The Van Buren press., 1897-11-13
ELECTIONS REVIEWED.
Their Results Presage Republican De.
feat In Coming Contests, Says
w. ]. Bryan.


the overthrow of the Republican party
They also indicate that the boltinR
Democrats cannot long maintain a
separate organization and must either
go over to the Republicans or return to
the regular Democratic party and accept
the platform adopted in Chicago in
1896.
In Ohio, the home of the president,
rs we'll as the home of Mr.. Hanna, the
chairman of the Republican national
committee, the Republican majority
was reduced almost one half. and the
legislature is close. Certainly. in Ohio,
II anywhere. Republicans might have
expected to hold their own. but instead
of doing so they have shown distinct
loss. in spite of the fact that they had
an abundance Of money for campaign
purposes and an organization as COM
plete as last year. together with the
interested aid of those who have re-
ceived offices at the hands Of the
administration. or expect offices.
In Kentucky the Democrats carried
the state by about 90, 600, and secured
good working majority in the legis-
lature. Notwithstanding the efforts put
forward by the Republicans and gold
Democrats.
In Iowa the Republican majority was
cut down almost nehalf and large
Democratic gains were made in the
legislature.
In Pennsylvania and Massachusetts
the Republican maiorities were largely
reduced
In Virginia the Democrats made
decided gains on the state ticket and In
the legislature.
In Nebraska the fusion plurality will
exceed my plurality of last year, not
withstanding considerable decrease in
the total vote. The percentage of votes
cast BY the silver forces in Nebraska is
greater than ever before.
THE BoLTISa DEMOCRATS.
In the states above mentioned. name
ly. Ohio. Kentucky. Iowa. Pennsyl-
vania. Massachusetts,, Virginia and
Nebraska, the Democrats reaffirmed
the positions taken in the Chicago plat
form. and in each of these states the
Republicans discussed national issues
and pointed ont that Democratic gain
was strengthening the Chicago plat
form. We have right, therefore. TO
claim the political advantages which
they foresaw and tried to prevent.
1 am not sufficiently acquainted with
the local situation in New York City
and in New York. New Jersey and
Maryland to be able to judge how far
the gains strengthened the Chicago
platform.
The small vote polled by the gold
Democrats last year was explained by
the assertion that most of the gold
Democrats voted the Republican ticket,
but this year in several states special
effort was made by the gold Democrats
to poll a large vote in order to give their
party standing in public estimation,
This was especially true in Nebraska,
Iowa. Kentucky and Massachusetts,.
Ex Secretary j. Sterling Morton made
a speech at the state convention of the
gold Democrats, in which he asserted
that there had been a large increase in
his party strength, and that the gold
Democrats would poll %, 900 votes in
Nebraska this year. In order TO bring
out full vote he consented to be a
candidate for regent of the state
university, and the chairman of the
gold Democratic convention made the
race for supreme judge. The returns
are not complete. but sufficient is
known 10 make il certain that the gold
Democracy candidate for supreme judge
did not poll one half of per cent of the
vote. less than one half the votes the
party polled last year. Secretary
Morton, notwithstanding his large
personal acquaintance, did not carry 3
single precinct in the state.
In Iowa Congressman Patterson
and Byuum csnvassed the state in the
interest of the gold Democrats, and yet
the gold Democrats candidate for
governor polled only about 2 200 more
than the party polled last year. or 3
little more than per cent of the vote
of the state.
In Kentucky. where. perhaps. the
hardest hght was made by the gold
Democrats. the candidate Of the gold
Democrats polled only about 10. 600
votes. In Massachusetts,. so dis
tinguishei 8 man SIS exCongressman
Everett. running for governor on the
gold ticket. polled less than one fifth as
many votes As George Fred Williams.
who mSie an aggressive fight for the
Chicago platform.
The Republicans fought their cam
pAign this year under the most favor
able circumstances. Congress was
called together in extraordinary session
and the Dingley bill was passed.
Factories. which were closed during the
period Of uncertainty Ss to the sched-
ules. opened up when the law passed
finally. and the rates fixed positively
merchants. who had postponed Pz--
ehsses for the sane reason. rsplenishei