The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-12-05
WHERE BRYAN GAINED.
1t Was Not Much or n Gain After All, and
Does Not Bear Scrutiny.

HI w NJ NOT hucn OF q Sutn Attcr AL, ana
Does Not Bear Scrutiny.
The total vote for the Bryan electors in all the
forty-fve States of the Union foots up $780,
900. and as the total vote for the Cleveland and
Stevenson electoral ticket in 1892 was $685.
900. the opinion has become quite general that,
making no allo for the support OF the
Populists, who numbered more than 1000, 900
for Gen. Weaver In 1892, the Bryan or Popo-
cratic vote was some 900. 900 moro than was
cast for the successful Cleveland ticket in 1892.
A gain in one Presidential election OF 900, 900
over the total of the election preceding would
certainly be a manifestation of strength
for the Popocrats, especially when 1t Is con-
sidered that the gain of the Democrats
in 1892 over the total OF 1883 was only 1000.
But while it seems on the face of the returns
that Bryan actually received 900. 900 more
votes than were cast for the Cleveland and Ste
venson ticket in 1892. a little inquiry will show
that the Democratic alliance with Populism. so
far from securing a Democratic gain on the
popular vote. actually means very little. and
whatever slight importance may be attached to
It Is entirely offset by the fact that Mr.. McKin-
leg polled 1000. 900 more votes than did the
Republican national ticket in 1902.
The number 900, 900 represents the gain of
Bryan and Sewall over Cleveland and Steven
son " on the face of the returns" comparing the
results OF 1896 with those of 1892. But from
this total must be subtracted, in order to make
the comparison q fair one, 90, 600 votes cast for
the Bryan ticket in Utah, which was not q
State participating in the election in 1892. In
that year there were no Cleveland electors
voted for in three other States. Colorado, Idaho,
and Wyoming. In these three States Mr.. Bryan
received at the recent election IFS. 900 votes,
and obviously NO comparison can be made
with the Cleveland strength in these States. as
XeATb AGO. NJ kDtn ANfnn n tina
Si5yq ooo vote IN Utah. gives . total II
recent election. the Democrats running no
ticket In that state in the election. of four years
ago. Again. in Oregon and Nebraska the Demo-
Gratis generally supported the Populist electors
in 1899. and we're admonished by the Demo-
although in neither case did the plan succeed.
vote in 1892 was cast solidly for the Weaver
electors. whereas Mr.. Bryan secured in Kansas
were cast for the Weaver ticket in the same
State In 1902.
Thus i appears clearly that II the Bryan
Democratic vote of 1899. more than half Of the
increase 500, 900 of the total 900, OoOj is repre-.
svnted By States In. which either there was no
Democratic electoral ticket four years ago, In
which she Democrats voted for the Populist
e%lectlon four years ago. These deductions made.
the Bryan vote shows a net gain of about 400.-
the vote brought out by the gain OF
population and, moreover: by the duration
and excitement of this years canvass. In Iii
nois. for Instance. in which Organism was
the voting population there that tho Bryan vote
was $4,000 greater than the Democratic vote OF
four years previous. and this increase cannot be
ascribed to the aid given by the Populists. for
in the election OF 1892 they numbered only
$4,000 for Weaver in the Prairie State. In
Ohio, where there was a l~ist)ess and indifferent
fght in 1909, the success of the Republicans
being regarded as a foregone conclusion, tho
vigor of this years battle brought TO the
polls a larger vote, Mr.. Bryan polling in
Ohio 20, 1000 more votes than the Democrats did
four years ago, but tho Republican vote In the
Buckeye State increased from 4O5. 900 TO 525,-
900. In the Eastern States, such were the dis
Populism that, twithstanding the increased
vote brought out by the vigorous campaign and
the steady growth Of the voting population. the
Democratic vote in 1896 fell substantially be-
low what 1t had been in 1899. In New York
State the falling of was 1al.OOo; in Pennsylva-
Maine, 10000; In New Jersey, 34.Oo0; IN Con-
pecticut. $4,000; in Rhode Island, 10000; in
MARYLAND, 1000. and in New Hampshire,
2l.OO0-just ope-half Of the Democratic vote in
1892, In Virginia the Bryan vote was
5000 less than the Democratic vote In
bama- $1,000 less; in Georgia, $4,000
OF 1000, and West Virginia also a Democratic
loss. The State in which Bryan did best was
Colorado; the State In which no did least was
Vermont. The vote cast for Bryan and Watson
electors, who had n separate ticket in some
States. was, nearly as large as the vote cast for
Palmer and Ruckner. In proportion to tho total
vote cast, the Palmer and Buckner ticket did
beSJ In Massachusetts,.