The Press., 1896-09-10
Washington Letter.
Washington, September 2, 1s9t

Washington Letter.
 Washington, September 7, 1896.
 One who tries to ascertain the true statue of the political situation, by cOm- pairing what Is given out at the Bryan headquarters with what is given out at the Mckinley headquarters, is apt to think with the oft-deceived man who exclaimed "All men are liars!" It is part of the game of politics to claim everything, in order to induce those who are on the fence to get down on your side. But the private utterances of the politicians are often directly opposite to what they say for publication, and as rule they represent pretty nearly their real opinion. From their public talk, you would suppose that the gold men and the silver men are equally confident, but their conversation in private tells a different story. The past week has made heavy inrOads upon the stock of confidence at Bryan head quarters, and has largely increased that article at Mckinley headquarters. It has
 
 silverite that Bryan need expect nothing from the east, and the Indianapolis ticket may throw some of the southern states for Mckinley. Bryan's managers are also being hampered by lack of money to carry on the campaign which they have mapped out, while the Mckinley managers are flooding the doubtful states with literature and filling them with stump speakers. And to add to their difficulties the complaints against the way in which the Bryan managers are running things, are increasing.
 Senator Butler, chairman of the popu- list national committee, will not talk about the conference he had with Tom Watson several days ago, further than to say that Watson Is cheerful, and that he thinks the cause of silver would be greatly benefited by the withdrawal of Sewall. MT. Sewall has added to the difficulties of the situation by his positive statement that he doesn't intend to with draw, which is thought to be intended as hard slap at those who were scheming to get him off the ticket.
 While everybody wishes to see the pos tai service of the, country brought to the highest possible efficacy, there are few people who believe that making the en- plOyes spies upon each other will help things along in that direction. However, among the few who do believe in the spy system are the post office department officials, who have just issued a circular to the railway mail service clerks, calling their attention to the general order issued last winter, requiring employees to report cases of irregularity and misconduct of any employees which come to their knowl- edge to the clerks of divisions to be for warded to Washington, and warning them of punishment to come if they do not obey those orders. Remembering the scOrn with which school children treated the 'tell-tale" of the school, and that men are but grown-up school children, it is not surprising that this order has been quietly ignored in the past, nor will 1t be surpris ing If it continues to be ignored, notwith standing these threats.
 While I do not assert thathe will do so nobody need be surprised if Secretary Carlisle should go to Kentucky and take the stump for Palmer and Buckner. Ii Is known that he feels very sore over the filings which Bryan and other stump l of the treasury and that he would like tC see Kentucky carried by Mckinley also that he has said that he believed il possible for Palmer and Buckner to gel 1000 votes in Kentucky. If they could get half that number, Mckinley would bt certain to carry the state. Secretary Carlisle has strong personal following in Kentucky and the Bryan managers would dislike very much to see him take the stump In that state. The three states in which the Indianapolis ticket is expect ed to get votes enough to be factor il the result are Kentuckey, Illinois ant Indiana. In many of the other states there will be no Palmer and Buckner elect tors voted for.
 Senator Hill is being very careful, watched by both silver democrats anC gold democrats. Both sides are intima ting that he will shortly come out for thei ticket, but it Is easy to see that neithe side knows just where Hill stands. Hi actions and words at the Chicago conven tion would seem to make it very easy fo him to come out against Bryan and fo the Indianapolis ticket. On the othe hand, many believe that when he enter tained MT. Bryan at his New York hom, he made a bargain to come out for Bryal at the coming democratic state conven tion. It is althogether probable tha Senator Hill, who is nothing if not shrewd politician, will be largely governed by the local conditions in New York il choosing the position he will occupy although there are reports which say tha the local conditions, manipulated by Hills democratic opponents, are forcing him into position willy nilly.
 
 The prohibition state convention, whlcl