Evening star., 1898-08-20
THROUGH THE WEST
Representative 0verstreet's Views of
the Political Situation.
REPUBLICANISM Is VERY STRONG
Results of a Trip Through Sixteen
States.
P AISE FOR M'KI NLEY

| Representative Overstreet secretary of
the republican congressional committee,
who returned to this city yesterday after
| an extensive tour of the west, was at the
| Headquarters of the committee today. His
wife returned to the city with him, and
| throughout the campaign they will have
| apartments at the Normandie, in which
| hotel the headquarters of the committee
| are located. They VIII remain there con-
| tinuously until the close of the campaign.
| Mr.. Overstreet left this city June l, since
which time he has been in sixteen states
familiarizing himself with the political sit
| uation. He has been in Indiana, Illinois.
Nebraska, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Ne
vada, California, Oregon, Washington, Ida
no, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota,
| Wisconsin and Iowa. When asked by a
| Star reporter today concerning the condi-
| ton OF political affairs in these states, and
| in the country at large, Mr. Overstreet re-
piled:
THE general conditions throughout the
| west and central west are very favorable
for republican success. The support which
| the country generally has given the admin
| istration has, of course, resulted in benefit
to the party, because the President is the
| representative of the party. His conduct
| of his administration, not only up to the
breaking out of the war but especially dur
ing the war, has been universally accepted
as most wise and successful. The west is
! intensely patriotic, and it urged the war
| long before the President and his advisers
| thought we were prepared for it, and even
| at a time when Mr.. Mckinley thought war
| could be averted without discredit to the
| government. There was severe criticism at
| that time against the President, but that
| has given way to universal praise. McKin-
| ley is talked of more than any one else
| any issue. Democrats and republicans
| alike are applauding him for his success
| thus far in his administration, and there
| is hardly democrat bold enough now to
| claim that Mckinley will not succeed him
| self in 1900.
| Wisdom of Republican Policies.
THE operation of republican policies un-
| der Mckinley has proven the wisdom of
| these measures and has shown that the
party, as a party, has fulfilled it's pledges
| made in '96 as far as 1t has been able TO
| fulfill them. The money question Is the
| only one upon which we have not yet fully
| concluded our acts, but adverse Senate
| was the rock upon which We failed in that
| particular.
| ''AIl through the west and central west
| these things have operated to the success
| of the republican cause. The success OF
| the war, following the success of the pro-
tective tariff, operates to put the people of
| the west and central west in good humor
! toward the republican party.
| The states of Kansas and Nebraska,
| where populism reached such bigh-water
|
| there is no question of republican success
in Kansas. When cne county, like Sumner
| county, in Kansas, received more than
| s., 100000 for wheat alone, 1t is easy to
| how populism gives way to repubicanism.
| This is true throughout the state of Kan
| sas, and feel quite confident of success in
| that state and a very material gain in the
| number of republican members of Con-
| gress
1.-The republicans of Nebraska are equally
| enthusiastic, although the conditions are
I co. HI
| sas. The operation of the protective policy,
/ together with the general Improvement in
business, has put the republicans of Wyom-
| ing upon the aggressive, and 1t appears
row that that state will give very hand
| some republican majority. The state of
| California is situated now much the
| state of Oregon was preceding the Oregon
| election.
| THE operation of the protective and other
| republican policies brought US a magnificent
victory in Oregon and, the conditions being
! similar in California, it is natural to sup
| pose the results will be similar. The re-
| publicars of California are exceedingly
| wideawake, aggressive and full of courage.
| They expect to carry the state and elect
| a successor to Senator White. The cond-
| tions for congressional gains In California
| are also favorable
Extension of Territory.
1.-THE state of Washington has been great
! ly advantaged by party legislation, and.
| alorg with Oregon and California, is
| strengthened for republicanism by the ac-
QUESTION of Hawaii and the outlook for
| commercial extension, owing to our VIC
| tories in the Philippines The entire Pa
c:f1c slope is awake 10 the anticipation of In
| creased business growing out of enlarged
! advantages in the Pacific, brought about
| by the present administration.
| The states of Utah. Colorado Montana
| Idaho and Nevada are closely welded to
| the silver idol, and 1t is not likely they will
break away from it in the near future, and
yet the republicans in these states are ag-
gress1ve and full of courage, with a firm
! determination to make a strong fight for
| success. OF course, the states of Iowa
| Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois are in
excellent condition politically for republic
can success.
Republican Prospects in Indiana.
The state of Indiana has never been in
better condition for republican victory than
| it is at this time Our party there is har-
monious and aggressive. 1t is absolutely
free from factions, this being true in each
| congressional district, that throughout
the state locally we are free from fac
| tions as it is possible for the party to be-
Our state convention. held August and t.
was one of the most largely attended and
enthusiastic In the history of the party
The large number of candidates indicated
the hopeful feeling throughout the state
While the harmonious conclusion of the
convention, being entirely free from bitter
| feeling, indicates the hope that the party
has of success in the fall. L have no fear
that We will not hold our own in number
| of congressman from that state and the
present outlook is most favorable for US to
elect u successor to Senator Turpie While
there are a number of leading republicans
mentioned for the Senate, yet it is gener-
ally conceded that the contest shall be
postponed until after we have carried the
legislature This insures the hearty co-op-
GRAFTON Of all the aspirants for senatorial
honors and indicates the freedom from fac
tiona1 feelings throughout the state.
Decided Gains In the West.
while appreciate that it Is too early to
make any claims of results yet, viewed
from the present situation I cannot help
feeling that the west and central west VIII
make decided republican gains in Novem-
Ter. The conditions in the east, I am sorry
to say, are not quite as favorable Local
conditions in a number Of districts through
cut the east make the result doubtful
General conditions the support of the ad-
niinistration. the success OF republican poll
icies etc, all are favorable to the repr5ii-
can party, but local conditions may to
some extent ceunteract the generally IA
yOrable conditions brought ahoTf hv no.