Evening star., 1897-04-03
The Political Conditions.

discovery still on him, he is infusing vitali-
ty into a lone-handed campaign, and will
have few thousand votes.
The Political Conditions.
With this passing glance at the candi-
dates. word may be said about the po-
litical conditions. Two years ago Geo. 3.
Swift. the present republican mayor, had
a majority of 5000. The silver wedge
had not then been driven through the
democratic organization. and it's candidate
a popular man. Last November Nc
kinley's majority in Chicago was $4,000
Making proper allowance for the natural
reaction which always comes in politics,
the melting away of these great MAORI
ties under normal circumstances would be
hard to explain, Yet ii is the opinion of the
politicians in both parties that an eXpla-
nation viii be needed. Young Harrison's
election is not exactly conceded by his
opponents The probability of it is merely
''deplored. and the division of what should
be a compact opposition into supporters of
Sears. Hesing and Harlan is regretted.
No one has been able to unite these forces,
and the efforts to secure the withdrawal
of Hesing and Harlan have been fruitleSs.
1t is likely that the total vote will be
small, and this is another source of
strength to the democratic candidate. The
Chicago business man is not unlike his
fellow in other cities. His political activity
is spasmodic. He likes to read in the news
papers about the business mans interest
in public affairs, and once in four years he
may be reused to exertion. After squirt
in national politics such as that of last
year 1t is difficult to wake him up for
local municipal campaign. The suggestion
that the election of d free silver mayor
may hurt the financial credit of Chicago
does not stir him. He blames it on the
politicians for not making things differ
ent from what they are, and he will stay
away from the polls in droves.
Appeal to the President.
The republican leaders are discussing the
effect of prospective defeat on the national
administration. For time after the nom
inaticn of Judge Sears they thought he
would be elected by safe majority. Sud
denly they found decentralization in their
own camp and unity and enthusiasm in the
free silver democracy. DR.. Jameson began
TO give out warnings against Overconiidence
ana TO comment publicly on the weakness
OF the republican situation. 1t Is part of
his political methods to impress The rank
and lie with the belief in the earlier stages
OF the campaign that the enemy is getting
the best of them and thus secure extra eX-
ertioHs. In this case it took time 10 I'M
Cerstand that Mr. Jameson had not brought
OUT his old stuffed wolf, but was giving
the alarm because he saw a whole flock OF
hungry animals sweeping across the prdi-
rie TO devour the republican sheep in the
fold BY virtue Of his position as national
committeeman, Mr.. Jameson went TO
Washington and laid the situation before
President Mckinley, Mark Hanna and Sec
retary Gage. He represented il was i'm
ortant for the future of the republican
party in Illinois and the northwest that
the national administration should exert
itself TO prevent the municipal government
OF Chicago from passing into the control
OF the free silver democrats. Back of this
was the hint that the original Mckinley
Ten were not interesting themselves in
the candidacy of Judge Sears. 1t was fur
ther represented that Secretary Gage could
thaw the party workers out of the chill
into which his selection for the Treasury
Department threw them by coming out
strongly for the ticket.
The Administration Interested.
Committeeman Jameson returned from
Washington with assurances that the ma
t!ohai administration was deeply interested
| in republican success in Chicago, and would
| make manifest its interest. He told his
associates to wait. They are yet waiting
| The promised interview from Secretary
| age has not been given. 1t is not even
nown that the Secretary Of the Treasury
il set an example for other absent Chica-
ms by coming home to vote As for the
resident. II Is whispered that on mature
Jnsideration' he decided that, In spite of
: is deep personal concern, the way was
| OF clear for the national administration
/ 10 put up guide board pointing the road
| for the republicans of Chicago to follow in
| their municipal affairs. Perhaps the idea
| that the administration would suffer by
| Identifying itself with what might, after
| all, prove losing cause had something to
| dc with his decision.
Naturally. there is disposition to shift
| responsibility. The republican organization
| in Chicago. the local Tammany, as 1t il
| called. has been suffering from internal
disorders since the charges of treachery
| within itself which grew out of the sena-
| tor:al election that resulted in the triumph
| OF Mason. The men in control want to
heal these disorders without publicity. 1t
| will be their aim to show that the machine
| did its share toward keeping Chicago a re-
| publican city. and that the fracture was
| due 10 the original McKinleyites The
! friends OF the national admint tration on
| their part. are already taking the ground