Evening star., 1896-09-09
Both Parties Claim the States Elec-
toral Vote.
SOUND MONEY DEMOCRAYS ESTIMATE
A Republican Leader Afraid of
Bryan's Vote-Making Talks.
AN ORGAN IS WAN TED


The republicans profess 10 no longer looh
upon 1t as doubtful ground. while Con-
troller Eckels, Ben Gable and others of the
sound money democrats give Major Nc
Kinley larger majority than his own par
tisans claim for him. Their zeal for Nc
Kinley has increased since the Indianap-
oils convention got away from them and
nominated Senator John NJ. Palmer, when
they wanted the honor to go elsewhere.
1t Is apparent that the republicans are
in better shape to Withstand a silver tide
than they were few weeks ago. Organi-
zation is counting with them. They have
less fear now Of the labor and the farmer
vote slipping away from them IN land
slide, though the shrewder leaders do not
lessen their watchfulness. They have seen
the wave come up once before. and they
know the force 1t gathers. Their talk
about 100000 majority for Major Mckinley
may be taken merely as evidence that they
feel assured Of carrying the state by
safe majority. Success has followed their
efforts in organizing the workingmen In the
rolling mills and among the foreign ra-
tionalities. and they have reasonable con-
fdence that they are not being fooled by
the men who join the Mckinley clubs.
Congressman Lar!mer and National Com
mitteeman Jameson are cautious politi-
clans, who do not indulge in predictions,
but they unGuestionably believe that Cook
county. which Is to say Chicago, Is good
for big majority. That their judgment is
falllble they would be the first to admit,
because in 1892, when the republicans were
overwhelmed by Clevelands majority, they
thought the county safe for Harrison.
Farmer Vote Doubtful.
About the farmer vote there is more un-
certainty. The republican state committee
has received reports which Indicate that
what threatened to be serious detection
on silver has been averted, and the farm
ers are now in line on the tariff. Reports
are also made of large numbers of sub
Stant1al democrats in every county who
are out for Mckinley. Against these
claims Is preliminary poll Of half the
counties of the state made by the demo-
cratic committee. Chairman Hinrichsen
draws from 1t the conclusion that Illinois
is already won for Bryan and free silver,
and nothing the republicans can DO will
enable them to win back the farmers. A
fs1r inference from these conflicting state
ments Is taat the farmers are still unset
tled IN their opinions. and their vote must
De sought after by both parties
The free silver democrats who are SUD-
porting MIR. Bryan. have lost none of their
zeal. Gov. Altgeld's state administration
Keeps It's grip on the party machinery, and
the'e Is no reason why an effective cam
palgn should net be Waged. Nevertheless
the evidences show a lack OF organization
For some reason there has been delay in
getting under way. Chairman Jones and
ms associates On the national committee,
who did not want the headquarters remoy-
ed TO Chicago, have ground for complaint
at the failure of the local organization to
come up to expectations. 1t does not ap-
pear that the location of the headquarters
IN llinois IS doing anything to carry the
state for Bryan, but the fault does not
lie with the national committee.
No Bryan Organ.
Governor Altgeld and his followers have
been anxious to secure a daily paper in
Chicago. When the national HEADQUARTERS
were located here the motion prevailed that
Mr.. Hearst would complete his newspaper
link between the Atlantic and the Pacific
by establishing free silver daily in this
city. Nothing of the kind has been done.
and 1t is now too late for use in the cam
paign. Whether this failure to establish a
tiee silver organ is an actual detriment to
the democratic campaign must remain q
matter of opinion. Though all the Chicago
newspapers are against Bryan and free sill
yer, they publish the candidates speeches
very fully, and he cannot say with Justice
that he is not given full hearing. 1t is
possible that the extraordinary interest
which attaches to Mr.. Bryan's personality
and the great demand for his speeches will
in a measure offset the lack of organization
among the free silver democrats. The peo-
pie of lllinois,a elsewhere, want to see and
hear the candidate, and they also want to
read what they have heard. The Chicago
"
which has been publishing his speeches in
full, has had the conclusive testimony Of
largely increased sales on this point. One
Of the republican managers. after listening
to Bryan'S speech at the labor demonstra
ton today, and watching the effect, said
that for the first time he was convinced
Bryan was making votes by his speeches.
If this demonstration were week before
election" he said, "it would mean 10000
more votes for Bryan here in Chicago. AS
it is we will have time to counteract his
talk, and the impression he makes will die
out But he Is dangerous fellow on the
stump"
Palmer's Candidacy.
The influence of Senator Palmer's candi-
dacy on Illinois will probably not be SO
marked In the number of votes he receives
as in the Generalization it may cause
among the supporters Of Bryan and Alt
geld. Senator Palmer was never a con-
struction leader. Usually he has been
swept into office as the result of a popular
movement In which his leadership was
prominent, and then, through lack Of con-
struct.ve capacity, his following has melt
ed away. This is why his five years in the
Senate left him without any visible polit-
zeal machinery to hold out against Govern
or Altgeld. But he is powerful cam
paigner. and his old friends in the central
and southern part of the state will come to
his support In attacking both Bryan and
Altgeld. In Chicago he will get a few
tHOuSdIu VOTES from SOunQ money demo-
Gratis who are ultra free traders, and on
that account cannot support Mckinley.
The republican leaders in Illinois all
think that Palmer's candidacy will aid
them They are not afraid Of its drawing
votes from Mckinley, while they see q
positive advantage in having the free Sill
yer democracy attacked in the rear, Gov
ernor Altgeld and his followers treat Pal
mer with a contempt which Is not entirely
assumed. Some things justify them in
citing the old Senator's instability in poll
tics, and in charging his present attitude
to vanity They are in a position to hit
back, and they will do so.
Gen. Blacks Position.
1t is probable that If Gen. John C. Black
does not withdraw as the sound money
candidate for governor he will poll q con-
siderably larger vote than Senator Palmer
receives for President. Gen. Black IL at
present federal district attorney. His
friends are displeased at the treatment he
received at Indianapolis. where they think
he should have been nominated for
President instead Of Senator Palmer.
He would undoubtedly have been more
acceptable to the Illinois delegates
Of this friction among the sonnS
money men the idea has got out that Gen
Black will not further interest himself In
the movement, at least not to the extenf
of being a candidate for governor. He oc.
cupies the unique position of both the ree-
ular party candidates wanting him to STAY