Arizona silver belt., 1896-10-15
THE REAL BATTLE GROUND.

usicu pu IEtsluSutihl cltctOIs uhS been arranged between the Democrats and Populists Tn twenty-six states, and in majority of these states upon Con gressmen also. The division gives the Democrats lS3 electors, Populists 6S. The states in which fusion is most conse- quential are Illinois, Michigan, Iowa and Minnesota. In Indiana, where the Democrats and Populists failed to agree, Mir Bryan made a personal plea for harmony and fusion on electors, and cooperation may yet be effected
 The relative strength of the three parties, in previous elections, ill these doubtful states is therefore, of interest, as indicating the probable result of the election on November 3.
 Illinois, which prior to 1892 was con sidered reliably Republican, in that year gave its electoral vote to Cleveland by plurality of 26,993, and in that election the Populists cast 22, ,207 votes for Weaver. In the succeeding two years a revolution of sentiment took place, owing to dissatisfaction with the administration and a Democratic Con gress, and the Republicans in 1894 gained every Congressional district, ex cept one, and elected their candidate for State Treasurer by plurality of l33,427
 Examining into the causes of this un- paralelled change, we find that the labor and farmer vote was responsible for it. Cook county, in which Chicago Is situ- ated, in 1892 went Democratic by 33,- $50 plurality and in 1894 the vote changed to Republican plurality of 5l,395, change in two years of S4, 745 votes! The vote of 1894 in Cook coun- ty was the protest of labor against the Cleveland administration, and the same forces which gave the Republicans the state by such an overwhelming vote in 1894 are this year enlisted under the banner of Bryan and free silver. This disaffected element, together with the Populist vote, is more than sufficient to give the electoral vote of the state to Bryan.
 Indiana, although much oftener Dem- oeratic than Illinois, is this year hard. CT state for the Democrats to carry, owing to the strength of the gold Dem ocrsts and the friction existing between the Democratic and Populist organiza- tons. Cleveland carried the state in 1892 by 7,l25 plurality, but in 1894 Indiana was in line with Illinois and elected the Republican candidate for Secretary of State by plurality of 44, '. G73, and sent a solid Republican dele gatlon to Congress. The Populist vote in 1892 in Indiana was p, POS.
 Michigan, in 1892, gave Harrison a plurality of 20, 4l2, and the Republican vote was 525 greater than the Demo. cratic and Populist combined. This year a considerable detection from the Republican party is apparent and the result on November 8 is extremely doubtful.
 In Minnesota the chances seem to favor Bryan. In 1892 Harrison car ried tine State by 1908 plurality, but the combined Democratic-P Populist vote exceeded the Republican vote 7,41O. Reports indicate falling off in the Re- publican vote this year.
 Iowa has always been in the Repub- hcan column in Presidential elections, and in 1892 the Republican vote ex- eeeded the total Democratic and Popu- list vote by 2,S33 If fusion wins, and it is not improbable, it will be great victory.
 The votes of these states will determ- inc the national contest, and it is not improbable that the result will hinge on Illinois, which has now taken the position as the pivotal state, for many years held by New York