Kansas City daily journal., 1896-10-26
Padded Free silver Claims.

From the New York Sun.
Taking polls is a favorite occupation with
the Popocratic managers. because each pod
is more encouraging than the last. There
Is no knowing how high their balloon esti-
mates would soar If the campaign were 10
drag out another month. We are told that
a second poll, which Secretary Walsh. of the
campaign committee, is taking In Iowa,
proves beyond question that Iowa has gone
stark, blind crazy for silver. So confident
is the national committee Of the correct
ness of it's figures that it jubilantly gives
out a roundup estimate of the pluralities
which Bryan is to receive in the doubtful
states. Illinois is to give him 1913. In
diana 65145, Nebraska 42,647, Kansas S64o.
Michigan 81 al, Minnesota e, $50, and SO on.
Note the odd numbers. They are supposed
to guarantee the accuracy Of the poll. Ii
there were anything in these figures but
will O. the wisp guessing, surface fndfca-
tions would give them color. But the sur
face indications tell us how the tide is
running with flood volume toward McKfn-
ley. In Chicago, for instance, business men
are practically q unit for him, and one
workingman's organization after another
has broken away from the ward leaders
and passed resolutions denouncing free sill
yer. In other words, the wage-earners,
whose support Chairman Jones hitherto
has claimed so confidently. are divided. a
very large percentage Of them having de-
termined to vote for an intact dollor. Con-
slider this straw, too; the Chicago Club,
which in other campaigns was only half
Republican, has registered to man. and
every member announces that he will vote
for Mckinley.
To anyone who theories about the ex-
trayagant claims of the Popocratic man
ayers there can be only one explanation.
namely. that the voters of the Middle
West are fanatically deceiving Republican
canyassers in order to take the PopocratS
into their confidence: that is to say. the
proyerbially outspoken Westerners have
suddenly become secretive and sly. Can
yassers for both sides go over the same
ground and arrive at radically different
conclusions, but surface indications cor
roborate the Republican reports. To add
to the mystery, Chairman Jones seems TO
believe his own bulletins.
What is the key to the puzzle: Sim
plicity itself. The returns sent In to the
Popocratic bureaus at Chicago and WASH
ington come from secretaries of free silver
clubs, and not from special agents who
travel through the different states This
fact has lust come out in an inveStigat ton
made at Washington. The mode of opera
tjon Is as follows: 4 free silver club IS
formed in a prairie town the origin ii and
bona fide members being we'll known free
silyerites The club must have funds tc
MAINTAIN oiu "
sionary work. a report OIL progress is dis
patched to headquarters by the president.
The membership list. MADE up by the ex-
pectant secretary. contains the name OF
every voter in the district who is not a
prominent Republican. Read in the light
Of a glowing report from the president
the roll of the club convlnces Jones at
Chicago and the extremely credulous Law
renee Gardner at Washington that the
Middle West is ablaze for free silver. The
secretary gets his check. A Popocratic
manager making campaign estimates re-
minds us of lame lunatic chasing a gaudy
butterfly.