The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-24
IN THE FOURTH DISTRICT
POPOCRATS SENDING ORATORS AND
MONEY INTO THE FIELD.
Republicans Confident the Special
Election VIII Bring Favorable Re-
suIts-MajOr Lees Canvass.

AS the time approaches for holding the
special election in the Fourth congressional
district the Democrats are becoming
alarmed over the probable result. Governor
Matthews in an interview yesterday said:
THE Democrats of the State cannot afford
to let this district go Republican, and they
ought to begin to realize that the repre-
sentatives of the party in the district have
a hard fight their hands"
Governor Matthews states that he is
billed for ten speeches in the district, one
in each county. Congressman Bailey and
other free-silver Democratic orators are
also to be put into the Fourth district, and
a strong effort is being made by the Demo
cratic state committee to bolster UP the
cause, which has every evidence of being
a losing one for the Democrats at this time.
The arguments made by the free-silver
orators in the campaign in Indiana last
year are 50 clearly disI .oved by existing
conditions that a repetition of their mis-
statements is not having any apparent
effect upon the voters in the Fourth dis
trict. One of their chief arguments in the
campaign of 1896 was that the decrease in
the value of silver always showed a CORE
spending decrease in farm products, and es-
pecially wheat. Within the past year the
value of silver has continued to decrease
until at the present time there is only Al
cents worth of silver in standard dollar,
while the price of wheat has as steadily
increased until it is worth in the In
diana market about 20 cents more on the
bushel than it was year ago. Other farm
products have increased in price at almost
a corresponding raUlO. The Fourth con-
gresSional of indiana Is an agricultural dis
lrict. There are very few manufacturing
interests there, and the farmers in that
tor a
preciate the advantages OF better times
They will realize more money from the sale
of products from their farms this year
than for number of years past and they
are not inclined to give their confidence and
their votes to the democratic party, whose
campaign last year was one OF mlsrepre-
sentation.
The Republican party is rapidly redeem
ing the pledges made in the campaign of
1886 Prices have steadily increased under
the Mckinley administration, ana the Vot-
ers OF the Fourth district approaching TINS
fact, are not inclined 10 vote against their
own interests Tne Republicans are not at
all alarmed over the statement that the
Democrats intend to send their chief
proseiyters into the district TO preach Tree
silver.
Mai Charles w. Lee, the Republican can
didate, is proving himself to be man or
a personal canvass of the district, ana while
the Democratic orators are making speeches
to small audiences Major Lee is mlngllng
with the voters and shaking hands with
the people.
Chairman Martin, or the Democrauc
making a canvass of the State for money
with which they hope TO carry the district;
They are preparing to pour thousands of
dollars into the counties on election day
and will endeavor to overcome the senti-
ment which is strongly against the Democ-
racy by corrupt methods.
There is a large soldier vote in the dis
trict and among this class of voters are
great many veterans who served in Major
Lees regiment. lie is personally popular
with the old soldiers, and the great ma
jority of the veterans will vote for him re-
gardIess Of former political affiliations.
Reports from every county in the district
show that the Republicans are hopeful and
confident, and the indications now are that
the successor to Judge Holman, who will be
elected on Aug. TO- will be Mai Charles w.
Lee, of Switzerland county.