Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-10-15
NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC CAMPAIGN.

Chicago, lii, Oct ~. As becomes
a conscience campaign the National
Committee Of the National Democracy
in the bulletins and other newspapers
stuff which they have given out from
their headquarters, have obviously
been careful to make no statement
which could reasonably be challenged,
have been ra-conservative, indeed.
Consequently the bold tone which they
now maintain about tho result in
Illinois has caused something of SON
eation. They assert an absolute assur-
ance OF sound money Democratic vote
in this State far In excess of anything
that either the Mckinley committee or
silver Democrats have counted IN. The
peculiar confidence which they have
about Illinois arises from peculiar
condition. The Illinois sound money
movement antedates the National
Democracy by more than month.
Before the iarring echoes Of the Chi
cago convention had died away the
Sound-Money Democrats Of Chicago
had decided that they would not sub.
NIT to the dominance of free silyerism
and Atlgeldism, and had studiously
laid plans for an opposing State Or
ganization. They went to work with
out delay and speedily enlisted strong
support throughout the State. Be-
ginning with full local ticket for
Cook county, they laid their plans to
oppose the silverites at every point
up to and including the Presidential
electors, and even before the National
sound money convention was decided
on, their plans we're practically matured
They had splendid State convention
of /, 0l9 out OF a possible /, 069 dele
gates. They nominated a State ticket
which not only commanded respect
but has much practical strength, and
they went studiously to work to get
votes. Among their campaigners are
several of the most experienced and
astute political workers In Illinois
These men have been thoroughly in
earnest and both before and since the
indianapolis convention have been
devoting to their enterprise degree of
industry and discriminating care which
has not been anywhere surpassed by
any party in this national campaign.
Since the National Convention their
plans have been fitted to the National
Democracy organization, most of the
original leaders retaining their official
mittee find much work done for it in
advance in this State. SOFT is that
when the National Committeeman make
statements about their strength 10
Illinois they are very apt to know what
they are talking about.
The State campaign remains in
excellent hands. Mr.. Forman, the
nominee for Governor, ia supported by
probably the strongest local organiza-
tion that the National Democrats have
in the county. The State. oommittee
give excellent accounts of his labor,
too. In almost every town where he
has spoken, the Sound Money Demo
Gratis show strength which has sur
prised even their own organizers.
The State committee Is diligently
prosecuting it's poll and already has
close figures on parts OF the State, in
Guiding Chicago. These In many cases
are very striking. One canvasser in a
Chicago precinct where Cleveland
received l32 votes reports that Bryan
will not get 30. That ward gave Cleve-
land 3, 700; the Bryan vote now foots
up little short of $500, even where
there are no exact figures, the reports
are in substance quite as encouraging.
A recent letter to the committee from
farmer in one of the counties OF the
northern tier, says that Bryan will not
get over so per cent OF the Cleveland
vote. The chairman Of the State Com
niittee, one Gay the past week, visited
certain Mississippi river county, one
Of the largest counties In the State.
lie came away with the opinion that
Palmer will divide the Democratic
vote Of the county evenly with Bryan.
Evidently in all parts Of the State there
is q growing sympathy with the under
taking Of the National Democrats, not
merely to defeat the Chicago ticket
and ground its platform into the dust,
but strongly to defend the ancient
Democratic faith against the Republi-
cans of to day and all its future enc
mics. A strong demand has arisen the
past two weeks, for National Demo
cratic speakers. Several rousing meet
ings were held during the past week
in counties which 80 days ago no anti
Bryan Democrat was bold enough to
invade. From one town where with
much difficulty small delegation was
obtained Tor the State convention, a
strong request now comes up for Gen.
Palmer himself. He will go down one
day soon, and the local sound money
men say they will give him tent
meeting with 5000 hearers.
In another town.-ir Northern Illinois
which did not send a single delegate
to the convention, the first Palmer and
Buckner speech was made the early
part OF the week and already a local
delegation has come in crying for
another. They want no less q person
age than GOV. Flower, and thoy say
that his audience at the speaking and
the sound-money vote on the Sd nf
November. will show that the day has
been by no means wasted. Another
visitor at the State Committee came
yesterday from town near Chicago
whsre there were not dozen protest
ing Democrats at the time OF the State
convention, He brought in a list of 85
declared Palmer and Buckner voters in
the town, and thought the. committee
would be repaid II they would send
there for an evening one OF their
strongest speakers.
The chief difficulty which the Ma
tional Democratic committees en-
countered in this State at the outset
was arresting the stampede of Sound
Money Democrats for Mckinley. At
the cost Of much earnest labor they
have succeeded sp!endidls in this un.
dertaking.
In majority Of the counties the men
who have finally organized the National
Democracy campaign, were first per-
suaded back from Mckinley. They are
Democrats, of course, but first they
thought they would be doing their party
a sufficient service in defeating Bryan