The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1896-10-16

IFrom our regular Correspondents

The popocrats are a frightened
crowd now, and the publication Of
Bryan's statement of his alleged con-
fidence over his own signature is gen.
orally regarded as farcical under ex-
listing circumstances. Not only are
they frightened abont the states which
the republican managers conceded to
be in doubt at the beginnig of the cam
paign, but which they now consider
safe for Mckinley, but also about
seven or eight southern states, some Of
which the republicans had no idea of
making any serious campaign in until
very recently. They realize that Mary
land, West Virgins and Kentucky,
which have from the beginning been
strongly contested by the republicans,
are more likely to be carried for Nc
Kinley than for Bryan, and now the
antics of Tom Watson have got them
into state of fright over other states
even of carrying Texas. What they
especially fear in several of these
states is that the republicans may
withdraw their electoral ticket and
support that of the gold democrats, an
idea that is being advocated by some
shrewd republicans for such states as
Louisiana where the gold democrats
are numerous and influential.
A. Jacksonville, Fla, business man
Mr. w. ]. Farrell now in Washington,
dropped few words which have set
lot of people to thinking. He said:
~ take but little interest in politics,
and do not assume to predict the re-
suit of the coming election in Florida.
/ take it for granted that thesstate and
county democratic tickets viii succeed,
and that democratic Congressmen viii
be elected. It does not follow, how
ever, that Bryan will carry the state.
III 3dCt, L 6AluA tudb &NCh1ulCy
chances are better. There are great
many sound money men in the demo-
cratic party in Florida, who win 60
over to the republicans because of their
hostility to free silver. Among the
farmers are many Northern men who
are naturally for Mckinley. I think
Florida can fairly be classed among
doubtful states, so far as the electoral
votes are concerned"
The general distribution of cam
paign literature by the republican
Congressional Committe is practically
finished, although orders for documents
viii be filled right up to election day.
More documents, both in number and
| in bulk, have been sent out than were
ever before sent from Washington in
a siugle campaign, and the correspond
ence of the Committee leaves no doubt
that these documents have accomplish
ed an enormous amount of good, IN
setting right those who had been mis-
lead by having read only one side oi
the fnanancial and other questions.
The work of the committee will not
of course, be finished until after elec-
ton.
The latest news from Kentucky Il
decidedly good. 1t indicates that Nc
Kinley win carry the state by not les
than 1900 majority, notwithstanding
the fusion of democrats and populists
and that a majority of the Congression
al districts will elect republicans. In
short, it looks like the state might bt
swept by a republican landslide il
November.
A democratic Congressman iron
Alabama has been telling tales out o
school. He says there are not less thar
1900 democrats in his state, who vii
under no circumstances, vote for Bryan
and he adds: Kentucky will probabl.
vote for Mckinley, and likewise Mary
land and West Virginia l thinl
there is no chance for Bryan to b
elected. The free silver movement
not now as strong as it was only litti
while ago. 1t grows steadily weaker
This is not to be wondered at. A
men examine the question they bt
come convinced that free coinage Is
delusion."
: Few republicans have had dout
about how the electoral vote of 1
linois will be cast since the meetin
J of the Chicago convention, and thof
few have been convinced that McKiI
ley viii carry the state by an in
r mense majority, by thorough invest
CATION which has just been complete
So certain is the result now regarde
that wagers have been made that NJ
Kinley's majority In that state VI
exceed 20O, 900.
Is it reasonable to believe that
man is any more honest because he
nor,uI;ck than he WAS before