The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-11-05
AS GOOD As ELECTED
Only Question Is as to the
Size of Longs Majority.
REVIEW OF THE SITUATION
Should Convince all DOubterS,
IfThere Were Any.
REVIEW OF THE SITUATION

Nawton. Kan. Nov. 4.-(Special)-Ihe
tast week Of a remarkable campaign III
the Big Seventh congressional oNtrc'
terminates tonight. Chester I. Long MADE
las. snAach this afternoon at his home,
Medicine Lodge, and Jerry Simpson Will
do likewise at the same place. also his
home. Monday night. Then the election
Tuesday. and II viii only be a question
as 70 the greatness Of Mr.. Longs ma
iority.
For eight years the campaigns in the
Seventh district have been che political
Interest Of Kansas, and for six years, OF
since Long and Simpson were first pitted
against each other, the struggles of the
district biennially, have made the district
the observed of political eyes Of the ma
ton. Nothing ever has been quite like
Il. The campaigns have been remarkable;
have been exciting; have been marvellous
" bitter and have excited animosities not
confined alone to the bounds Of the dis
trict.
THE ISSUE NEVER so CLEAR.
The campaign this year, while totally
unlike all previous ones, has been equally
interesting in Kansas and the country.
The issue between the Candidates was
peculiarly distinct and clear. Mr.. Long
early in the campaign outlined his fight,
which was for Endorsement of the presi-
dent; the administration and the great
issue of expansion. Mr.. Simpson was
equally explicit and in his first speeches,
also, declared opposition to each fthe
three things upheld by Mr.. Long, and
was particularly antagonistic TO expan-
sion. He never concealed 9lis opposition
and waged war relentlessly upon Mr..
Longs stand. He also spoke in deroga-
S-y terms against the president of the
United States and while he moderated
somewhat at the close, he has been nearly
as outspoken all the time. As to the ma
tional administration, ne declared with
force and distinctness that he would not
stand by the president.
NO DOUBT OF LONGS ELECTION.
There can be no doubt about Mr.. Longs
election At first sight, tmight appear
almost impossible for him to overcome
the majority of Mr.. Simpson of 2,S23, but
careful study of conditions and counties
shows that it is not surprising at all to
assert that the result is only a question
Of majority for Mr.. Long.
Three elements enter into the results.
Briefly stated. they are:
THE FREE SILVER VOTE.
First-If the free silver vote of two
years ego-the free silver Republican vote
shall come back to the Republican party,
1T is sufficient to elect Mr.. Long by a
small majority. This vote VIII come back;
more. It is back. The issue Of silver is
not in this campaign. Mr.. Simpson says
nothing about it. The platform of the
coaYention which nNInated him ar
Hutchinson neither directly or indirectly
refers to silver. Attorney General Boyle
in opening the campaign in this district
at Wichita did not refer TO il. Governor
Leedy publicly has announced that It is
not an issue. Prominent silver Republi-
cans like Johns High and John Sponsler
Of Hutchinson the leading silver Republi-
cans Of the district and Judge Whitelaw
of the same place, all openly declare sill
Yer is not an issue in this campaign and
that they viii stand by the national Re
publican administration. Mr.. High and
Mr.. Sponsler are the last leading silver
Republicans of the district to come back
10 the Republican party and their in
fuence is felt.
JERRY'S Personal OPPONENTS.
Second-If, including the freesilver vote,
Mr.. Long can secure the vote of the
Populists and Democrats who have openly
expressed themselves against Jerry Simp-
son for various reasons, he viii be elect
ed by a large majority There IS a good
chance for this. Men like ". f Brown
J. J. Barnes, w. S. Barnes and others OF
Pratt county; Harry Tiiden and Charles
Jesse of Barber, and men in every county
in the district. have stated in public in
ferviews, some in signed statements, that
they will not vote for Simpson. and some
have said that they VIII vote for Long.
All these men say their reasons, in the
main. are because Simpson 3obbied
against maximum freight rate legislation
and the usury bill in the last legislature.
after championing. with them. these re-
forms and PopUiist principles for more
than SIX years ana in four political cam
paigns in the Seventh district and kan
sas Men ike Brown and Barnes are
now openly working TO secure the defeat
o. simpson. working with their own peo-
pie.
THE SILENT VOTE
Third-There never was such a large.
silent vote that no party is able to poll.
This is among the Populists and Demo-
Gratis. Their party is taking no interest
in the campaign. There have been no
paradss or professions at the PopulLst
meetings in the district THIS year. Many
~ them have not attended meetings OF
any kind. Tney VIII rot tell how they
VII Vote. l f,hey vote as usual this year.
tire other conditions previously mentioned
VIII be sufficient To give Mr. Long hand
some majority Eut Z they vote The Re
publican ticket. trere viii be a regular
landslide ana no man can estimate the
SIZE Of Mr. longs majority. II one-salf
Of them vote the Republican ticket. and
one-half remain - home. the majority
Nll stan be q very good one for M. Long.
II they all STAY al home Il VIII leave the