusion forces. but ne has come upon
the scene rather late in the day. The
Republicans meanwhile are tireless
skillful experienced. resourceful They
know the worst spots in the state, and
are applying the proper remedies.
have great deal of faith in practical
politics of the sort the Republicans are
playing in both Kansas and Nebraska,
especially when the tide is running ia
V0ra bly,.
How many Kansas Republicans have
left the party on the silver issue since
he last election-left to vote for B yan2
OF course no one knows. The POpulists
90 civ n oil
the Republicans in the state One
would be justified in cutting that claim
in halves on general principles. Chair
man Simpson gave what seemed to be
a very frank and thoughtful reply when
7 put this question to him. We viii
lose 8 per cent" he said. Five per cent
would be 5000 Inquiry in various di-
rectiOns, however satisfies me that Mr.
Simpsons figures are too low I give
it as the opinion of one with a birds
eye view that so per cent should be add
ed to Mr. Simpsons concession My
figures are for the present time, While
Mr. Simpson is doubtless estimating for
election day and taking out the recov-
cries which he has reason to believe he
will make meanwhile
1t must be remembered that the old
soldiers still form a considerable part
of the Republican army in Kansas, and
that neither free silver or anything
else shakes the old soldiers allegiance
to his party. There are $4,000 pension
ers of all sorts in Kansas, and there are
probably $4,000 veterans Of the rebel
lion within the state. a few days ago
there was a big reunion at Topeka
Though politics was barred. such
cheering as was heard along the line
of march for a Mckinley banner nung
across the street convinced every one
of the loyalty OF the veterans to the
Republican party, silver or no silver
Later an effort was made to poll the
old soldiers in camp, and according 70
the report which seems to be trust
worthy though I am unable to vOuch
for it, 1 800 men answered Mckinley
and % said Bryan" If it be true that
so 600 old soldiers are solid IN their Re-
pubIfcanism, u 600 is a large percent
age of silver losses to concede out OF
the remaining 10000 Republicans in
the state. 1t is one man gone out OF
nine.
The claims Of silver gains in Repubh-
can ranks are nearly always exagger-
ated. For instance 1t was declared
very solemnly that in this city l,zOf Ike
publicans had come out for Bryan
Chairman Gault of the county commit
tee tells me he has complete and &C
curate poll. and that there are only a
few over 200 seeding Republicans IN
TopeI<a half of whom he confidently
expects to win back by election day.
Similar claims in various parts OF the
state have upon Investigation turned
out to have even less foundations ana
vet there are spots where silver has
made big gains. This is true of num-
Der of cities and towns of the small
T..
try the experiment of cheap money not
because they understand the question,
but because they have a constitutional
objection to voting the way their en-
pIoyers would like them to vote.
There are thousands of sound money
Democrats in Kansas who viii vote
for Mckinley How many thousands,
the Infinite only knows The Republ-
cans are counting on 10000 or 1900, the
Populists on {, 600 or 1000, while Eu-
gene Hagan who is managing the Dem
ocratic sound money campaign mere,
tells me he has every reason to believe
from 1900 to 49, 900 Democrats viii
not vote for Bryan. There are counties
in which he has lists Of from 200 TO 800
each In Topeka alone there are known
to be from SEQ to 500. There are l05
counties in Kansas, and it would re
ouire an average only of $50 votes to
the county to come up to Mr. Hagan' s
estimate. But there are 80 counties in
which the whole Democratic vote
amounts to only 200 or 300. 1t is true,
however. that many of the really infu-
entail Democrats in the state are
against Bryan. They are not only
against him. but they are using their
influence that way.
MI Hagan says that whenever
Democrat of good standing as a man
can be induced to come out and pro-
claim his opposition to Bryan dozen,
a score, or half a hundred Immediately
follow. They want encouragement-