The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-10-14
THE NEWS AND oBsEky Err, WEDNESDAY, OCT. IA 1896

the desertions have been noticeable.
There are silver clubs in every town
shin in Northern Ohio, and many OF
them contain Republicans. A prom
inent Democratic official In Chagrin
Falls, a town near herep says that the
vote for Bryan in four" towns in that
county, by actual count, will be greater
than the Democratic vote of the entire
sixteen townships in the same county
| cast at any previous election.
In Ashtabula county many Republi-
cans are declared to bs espousing the
election of the Democratic candidate.
| Ex-Representative Reeves has eX-
pressed the opinion THAT the Democrats
| may capture the county, so great is tire
silver sentiment there. The county
has never gone Democratic, and the
| usual Republican majority Is about
$500 Many unemployed laboring men,
who have heretofore voted for protec-
tion, have now come out for Bryan.
Bach day in this city hundreds OF work.
men without employment gather on
the public square to discuss their
| grievances, and whether rightly or
| wrongly, large proportion have decid-
ed to cast their lot with Bryan's side,
which they think offers them the best
| inducements.
The Democrats. fortunately for them
selves, have no factional fight in Ohio
| this fall when one HAS excluded the
gold wing. This is an unusual condi-
ton, for the party is often crippled by
internal dissension. The sound money
Democrats are hardly considered this
year as a faction by the silver leaders.
The Palmer vote will hardly exceed
| 10000 votes. In 1895 there were SO, 675
Populist votes cast in Ohio and 1000
Prohibition votes Most of these will
go to Bryan. This means an addition
of at least 10000 votes to he added to
the Democratic column. In the last
Presidential election the Republican
vote was 405, 1877; the Democratic vote
was 404,115. The natural Democratic
increase by reason of the fusion with
the PopuliSts and the Prohibitionist
votes which will be cast for the Demo-
! cratic nominee are reasons advanced
! why the Republicans have reason to
/ fear for the outcime in Ohio.
The opposition to Chairman Hanna
in certain quarters is a factor which
the Democrats are counting much up
on. The Seaman's Union, which is
powerful in all the cities bordering
upon the lake from Ashtabula to Tole-
do, is in opposition to the Republican
ticket because its members do not
! like Mr.. Hanna's labor record. There
are other conditions which add con-
fusion to the result in Ohio. Ohio is
the native State of THE Republican
candidate, and by reason of State pride
many Ohioans will vote for him who
would otherwise vote for Bryan. The
Republicans have first-class organi-
zation and plenty of money for cam
paign expenses. The Democrats have
! poor State organization and have
no money, most of their rich consrib-
utors being sympathizers with the
common enemy.
In considering the foregoing condi-
tons Ohio politicians are just now say
ing nothing, but are saving wood"
The State is abbaze with enthusiasm
on both sides. The first day of regis
tration indicated that heavy vote will
be cast. All Things considered, there
is no more interesting political field at
the present time than in Ohio. The
fight will wax warmer from now until
election Washington Post spe-
cial.