Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-09-03
One of the Great Political Battlefelds
of the Year.
ESTIMATES As TO TEE Vote
How Democratic Statisticiar
Figures the Result.
T E REP BLICAN VIEW

Special Correspondence of The Evening Star
CHICAGO, ILL.,. September 1, 1896.
1t may be said that opposing forces are
lined up in Illinois now. Capt Tanner, the
republican candidate for governor opened
his campaign at Breeze some days ago,
and yesterday Governor Altgeld delivered
his first formal address of the canvass at
Girard. There was street parade in the
morning, and 5000 people marched to the
music furnished by two or three fife and
drum corps. The governor almost totally
ignored the tariff question. talking three
fourths of the time on currency. The crowd
was friendly and he was repeatedly
cheered to the echo.
The governors policy seems to be, if his
Girard speech may be taken as an index
to it, to ignore the charges against him
that are of a personal nature, and to make
the argument from a purely economic
standpoint. He will not. dwell upon the
pardon of the anarchists or other incidents
of his administration that have been adj
versely criticised, and have brought forth
the accusation that he is foe to law and
order.
The open letter of ex-Congressman For
man, which reflected the personal
honesty of the governor, was answered in
an open letter to the writer, and there the
matter rests. Mr.. Altgeld contented him
Self with general denial of the ex-Con-
greSSman's charges, and then devoted a
mans career. undertaking to show that
the faint of the lobby was on him at Wash
lnston, and that he had been retired by his
constituents because they dIstrusted him.
Gold men say that this is no reply at all
while republicans declare that the best
and Worst-democrats can say Of each other
Is You re another, and that Altgeld and
Forman are tarred with the same stick.
The Times-Herald, a republican paper,
which is boiling Tanner, says that For
mans charges that Altgeld borrowed state
FUNDS, and was caught shy several thous-
and when Treasurer Ramsay, the default
er, died, may be true, but, alas Tanner
can say nothing, for, while il is merely
alleged that Altgeld was guilty of the Of
tense, it has been proved beyond doubt
that Tanner committed the same crime
cludes the Times-Her has no right to
call the kettle black.
Altgeld's Appeal.
Governor Altgeld closed his speech with
an eloquent appeal to the voter on behalf
OF the national ticket. IF you are not
satisfied with my stewardship" he said
II you consider me an unsafe man, then
go into the booth and vote for Tanner,
remembering at the same tine your Duty
TO yourselves ana TO your country Think
of your home, of your wives and children
ana cast vote for Bryan and humanity"
Both national campaign committees are
WORKING with renewed energy on the inde-
pendent suckc: eiector just now 1t Is
the simple truth To say that the situation
is SO complicated that both sides are
scared out of their boots. On the demo-
cratic side Alleged Is the absolutely con-
ndent man, while the past week Closed
without an optim,st or the republican side
oneaSiness Is not simulated either in order
to prevent overconfidence
so serious is the situation viewed from
me republican viewpoint that Chairman
Hitch of he state committee has hecn
summoned to Canton. for which place he
left last night. The fact seems TO he thai
the people-at least the people of Illinois
are are gong 10 pass upon the currency ques-
uon for themselves. They are talking
among themselves and listening to each
other, instead of beng talked at by and
listening to the spellbinde-s. Unless the
ir OF Is OF pretty large caliber the prom
ise OF a set speech draws very small
CROWD put an argument between two citi-
zens VIII, IL the police are not active.
blockade the sidewalk in e few minutes
republican leader. speaking to The
star correspondent of Htch's visit TO Cam
ton, said: He Will impress upon Major
mckinley the fact that as many speakers
can be utilized in Illinois as the ma
they are men of national repute. The
people are not satisfied with the small
fry this year.
The burning of Bryan in effisy at two
points, wac apart geographically is well
coined rather than otherwise treated at
democratic national headquarters Chair
man Jones could not conceal his satisfac-
ton from the correspondent, who talked to
MIN short while after he had been adj
Vised of the Lincoln incident. They have
called us incendiaries and anarchists" he
salu, out 1t seems that they are the in
cendiaries Of this campaign. The peonle
Will learn of the outrages and rebuke them
on election day, that's certain"
Short of Funds
The republican literary bureau is not
rolling in wealth 1t seems, although re-
ported to have unlimited funds. One of
the attaches said yesterday: I'VE are
working on borrowed money. and the pros
pect OF getting enough together to pay 1t
pack gets simmer and simmer every day.
1t was the expectation that this year the
republicans would have plenty of money
to run their campaign on. The impression
mas become so broadcast that when our
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