Evening star., 1896-10-31
A CRUSHING DEFEAT
Chairman Babcock Says 1t Awaits
Mr.. Bryan at the Polls.
WORK DONE BY HIS COMMITTEE
Sound Money Men to Be in the
Next House.
BASIS OF HIS PREDICTION

"As the campaign draws to close the
republicans have reason to be not only
satisfied, but highly gratifed,'' said Chair
man Babcock of the republican congress
sional committee. when the platform of
the Chicago convention, together with its
nominees. was first precipitated upon the
people. having, as it did, the Endorsement
of what was formerly the democratic
party. but in reality composed of populists
and socialists. who had succeeded in cap
turing the democratic organization, the
heresies of free silver and reputation, to-
gether with the old idea of state sover-
eighty. were received by the people as
something new that had been developed
out of great political organization, and
they at once began to look for something
good In it, so that 1t seemed to close
observers that there was great danger Of
the fallacies enunciated in that platform
being taken for granted as truths by the
people. without a calm and careful in
yestigation.
Work of the Committee.
This committee was at that time organ
lied and ready for work. and recognizing.
We did, that upon these subjects the
people were looking for information and
facts. We regarded it as necessary to sue
cess that We should use every channel
available to reach the voters, and show
them the real facts of the financial ques-
tion. We spared neither time nor effort.
and before the LIST day of October had sent
into the various states and congressional
districts more than twenty-five million
copies of authentic and reliable documents,
carefully selected to answer and elucidate
the pending questions of the campaign. A
little later the national committee was Or
ganiZed. and. taking up another class of
literature than that handled by this COM
mittee. 1t printed and circulated a much
greater number of documents than we did.
1t must be understood that all the litera-
ture handled by the congressional commit
tee was taken from the Congressional Rec
ord, and went TO the voter as part of the
ofnclal record of proceedings in Congress.
Reports Getting Better and Better.
We soon commenced to get reports from
the literature that We had sent into doubt
full states, and the longer it had been re-
ceived, and the more there was of 1t, the
better were the reports; and from the first
day of August until the present time We
have made steady and regular gain. In
many cases where the first poll in certain
states showed majority against US, the
second poll would show a very great gain,
and the third poll decisive majority in our
favor.
Some three weeks ago / made a state
ment tthe only one l have made in the
campaign in reference to the complexion
of the next Houss- 1 said at that time that
there were 19i districts that would elect
sound money republicans beyond any rea-
son&ble doubt; that in addition, there were
some fifty or sixty deba table districts in
which We expected TO elect a majority of
the members. Since then, L am very glad
TO say, our gains have been such that We
can nov depend upon an increase of fully
IL per cent. Districts that at that time
might have been questionable are now as
Il ~
possible for us TO fall below a majority of
seventy-five in the Fifty-fifth Congress
i have regarded the election of Mr.. Nc
klnley as a foregone conclusion for some
time past, and taking all OF the facts and
figures at our command. and the best esti-
mate possible of the conditions existing in
the various states, / do not see how he can
1all short of securing two electors for every
one secured by Mr.. Bryan. This, it seems
10 me, would be minimum calculation,
with prospect that il will be considerably
increased.
The Opposition Cry of Fraud.
During the past few days 1 have been
very much amused at the opposltion's cry
of fraud. intimidation and purchase of
votes Nothing In the campaign has, to
my mind, Indicated more surely the defeat
OF Mr.. Bryan than this cry that has gone
up from the democratic committee They
have practically given up the fight, and at
tEe Idsl moment, 10 let themselves down
as easily as possible, they cry fraud and
purchase of votes. large use of money etc,
~hen IL Is we'll known that in nearly every
state OF the Union the Australian ballot
system Is used. Under this system of yot-
lhS wniIe voter may promise to do a GER
tam thlhg, or may even accept a bribe for
MS Vote When he comes to cast his ballot
ne goes into a little room all alone and
without witnesses or aid. marks his ballot
so that no person on earth beside himself
H!H ever know for whom he voted, unless
ne sees nj TO communicate the fact This
ltSelf ought to be complete refutation of
The outrageous charges of intimidation ana
iaud alleged against the republican Dartv
There is little left to say" concIudad
Air. Babcock. The figures and data l
have given are based upon polls and the
best information 1t is possible to obtain.
but L believe they foreshi idog but family
the crushing defeat that awaits the BRYAN
lorces- believe political avalanche is
impending over the fate of the calamity
howlers. compared TO which that of Isai
which wiped out the democracy and semi