Evening star., 1897-08-26
THE FALL ELECTIONS
Result Will Not Be as Significant as
Anticipated.
DEMOCRATIC HOPE WEAKENING
Look to Maryland, but Not Much
Expected From Ohio.
THE STU ALTON ANALYZED

The impression is growing among politi-
clans that the result of the elections this
fall is not going to be as significant as it
has been heretofore anticipated that it
would Pending the uncertainties and dis
agreements of the extra session of Con-
gress, when the democrats were twitting
the republicans with the delay of pres
perity, and when there was more or less
discomfort concerning the tariff. the demo-
Gratis were looking hopefully forward 10 the
first elections that should follow. The criti-
cism of the tariff, rot then completed, and
the complaint that Congress was ignoring
other questions that demanded attention
together with the fact that the incoming of
the new administration had not been iol-
lowed at once by a marked Improvement of
business conditions, caused many republi-
cans even to feel apprehensive lest the
party should suffer reverses this fall. The
democrats started out with a feeling of
confidence that they would benefit By re-
ao ton and that they would give 4 good ac-
count of themselves wherever an election
is to be held this fall
The situation Changed.
The situation has greatly changed since
then The feeling of apprehension on the
part of republicans has almost passed
away. and the democrats no longer have
confidence. The outlook at this hour is a
mixed result in the aggregate, the repub-
licans having somewhat the best of it..
The three points of principal interest are,
or course, ONO, Maryland and, on account
of its bearing on the future, the contest
over the mayor of Greater New York.
Democratic Hope for Maryland.
The only thing that has saved the dem
ocrats from a weakening of hope all along
this line is the situation in Maryland. The
division among the republicans there and
bad political management, attributed TO
Senator Wellington, has encouraged hope
among democrats that they will carry that
state and secure the reelection of Cor
man. 1t is not pretended that there is
much imprf vemCEt in the direction of har-
mony among Maryland democrats The
declaration in the platform, while not what
the silver men wanted, does not satisfy the
gold democrats and the independent op-
position to the regular democracy may be
early rs strong as it was last year.
The democrats claim. however. that the
unpopularity of We!iingtons methods will
be enough TO more than make up Cor the
disaffection of gold men from the demo-
cratic party. However this may be, it
furnishes the only instance of an increase
of hopefulness on the part of The demo-
Gratis as respects this falls campaign. But
if they do win in Maryland it Will not he
unalloyed qualification to all democrats.
because 1T viii make the conspicuous sue
cess one attended with greater or less
IL,
will be the victory of a man who is not a
silver man, though not only of good stand
ing in the party, but possessing great in
huence-
In Greater New York.
As TO the contest for mayor of Greater
New York. the democrats have neither
gained nor lost any appreciable degree of
their hopefulness. and the republicans con-
tinue to feel confidence. Here the situa-
has ficia
der the outbreak more than remotely spec
ulative.
Weakening on Ohio.
As to Ohio. there has been distinct fall
ing off of the democratic hopes. At the
outset they felt that there was an excel
lent prospect of their succeeding there
They counted mGcn On Senator Hanna
being a shining mark fer resentment and
antagonism on account of tie prominence
he hts acquired Moreover they dag
Eosed a general condition of discomfort
among the working classes and the farm
ers, with 4 strong silver disafection from
the republican party. Upon this and the
theory that there Is 4 ''powe rful silver
sentiment il Ohio they based a feeling of
great ECpefulIeSs.
Now, for several reasons they ar, ROT
nearly so hopeful If Mr. Hanna's per-
sonality is too strongly in the campaign
on the republican side Mr.. J. r. Mci.eaa's
II 100 tIp>eIy iHentliled with the demo-
cratic hopes
Il the Ohio farmers are not satisfied with
the wool schedule OF the Dlngley law their
diSsa ;isfactlcn is Offset by the k1owIedSe
taat the democrats during the cons dera-
Tor Of the measure voted TO remove all
dGty IRON wool Again the taunts about
Gt.ayed prosperity are n.et with a r-se in
the Price of wheat. and TO party disar-
lection. there is less on the surface among
the republicans than among the demo-
Gratis.
In Other States.
The elections in the other states. like
Pennsylvania, Virginia. kentucky and
Iowa. do not carry great significance
Pennsylvania is surely republican and Viz
ginia is surely democratic Iowa the dem
ocrats hardly make a pretense of hoping
to carry. but they Go hope to win in Ken
treky.