Rock Island Argus., 1896-09-12


1t is as ridiculous to suppose that the
Populists will not support Bryan as it was
to Imagine that the Chicago Democratic
ample ma ajority to make good its two-thir1s
vote, to lay down a platform in accordance
with its Own views and to select its own
standard bearer. or as it was to predict that
the ST Louis Populist convention would
throw away its chances of success and
nominate a candidate who could not he
elected in preference to a candidate with a
good prospect OF success. ...
From the first the Populist convention
was in favor of Bryan's nomination, but
its members desired to act in q manner
that would preserve their own organization
Intact and not merge it in the Democratic
organization The Texans were more ear
nest than others on this point, because of
their great strength in their state and the
much larger strength Of the Democracy
But with them, as with all, the talk Of a
middle Of the road candidate fer the presi-
dency was as nonsensical as the talk of q
side ditch bolt from the action of the
convention is now.
The nomination of an independent Pop
uliSt candidate for vice president accom-
Dlishes all the so called middle OF the road
uelcfrslteS WauttO II IrtstTNcS tiiS
Of the party, and instead OF injuriously af-
fecting the presidents vote will serve to
Increase it.
The last vote in Texas for governor was,
in round numbers: Democratic, a42 900;
Populist. 16O. 600, and Republican, %, 600.
A Populist bolt in Texas would mean the
cutting down of the Populist vote 80 per
cent and the consequent increase of the
Democratic vote.
With the Democratic vote in the west
strengthened and increased by free silver
straight Populist nominee for president
would only lose the Populists the four
states they carried with Democratic help
in 1S92-Colorado, Idaho, Kansas and Ne
vada.
3. Will the detection Of the gold Dem
0crats defeat Bryan:
In considering the amount of danger to
the Chicago ticket from the disaffection of
the gold Democrats, it is important to re-
member that such disaffection is serious in
only limited number of states and is
scarcely of any account whatever in the
west.
OF the New England ard middle states
Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Mas
sachusetts and Pennsylvania elected the
Republican electoral tickets in 1892 and
may be conceded to the Republicans now.
Any gold Democracy movement in those
states is immatcrial. If half the Democrats
should repudiatc the Chicago candidates.
they could only swell the Republican ma
jorities. Connecticut, New York and New
Jersey are, on the other hand very i'm
portant Democratic states With Della
ware, Maryland and West Virginia, their
electoral votes were cast for Cleveland in
1S92
1t is claimed that the gold Democrats
will turn over Connecticut, New Jersey
and New York TO the Mckinley Repub-
licans in this election.
In the section most affected by the silver
and Populist movements through the
mining and agricultural interests. five
states ran no Democratic electoral tickets
in 1S92-Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, North
Dakota and Wyoming In Nevada, al
though a Democratic electoral ticket was
in the field, the Democrats generally voted
with the Populsts. Colorado, Idaho.
Kansas ard Nevada We're in consequence
carried by the Populists by pluralities in
Colorado of II, ,964, in Idaho of 1921, in
Kansas of 5,S7i and in Nevada of 4, 4,453
In North Dakota the Populists obtained
Isl plurality in the state, but the three
electoral votes went one to each candi-
date. In Wyoming the Republicans Sc
cured ,32 plurality.
In the other western and Pacific states
a combination of the Democratic and Pop
ulist votes in 1892 would have made these
changes in the results:
California, carried by the Democrats by
144 plurality, would have given 25, 496
plurality over the Republicans.
Illinois, carried by the Democrats by
1898 plurality, would have given them q
plurality of 49. 200.
Indiana's Democratic plurality of 7,125
would have been increased to 90, 1893.
1owa's Republican plurality of %, 965
would have been reduced to 1870.
Michigan's Republican plurality of 90,
412 would have dwindled to $50
Minncsota's Republican plurality of 81,
SOB would have been changed to a plurality
| of :, 40 against the Republicans
Montana, instead of giving ,210 plural
| ity for the Republicans. would have given
| u plurality of 6,06l for the Democrats.
Nebraska S Republican plurality of 4, 093
| over the Populists would have given a
plurality of 20, $50 against the Republican
| ticket.
Ohio would have reversed the Repub-
lican plurality of 1,072 to plurality of
| 13, rs for the other side
Oregon, which gave a mixed vote, show
ing small plurality for the Republicans,
would have given a plurality of 6,206
! against Harrison.
south Dakota's plurality of S,34i for the
Republicans would have changed to 737
| against them.
Washington's Republican plurality OF
G,65s would have been wiped out and a
| Democratic and Populist plurality of IL,
50T would have turned the state to the
| other side.
West Nirginia's Democratic plurality OF
Al. would have been increased to S,3iO.
| Wisconsin's Democratic plurality of +, 54i
would have swelled to I6, 453
Wyoming, which gave Harrison 732
plurality, would have doled out to him
| only 202.
Allowing TO the Chicago Democratic
candidate only the states that are believed
10 bc certain for him. whatever the gold
Democrats may do, the following is the
| list Of
| DEMOCRATIC STATES.
| Electoral vote
| Alabama. Observation-Disclosures. II
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