Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1897-08-18
The Fall Elections.

The Fall Elections.
A special correspondent at Wash
ington thus sizes up the political sit
uation:
The chief subject of attention in
Washington just now is the political
campaigns which arein progress in the
various states. These are considered
especially important because of their
bearing upon the political complexion
of the United States senate. In sew
eral states legislatures which are to
choose a United States senator are
to be elected in part orin full, and In
terest centers in each of these states,
particularly those which are close.
The states which are especially at
tracing attention are Ohio, Iowa
and Maryland. In Ohio and Iowa
the Democrats have pinned their
faith to the single proposition of the
free and unlimited coinage of silver,
coupled with the general calamity
cry which has been an unceasing,feat-
ure of their political utter ances in
season and out of season during the
past decade. The platforms in these
two states, having been adopted ear
ly, went to the fullest length in their
advocacy of the 16-to ,1-without-
waiting for-any- Conformation propo-
sition, while the Maryland platform,
| framed by the cautious and cunning
German, who saw the approaching
storm, straddled along on the silver
question in the most approved Cor
manesuue style, les wording being
such that anybody can assume that
it means anything he may choose
! upon the money question.
1t is in Ohio and Iowa, however,
! that the free-silver element of the
Democracy Is put again clearly and
conspicuously upon record in advo-
cacy of the free silver proposition as
the sole sentiment of its national
i ambition. Advices from those states
show that the Democrats already are
seeing that they made a great mis-
} take in not only again espousing the
| silver cause, but IN making it the
| chief and only expression Of their
views upon the national subject.
Since the conventions in those states
adopted the 16-to-1 proposition as
| the chief plank of their platform, sill
YER has fallen rapidly and farm pro
ducts have advanced with equal
| prOmptness. At the same time busi-
ness activity has increased through
each of those states. Letters received
| from leading business men, Democrats
as well as Republicans, throughout
! Iowa and Ohio, show there marked
improvement In business conditions,
manufactures increasing their forces
and now running on full time and
over time, thousands of men being
put to work at living wages, farmers
getting increased prices for their
! wheat, wool and other farm products,
and the general Reputation of the
calamity cry and the theory that
only the free coinage of silver can
bring prosperity to the people of this
country.
Coupled with this come advices
from Mexico indicating that the fall
in the price of silver has produced a
| business paralysis there, that mer-
chants and business men general
are compelled to suspend business
operations or are at least greatly
crippled, and that the amount of
money which the Mexican govern
ment and the great business under
takings of that country must have in
order to meet their interest charges
which are payable in GOLD is bringing
the Mexican government TO consider
seriously adopting thegold standard.
1t is perfectly clear to the average
observer, putting aside any political
views or wishes, that the trend of
events is SO pointedly in the support
Of Republican theories as to currency,
ana Republican pledges of prosperity
under protection, that 1t only re-
mains to the members of that party
IN the states where elections are to
be held this year to get their voters
to the polls and thus insure sweeping
Republican victories