Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-10-12
ILLINOIS THE STATE
The Democrats to Make the Biggest
Fight to Garry It.
REPUBLICANS TO MEET THEM
How the Leaders Figure Out the
Situation.
M A ND REPUBLICANS

All the information obtainable today
among the silver managers confirms the
belief that National Chairman Jones and
Candidate Bryan have picked out the spe-
cific territory in the middle west which
they hope to carry, and that they are ar
ranging fer the fight which they will make
at the last moment The republicans have
caught on to the democratic game and will
be with them in the same territory when
the windup takes place.
Candidate Bryan's tour of the last few
weeks was the first intimation of the DEM
ocratic plan. That plan is, as intimate1
In The Star some time ago, to give up the
east to let the south and west take care
of itself, and concentrate the fight in the
states of Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and
Minnesota The way the democratic man
ayers are said to have argued it out was
that Bryan should visit the Dakotas ard
Iowa while in the west. 1t was supposed
his visit would save the Dakotas. They
further argued that all the other western
states were safe for the ticket They fig
ured that all the states west of the Mis-
sisslppi except Iowa, and all the southern
states, or practically all of them, would
be with them and leave them short not a
81 eat many votes They would leave Ohio
Wisconsin and Iowa and devote them
selves to the hope of carrying the four
states mentioned. Any two of these states,
they Inquired, together with the south and
west would give them a bare majority In
the electoral college.
Maryland is Republican,
1t is not known whether the managers
figured on carrying Maryland in this deal,
but If they did their own followers here
say they counted on nothing Even to
silver quarters information is making its
way that Maryland is lost to Bryan Some
of the silver leaders of that state have
written private letters here that the state
is lost 1t is not known whether the
natlonal democratic managers counted on
delaware or West Virginia, but if they
Old they were rosy, it is said, in their hopes
and views.
What They Have Figured On.
There is reason to believe, from what
can be picked up. and from Bryan's pro-
gram to spend the last week of the cam
paign in Illinois. that the democratic ma
tlonal managers have figured on things
about this way: Votes sure for Bryan:
w. This includes solid south, with the
exception Of Maryland, Delaware and West
Virginia; a solid west, or everything west
OF the Mississippi, except Iowa BRYAN
would then lack 81 votes of having a bare
majority. Illinois and Indiana would give
the required majority and I over to make
up Tor any unexpected loss of a small state
Michigan and Illinois would bring the same
result. with one less vote. Illinois and Min
nesota would even give Bryan majority
ana one over. In any case the democrat ic
managers have made up their minds that
they must have Illinois and one other mid
die western state. They have information
II is said. which leads them to think they
have Indiana. The fight if they believe
THIS, will. as all straws point, be for Hi
nois. Bryan. Altgeld, Tillman, Teller and
a host of other more or less prominent sill
yer spell-binders, are to be turned loose in
illinois the last week, and the democrats Is
are going to try to carry the state by
storm. They will desert nearly every other
state.
What the Republicans Will Do.
From New York is the story that the re-
publicans see this move of the democrats
and will go them one better. Hundreds of
republican speakers from all parts of the
country have been ordered to center in IL
nnois. In that state then, the orators of
the two parties will clash during the last
two weeks 1t is estimated that 1900 or
1000 meetings will be held in Illinois from
now until the campaign is over and over
half of them will be in the city of Chicago
The democrats fatter themselves into the
belief tnat Illinois, outside of Chicago is
with them, and all they need is to carry
Chicago.
Mr.. Bryan's trip through Iowa may have
carry that state, but it is Surmised that he
wanted to give that impression to the re-
pubicans, so as to force them to throw
money and speakers into the state, while
the democrats were concentrating else
where
Without Illinois many silver men here
see no hope for Bryan, and the belief Is
strong that JONES' Bryan and Altgeld have
come to the same conclusion
Not Fighting in Ohio.
Col Ike Hill, the ardent Ohio silverite
returned this morning from Ohio. He says
the situation there is bright for the demo-
Gratis, but he makes no positive claims for
the state. He says the democrats have
made no fight in the state, and are not
going to make big fight. The colonel says
that there is lots of betting in progress
about the state. He is trying to get some
of it. number of republicans are Offering
money that the state will give Mckinley
$4,000 plurality. Col Hill says this is i'm
possible. and he is willing to put money