Evening star., 1898-10-26
DEMOCRATS ONLY CHANCE
Apathy Of Republicans in Illinois Nay
ID n Result in Defeat.
JI I
AltYeld and Free silver Have Both
Been ReleEated by the
Democratic Party.
Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.
CHICAGO, October -, 1895

CHICAGO, October "a, 1893.
"hateysr else may be developed in 1lh-
nos In this campaign, one thing is abso-
lutely certain-Altgeld and Altgeldism are
dead Free silver is likely to be as dead,
politically, as tie ex-governor when the
campaign is finished, but 1t is not one of
the prominent issues in the fight now being
waged.
The commander-n-chie of the democratic
forces this year in Illinois is General
Apathy" Republicans are more afraid of
that than any other one thing and every
effort Is now directed toward overcoming
this feeling, and in getting out the solid
vote of the party in November. Even the
democratic leaders admit that their only
chance of victory lies in the lack of in
terest among the republicans. and a con-
sequently reduced vote. The republican
managers are confident they will win with
thousands to spare if they can get their
voters to appreciate the seriousness of the
nave come to the conclusion that the vote
viii be heavy, and that the republicans are
taxing an interest in the campaign.
No Election for Governor.
The feeling of apathy prevalent in Ill-
nois is due largely to the fact that there
is no election for governor this year. State
treasurer, superintendent of public instruc-
ton and trustees for the state university
are the only offices to be filled. 1t is an off
year In much more than the fact that it is
not presidential year. Over confidence is
also big factor in the campaign, and to
this is traced a large part of the general
apathy. But whichever pile of ballots
proves the larger when the votes are
counted, John Peter Altgeld's reign in Illi-
nois politics is ended.
Altgeld's ambition now, in addition to a
To rI,t, ba ito C
be elected senator to succeed Shelby NJ
Cullom, whose term expires in two years.
The state senators elected in November
hold over and vote two years hence for
Cullom's successor. While Altgeld has
been laying his plans for this plum young
er and more active democrats. with a
greater sense of the public good. perhaps.
have come to the front. and, as they have
refused to be manipu' ated and dictated to
by Altgeld, the ex-governor has followed
his old policy of rule or ruin, and these
younger men have thus far received none
the worst of the battle.
Even in the event of democratic triumph
this fan, Altgeld Will stand absolutely 10
show of further advancement at the hands
of the party. He has had his DAY, and
step by step young Carter Harrison, Chi
cago's mayor, has been taking his place as
the foremost of silver democratic leaders
in the state. Harrison is himself candi-
date for governor two years hence, and it
Will be impossible for both him and Alt
Seiu 10 De NOnOrcO IN tne same year. AS
both are from Chicago and the rest of the
state thinks it Is occasionally entitled to
Scn nethng:t The result is the Harrison
Altgeld fight in the state organization.
Harrison fhas complete control of the ma
chinery in Cook county and has almost a
majority in the state machine
AltgeId Attacks Harrfson's Friends.
The new state committee. which takes
hold Immediately after the election, will
be a a9Harrison body. Altgeld has openly
attacked the democratic county ticket in
this county, nominated by Harrison, and
has lost 1measurably among the working
people who formerly followed him blindly,
no matter where he led.
A rabid free silver circular was distrib-
uted through the streets of Chicago re-
Gently and although it was but slight
eXaggera1ion of the state and county pat
form,i the democrats repudiated- it, and de-
ciarGd ut was a cheap trick on the part
of the republicans to scare business men
with, the free silver issue as they did in
1886 Since then there has been no dis
oussion of the issue, either from the plat
form or in the party organs. AS an Issue
it is certainly either dead sleeping
ceedingly soundy. Two Of the democrat tic
machine candidates for Congress IN This
city are men who bolted in 1896 and made
speeches for the gold democracy.