Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1896-10-01
ILLINOIS SAFEF FOR BRYAN
What a Close Canvass of the
State DiscloSeS.
RURAL DISTRICTS FOR SILVER

the Ayowed Choice of the Trades Unions.
A Conservative Estimate Gives the State
to the Democrats by 10000 Plurality.
A ransack of Illinois politically
brings cheer to the free silver Democra-
cy. Both sides have of late laid violent
claim to Illinois. Hanna and his coterie
said it was to be for Mckinley; Jones,
Altgeld and the Democratic leaders at
Springfield and Chicago were equally
vehement i'll giving the state to Bryan
and free silver. They declared the bat
tie won for Bryan.
The Hannacrats, in an ecstasy of
eager yoracity, announced, and do still,
that Mckinley would carry Illinois
by 100, 900 majority. The wish was fa-
ther to this bluff, for such it was. A
bit of research disclosed this claim of
100, 900 for Mckinley to be feather
headed nonsense.
In Marion county, where the Repub-
licans solemnly assert Mckinley GER
tainty Of 100 majority, house to house
poll, made with hair line patience,
gives it to Bryan by over 500. The same
might be saidof all the country coun-
ties, The Republicans lay hands on
them, but don't know whereof they
speak and don't dare make practical in
vestigation for fear the discoveries
might blast and wither them.
Altgeld, on his part, working with
his jeutenants, Buck Hinrichsen and
Fithian, has made, one following the
other, two thorough canvasses, school
district by school district, of every foot
of Illinois ground lying between Cairo
and the Cook county line. They made
two because the first cast such an I'M
looked for glow on their prospect that
they couldn't believe it true. So they
made the second. They declare-Altgeld
and aids - that their search was so
thorough that not even a pin point of
political chance escaped them. They
slammed every front gate, pulled every
doorbell save in Chicago and its coun-
ty. As a result, they assert that both
Altgeld and Bryan will como to the
Cook county line with clean majority
of 30, 900.
They tell, too, that poll has been
made of Chicago and Cook county, and
that the free silver Bryan Altgeld forces
will win there by 35, 900. They claim
the state without tremor by 60, 900 for
Altgeld and Bryan.
Conservative ones with whom / con-
versed cut the rural majority which
they claimed down to 100000 That fig
ure, it would seem, everybody agrees
Altgeld and Bryan will have.
But, taking the best and most con-
servative testimony of both sides, Bryan
today stands to get the state by 20,0
1t remains to be seen whether the Nc
Kinleyites can bribe or browbeat this
down. All honest future changes of po-
litical faith in the state will be from
gold to free silver. One hears of new
converts to free silver daily. This is
particularly true of the southern half of
the state, where Bryan met such enthu-
siastic thousands as he crossed it Mon
day.
In Chicago Bryan is the open and ad-
mitted candidate of all of the trades
unions. His speech Labor day made a
profound impression. By the way, the
labor men say that the attendance at
the park where Bryan spoke that day
was over 100, 900.
The labor unions make no doubt of
Bryan s success i'll Illinois.
To sum up, from all l could see and
learn, Bryan and free silver will carry
Illinois, and do it handsomely. The
Populists will do their part, and the free
silver Republicans would seem to out.
number the gold Democrats about 10 tC
/. Bryan should win by good majority
All he has to fear, for it is the only
loophole of Republican escape, is the
Mckinley syndicate's money in Chica-
go. If they can buy or bribe a victory,
they will do SO.
All of the Chicago papers are for Nc
Kinley and violently against Bryan.
This need breed no alarm. They were
as violently against Cleveland in 1892,
when he carried Cook county by fully
100000 majority and took the state out
Of the Republican list for the first time
since the days of Douglas. They were
as violently against Carter Harrison
when he was made mayor by a large
majority. Bryan need have no fears of
the Chicago press if the past is any
guide. As the day stands, put Illinois
i'll the Bryan column. Let it stay till
further orders. Alfred Henry Lewis in
New York Journal.
Free silver would benefit the farmers ! =
raising the price of the silver in silver