The Valentine Democrat. [volume] (Valentine, Cherry Co., Neb.) 1896-1898, 1896-10-29
LETTER FEOX ST. LOUIS.
ST. LOUIS, no. October a, 1896.

ST. LOUIS, no. October a, 1896.
To The Vo1east5ne Democrat:-
As the campaign draws to a close,
the excitement rises to a fever heat.
Especially is this case in the Mississ-
ippi valley, where the war is being
waged with the utmost yigor by both
sides. The writer has by close obser-
vatien become acquainted with the
condition of affairs in the two great
states Of Illinois and Missouri. As
to the latter state, there is no duubt
whatever but that it will give Bryan
q majority of at least $4,000. This is
a very conservative estimate, the
Democratic State Committee claiming
1t by 10000. The city Of st. Louis
has never gone democratic but once
since 1864. This year Bryan will
carry the city by at least 5000.
Kansas City will give al least 1900 for
him, and the state at large will swell
the total to the above named figure.
Mark Ranns has given up the fight in
Missouri. No speakers Of any promi-
hence have been sent into the state
by the republicans. Wherever one
goes, Bryan enthusiasm hold full sway.
In front of the post Office and sub
treasury in this city are crowds talk
ing politics and shouting for Bryan.
They%hold the sidewalks from morn
ing till night and very late at night
at that. The situation in Illinois is
not so bright. Everything depends
on the city Of Chicago. The coercion
and buH-dozing of employees in that
city makes it almost impossible to form
a reliable estimate Of the democratic
strength there. Certain 1t is that the
democrats are more confident of vic
tory than are the republicans. If the
laboring classes are allowed to vote as
they wish in Chicago, the town by the
lake will unquestionably 90 for Bryan.
In the farming districts of the state
everything is for free silver. Even
the chickens have more silvery feath-
ers this year than usual. The writer
recently drove,from Vandalia to PATIO
ka, Illinois, a distance of Is miles. He
polled every farmer along the road, !
with, the exception of three, who were !
not at home. In many cases there
were two or o voters on each farm.
The result gave Bryan 80, Mckinley
4, Palmer 2, and doubtful 3. The next
day the writer polled the "Chapel Hil!'
precinct in Marion cennty, with the
following result: Bryan, 81; McKin-
ley. ID; Palmer, 2; doubtful, 6. This
is a fair sample of the sentiment
among the farmers In southern Illinois.
In the northern part of the state there
sASSa-SiS hCpVcitLssLlo, Dut otlt1 .UOl 4
enough to by aay means equal the 6
democrats and pcpulists. Thousands
If former republicans will vote for
Money, has been spent By the ,
Hanna syndicate as freely as tho it
we're worthless. But in the end. right ,
will triumph. Allowing republican +
in Chicago of. $4,000, which
s all that Hanna claims, it seems -,
Utmost a sure thing that Bryan will
Illinois by fully $4,000 majority. .
Even without Illinois, Iowa, Michigan
II New Jersey orM innesota, Bryan is +
absolutely sure of election. Iowa is ,
doubtful, but Michigan and Indiana ,
will joir. the democratic column. :
sryan is as good as elected. Cut this !
ut and compare it with the result. 2
W1LToN.E. HuBnE4I. y