The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1897-08-19
BATTLE is NOW ON.
rr anaRers of the Campaign Begin to
Line LIN the EOrCea.

succeeded by Democrat. Indeed,
Bushnell's poor health leads to the be!
lief that he will not participate in the
campaign at all. He may even with.
draw. in which case the Republicans
would be obliged to swap horses while
crossing the stream, which would give
the Democrats Il further advantage.
The strength of the Democracy lies in
the fact that the parry is once more
practically reunited. The currency
plank of the Maryland Democratic con.
ventiOn has furnished common
ground upon which all members of the
party can unite. The so-called gold ele-
ment in the party has never been really
welded to gold monometallism. The
men who participated in the Palmer
and Buckner movement last fall eX-
pressly deny that they opposed bimetal-
lism. On the contrary, they favor it,
With this feeling animating all classes
of Democrats, the outlook is bright,
and the factional fights and animosities
in the Republican party will render aid
toward Democratic victory in the
coming election.
The tidal wave of business revival
about which Republican papers are
now printing rose-colOred statistics has
not reached Ohio. To use an agricul-
tural cOlloquialsm, it is Jest between
hay and grass" and both the leading
political parties are resting and watch
ing each other. But while there are no
actual developments other than those
noted above, there is no lack of political
gossip.
To all intents and purposes the terms
'the Republican party of Ohio and
Marcus A. Hanna are synonymous
At this early stage of the campaign Mr..
Hanna and his continuation in the Sell
ate have become the sole issue. The
Senator. by the grace and weakness of
Governor Bushnell, has complete con-
troll of the party organization, from the
State Executive Committee to the sub
school district committeeman.
Mr.. Hanna's methods have become
somewhat familiar to the people Of the
country during the past two years. He
IS the apostle of force and direCJness
He is not diplomat. He does not pla.
cate his enemies. He curses them. He
is an adherent of the Weyler doctrine
of pacificatiCn by annihilatiOn.
For these reasons it is not strange
that there is heartburning and discon
tent among the Republican workers
who are not of the elect.
Despite all disaffection in the Repub
lican camp, however, both factions
realize that any attempt to elect the
State ticket and defeat the legislative,
or to slaughter the State ticket ana car.
ry Mr.. Hanna through. would inevita
bly, lead to retaliation. decentralization
and consequent total defeat in Novem
ber. Therefore, so far as the politt
clans are concerned, they will probably
vote straight. The trouble will be to
control the heelers, who are aching for
revenge.
The Democrats are in better shape
than their opponents. Mr.. Chapman
the candidate for Governor, has never
before been an aspirant for public of
fee. Whether this will be an element
Of strength or weakness will develop as
the campaign progresses and he passes
before the guns Of the enemy. There
are already indications that the OppOsi-
ton press have determined to trace his
career from the cradle, and the
'bloody shirt" which has been happily
eliminated from recent campaigns, has
been resurrected and thrown to the
breeze.
Mr.. Mclean has not announced his
candidate for the Senate, and the State
convention did not indorSe him, but the
Republican leaders say they will not let
him stay in the background, and that
they will concentrate their fire upon
him and his record until he comes out
into the open or renounces his ambi-
tions entirely.
Meantime Mr.. McLean's agents are
carefully looking after legislative NOM
nations, and a majority of the nOmi-
nees are said to be pledged to the
shrewd Cincinnati editor, who is di-
recting operations from summer re-
sort in Virginia.
Chairman McConville will meet the
charge of Hanna's imported orators
with an aggregation of talent. includ
ing w. J. Bryan, Senators Mills, Teller
and Allen. Representatives Benton
McAIillin. Bailey of Texas. Newlands
and others, with Debs, Altgeld. Sover,
eign and host of others of equal emf
nence. In the meantime the work OF
organization goes bravely on.