The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1896-10-17
THE POLITICAL OUTLOOK
C hicagO's Labor Tote-The Political Man
ayers Siu Enable to Estim0te-The !St,ug-
ale IN Illinois a Serere Oae-DemOcrGts
Claim Large Gaias-No Landslide One
WAY or the Other Seems Possible.
From the Philadelphla Ledger. RepubIican

/ HNH or me OffSr seems 1OSStOtc.
From the Philadelphia Ledger, Republican.
! WASHINGTON, Oct. l4.-Publie and private
advices received here coincide in stating that
the struggle in Illinois is a severe one, and
that the outcome will be determined by the
work of the next two weeks. Letters received
from leading Republicans in Chicago, and in
the State outside of Cook county, agree that,
while the Republican managers express strong
confidence in the outcome, their assurance is
based more upon work to be done in the time
intervening between now and the election than
upon information secured by polls already
made. The vote of the wage-earners in Cook
county is said to be still an undetermined
quantity. All the efforts of both parties are
being concentrated in Chicago, and the best
| speakers of both sides are billed to address
audiences in Illinois between now and the day
OF election. In addition, the National Demo-
Gratis are also eentring their forces in the
State, and will thoroughly canvass it between
now and November 8.
SURFACE INDICATIONS.
1t is noticeable that the most confidence is
expressed by the Republicans, but scarcely
less is professed by the Democrats. As stated
before in these dispatches, the best opinion
is that Cook county will give majority for
Mckinley, but that the country is likely to be
carried by Bryan. Chicago's Republican
majority on Mayoralty was 10000, while in
1892 Cleveland carried the city by 10000.
Chicago is VIGOROUSLY tickle in its devotion
to one or the other of the parties. This year
the surface indications are that it will be car
ried by the Republicans by majority which
may range from the 5000 which the Demo-
crats are willing to concede privately to the
100, 600 which the Republicans who are the
most enthusiastic claim. On the other hand.
the silver sentiment seems to be very strong
in the country, and majority in favor of
BRYAN may be polled there.
OUTSIDE or COOK COUNTY.
The Democrats are claiming large gains in
the State outside of Cook county, basing their
estimates upon complete fusion between the
Populists, the Democrats and the Prohibi-
tionists, which gives somewhat more than l5,-
600 for the fusionists outside the county of
Cook. With 1900 outside the city, the
question among politicians seems TO be wheth
er McKinley's majority in Cook will be greater
than 5000. The best opinion is that it will
be, and hence that the State will be carried
for Mckinley. At all events, no landslide
one way or the other seems possible. A very
bitter fight is being made on Altgeld by the
Republican State leaders, who realize that
there is strong possibility, which almost
amounts to a probability, that Tanner will be
beaten. He is certain TO lose if the State is
at all close, for Altgeld has a tremendous
popularity with the mass of voters in every
section, especially in Chicago, where he has
devoted followers, who are also for Mckinley.
BRY4N's FOLLOWERS IN MICHIGAN.
The news received here to-day from Michi-
gan indicates that the Bryan managers will
concentrate their forces in that State this week
with a long line of speakers following the
D.. al fl..f ,ax-f col
Vice President Stevenson will stump the State
for the Bryan ticket. The Republican mana
gers declare that they have the State well in
hand, but do no underestimate the severity of
the struggle in the Southern peninsula where
the greenback sentiment IN former years has
been so strong. Chairman Hanna, who is
now in Chicago in control, is thoroughly con-
versant with conditions in Michigan, and
declares that the result of the election is pure
IL one of Republican majority. At the
same time he has made full preparations to
counteract the force ofthe free coinage assault
to be made this week and next in the southern
part of the State, and will use his best efforts
TO see that there are no stragglers from the
Republican column. The reports are that
an overwhelming majority of the Sound Money
Democrats will cast their ballots for the Re-
publican ticket. on account of apprehension
that votes for Palmer and Buckner might en-
danger the general result.
THE OUTLOOK IN MINNESOTA.
The situation in Minnesota, so far as it can
be ascertained from the best sources of infor
formation available here in Washington, is
increasingly favorable to the Republican tick
ct in spite of the fusion in that State, and the
choice Representative Lind as the Bryan
candidate for Governor. Representative Lind
will undoubtedly carry with him large Scan
dinavian vote. and the fact that he was for
merly leading Republican, and one of the
strongest advocates Of a protective tariff. COM
plicates the situation. The hope of the Re-
publican managers in Minnesota lies in the
fact that the Republican meetings have been
largely attended by former Populists, and in
the great interest everywhere displayed in
the tariff and financial question. Four years
ago the Populists and Democrats combined
cast more than 1000 votes in excess of those
polled by the Republican ticket. In 1894, in
the Gubernatorial campaign, the Republicans
had margin of more than 5000. owing to the
fear that Populist Governor might be elect
ed. An analysis of the figures in the past
two elections shows that, whatever electoral
ticket in Minnesota may be successful, it will
be carried by very small majority. The
Republican State Committee is making large
claims, but conservative estimates on both
sues lnulcdle lndl, White tHt cudnceS are tudt
the Republican Electoral ticket will win by
slight margin, ex-Representative Lind is likely
to pull through, and that it will take major
ity of 10000 or more to insure the success of
the entire State ticket.
DIsCOURAGING NEWS FROM THE PACIFIC COAST.
The news from the Pacific coast continues
discouraging to the Republican managers.
Indications at present seem to point to the
assurance that California, Oregon and Wash
ington will all cast their Electoral vote for
Bryan. The fusion in these States between
the Democrats and Populists is complete, and
the free silver issue seems to be paramount
to the tariff. The Republicans are making
strong and persistent fight in Oregon, where
there seems the least chance ofpossible success
but private advices received from that State
do not give warrant for prediction that its
vote will be cast for Mckinley and Hobart.
Washington is certainly safe for the Bryan
Electors, and the probabilities are that Cali
fornia is only in less degree dominate by the
free coinage craze. Nevada, Utah, Idaho
and Montana are safe for the Chicago nomi-
nees. as are South Carolina, Georgia and Mis-
sissippi.