Evening star., 1898-10-26
REPUBLICANS WAKING UP
If Present Activity Continues They Will
Garry Indiana.
President Mckinley's Popularity
With His Party is an Element
of Great Strength.
Popularity
Special CORE. Del dence of The Evening Star.

INDIANAPOLIS, October "a. 1SSS.
II the revival spirit among the republicans
continues to increase from now until the
election with tie same ratio it has increased
within the last week they will carry the
state handsomely and elect a majority of
the legislature. Indiana is subject to light
ming changes in politics, and it may give
an example of that kind this year. This
marked improvement for the republicans
began after the return of Senator
Fairbanks from Canada. The meetings dur
ing the past week have been better attended
end the enthusiasm has increased many
fold. The republicans began to grow alarm
ed over the apathy that was everywhere
apparent. AT first they thought they would
be no more hurt by this apathy than would
the democrats, as it not confined to
their party alone, but when they began to
refer to past experience 1t dawned upoE
them that hitherto general apathy had
always worked to the injury of the party
in mower.
They heard from Washington that extra
ordinary efforts would have to be made or
President Mckinley would be left with an
opposition in Congress. This they realized
would be death blow to hopes of speedy
end advantageous peace with Spain. and
they commenced the &C i've work of 80 con-
vincing the rank and file of the party.
Under the best circumstances Indiana is
a very uncertain state politically. The cam
paigns of 1894 and 1896 We're phenomenal.
and astonished nobody more than the re-
publican leaders. The successes OF those
two years created a strong belief that In
diana had taken her place among the sure
republican states, hence when the cam
raign opened this year but little interest
was manifested by any but the candidates
Strength of the President.
Mr.. Mckinley is strong among the rei,ub
icans Of Indiana, and they have no desire
to see him hampered by an opposition Con-
during the remainder of his
and as soon as they danger of that
they began to wake up in earnest. This
feeling will save Hemmenway IN the first,
and possibly F'aris in the fifth and Cromer
In the eighth. although the opposition 10
the last two is still very strong. If Cromer
is elected he will owe it altogether to the
desire of the republicans to give Mr.. Nc
kinley a good working majority in Con-
gress. and not to any strength of his own.
for the feeling against him personally IS
very bitter.
The trip of the President through the
state was a very successful one. The re-
publicans tried to take advantage OF the
crowds drawn together to honor the Presi-
dent by extempor!zing political meetings
in the various places where he made stop.
after the departure of his train but this
was resented by both republicans and delL-
ocrats Many republicans did not like the
idea of attempting to give a political color
ing to the Presidents journey, and in some
places refused to remain to hear the po-
lftical speakers. Had II been known be
fore the arrival of Mr.. Mckinley that the
republicans would attempt to make party
speeches the democrats would have refused
to take part In the receptions rendered him.
In this district the gold democrats are
lining up for Mr.. Overstreet. and his back
ers now sure of his election. This dis
trict composed of only two counties and
Mr.. Overstreet must carry this county by
at least 4Ga to succeed. He is now actively
engaged in the canvass.
Little Heard About silver.
But little is heard anywhere about free
silver but the democrats are pledged to
that doctrine in case of success, and all
their candidates for Congress are believers
in the Chicago platform, as is Senator Tur-
pie. Practically this is a campaign without
an issue. 1t this respect it stands without
a precedent The republicans only talk
about the present business prosperity
compared with the situation from 1893 to
1896, and the successes of our army and
navy in the war with Spain, and the neces-
sity of upholding the President until all the
fruits of victories have been made Sc
cure The democrats try to make their
hearers believe that the apparent prosperity
is only dream and not reality and then
spend the rest of the time in telling about
the suffering of the soldiers, and of the
neglect of the administration in trying to
prevent such hardships. with "a little now
and then of the nalcyon days which are to
come when silver is free.
The speeches by Postmaster General
Smith have been the strongest made
either side. and his visit to the state has
| added to his popularity. He had been
known in Indiana lecturer but not as
a political speaker until this year AS
rule, both parties have depended upon ma
tive talent for their speechmakng. and in
that respect the republicans have had the
advantage. 1t is doubtful If any state in
the Union has as many political speakers
of a high order Indiana. Several of
them. though young in years, have already
won national fame and are in demand in
other states.
Democrats Want the Legislature.
The democrats making greater efforts
to control the legislature than to elect their
state ticket, and it is impossible to predict
at this time the complexion of the legisla-
ture with any degree of certainty. BY their
preponderance in hold-overs the repub-
licans start in with the chances in their
favor. The absence of ex-President Harri-
son is still commented on, and the repub-
licans are not satisfied with his actions
The democrats are making the most of it
by urging that his silence is equal to DIS
| tinct avowal Of hostility to the foreign pol
icy of the administration.
GEN.. SHAFTER RESPONSIBLE. .
Why the Balloon Was Sent Tn on the