Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-10-15
Bryan is Practically Sure Of the Vote
Of the State.
But REPUBLICANS ARE VERY ACTIVE
Interesting Complications in the
Congressional Districts.
THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATS
Special Correspondence of The Evening star.

After all it looks like the strongest fight |
that the regular democracy will have TO
make in this state will be for Congress |
men. If general conditions continue as |
they now are, SO far as the electoral ticket |
is concerned, there is little doubt but that
Bryan and Sewall will carry the state. This |
fact is generally recognized by those who |
are opposing that ticket, but vino are still |
hoping that something will happen which |
will in some way combine sufficient num- |
Der OF the opposition to defeat the Chicago |
nominees. The middle-of-the-road element |
of the populist party have not taken down |
their Bryan ana Watson ticket because |
Capt. R. F. Kob and his ir mediate fol- |
lowers have deserted it, nor ave they as !
yet shown any signs of giving aid to the |
republicans directly. The national demo- |
Gratis are stiIl making their fight and will |
undoubtedly continue their electoral ticket |
i'll the field to the end. The republicans !
are to all appearances in the fight to the |
finish with their electoral ticket. and are
prosecuting much more vigorous cam
paign, 50 far as the presidential race is
concerned, than either the national demo-
Gratis or the populists.
If this program is strictly adhered to, as
stated above, Bryan and Sewall will be
comparatively easy winners. But will it
go on until election day as it is now? That
Is the question politicians are asking. II
kolb stripe, who have deserted Watson.
and the middle-of-the-TCad element grows
much warmer it would be no surprise to see
the latter throw their strength to Mckin
ley, where their natural alliance in this
state has been for the past four years. Ii
is pointed out. too. that if the silver demo-
Gratis undertake to be too severe in their
criticisms of national democrats, or to break
up the Palmer and Buckner meetings to be
held In this state in a few days, many OF
the national democrats may be driven to
vote for Mckinley. 1t is, therefore, APP
parent that the very best thing that the
Bryan and Sewal campaign managers can
do is just what their state campaign chair
man. Gen. Charles NJ. Shelley, counseled at
the outset of the contest-to practice toll
Grafton and forpearance and reconciliation
and not indulge in vituperation and abuse
This they have done up to date, but it is
regarded as doubtful if the program which
Gen. Shelley inaugurated, and which, it is
said, he Is having no little difficulty in
making his forces maintain, will continue
to the end.
Hope of the National Democrats.
National democrats are very hopeful Of
electing four Congressman from Alabama
and are understood to be bending their en-,
ergies chiefly in that direction. rather than
with a view of carrying the states cleo
toral vote for the Indianapolis nominees.
The districts which they expect to capture
are the second, the third, the fourth and
a good fighting chance in the sixth, and a
show in the eighth. In the second and third
districts the republicans made no congress
sional nominations, but Endorsed the NOM
ilees of the national democratS-Thomas
H. Clarke, in the second, and G. l.. Conner,
in the third district In both of these dis
tricts the populsts have out candidates, so
that the silver vote will be divided AS the
sound money sentiment is pretty strong in
each, the gold men are very hopeful of the
result. In the fourth district. H. A. Wilson,
the regular republican nominee, last Satur-
day withdrew from the race on the advice
of his committee in behalf of the candi-
dacy Of Edmond II. Dryer, the gold demo-
crat. In this district William F. Aldrich,
the present member, who was seated as the
result of a contest with Castor A. Robbins,
democrat, Is the nominee OF the old anti
Mckinley faction, who last spring bolted
the regular republican convention Aldrich
is free silver man, and has thus secured
the Endorsement, or rather the nomination,
of the populists. For that reason it is
said that his support among republicans
will not pc large.
AS the result Of the division of the silver
vote between Aldrich and Plowman, the
silver democratic nominee, the gold demo-
Gratis think their chances are excellent for
capturing the fourth district In the ninth
the republican nominee, Congressman Tru-
man H. Aldrich, withdrew, it is understood,
in interest of DR.. Archibald Lawson. the
national democratic nominee. Dr. G. b.
Grove is the middle-of-the-road popu1ist
nominee and is one of the strongest popu-
| list leaders in the state. 1t is figured that
he will poll big vote, keeping many popu-
lists who with any other man besides
Grove in the race might go to Underwood,
the silver democratic nominee, from aiding
| in the election of the silver democrat. DR..
Lawson, 1t is believed will have pretty
nearly the solid republican white vote, as
| we'll as the bulk of the negro vote and all
the strength of the national democrats who
| are very strong in this district because of
l l{ pCboY heir
| hot gold city.
Popularity of Mr.. Bankhead.
In the sixth district, while Vandegraff,
the national democratic nominee, has the
| Endorsement Of the republicans, and the
| district Is strongly for sound money, The
| chances for the success of the gold candi-
date are not SO good as they are in the
/ four other districts reviewed above, chiefly
because of the great personal popularity OF
| Congressman John H. Bankhead, the silver
| democratic nominee. Capt. Bankhead is
| one of the few from the south who are will
ing to accord Mr.: Cleveland honesty OF pur-
pose and the right to differ with other
members Of the party on the financial Ques-
| ton. He has never INDUCED in abuse of
| sound money men, but has counseled mod
| GRAFTON and reconcilia ton. He has also
| rendered valuable service in Congress for
his constituency in the way Of securing
public buildings and river improvements.
| For these reasons Bankhead will be hard
! his re-electi ton, more because of efficient
service than because of any question of the
| money issue.
In the seventh district the chances seem
to favor the election Of w. 1. Bullock, the
| silver democrat. He is opposed by Con-
gresham M. w. Howard populist; George
H. Parker, gold democrat, and j.. ]. Curtis
! republican. AS the district is both poplk
listic and free silver, there is little prospect
for either u the two last-named candidates
winning. Two years ago Howard carried
every county In the district, but at the
state election the populists in August last
showed heavy losses, though Goodwin, the
populist candidate for governor still HAD a
majority of all the votes cast in the dis.
trict. Bullock. the silver democratic candi.
date, is very popular, while Congressman
Howard seems to have lost a very large
share of his following.
Gen. Whecler's Chances.
In the eighth district Dr. D. w. Day, the
populist nominee, has just withdrawn from
the race for Congress- which probably in
creases Congressman Joe Wheelers chances
for reelection as the regular democrat. II
almost any other district in the state sucl
an occurrence 40 the withdrawal Ct tn.