Evening star., 1898-10-13
Republicans Feel Sure of Electing
Their State Ticket.
LEGISLATIVE TICKET In DOUBT
Some Changes Likely in Complex
ion of Delegation in Congress.
VOTERS ARE APATH Ell c.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

Perhaps the most mySuned people just
now in all the world are the politicians of
Indiana. Five tickets are in the field and
five committees are at work, while half
hundred or more orators are endeavoring
to arouse the people from their apathy,
and all in vain. Such a thing never
heard of before in this state Awhile ago
the republicans We're supremely confident
the drift was all their way; but now they
do not know what to think. They are be-
ginning to be afraid that their partisans
are too confident, and therefore will not
turn out on election day. The democrats
are claiming that this apathy Is in their
favor one thing only is sure, and that is
the people are outwardly taking but little
Interest in the matter.
Go about the hotels which the head
quarters of the two parties and where
usually the talk runs brisk. and You will
find little knot of politicians; but other
people come and go without paying any
attention to them. EX-PreSident Harrison
has not yet put in an appearance and no.
body knows whether he will not. A few
months ago. when the state committee was
reorganized and the Gowdy faction ousted
from control the new managers boasted
that the campaign would be under the con-
troll Of Indiana men and would not be
managed in Ohio, and that General Harri-
son would he one of the foremost leaders
when the battle opened. The reference to
Ohio intended an intimation that
Mr. Gowdy had been dominated by Mr..
Hanna W ell, Indiana men have SO lar
controlled without any interference from
Ohio. but General Harrison so far has
taken no part in it.
Republicans Are Disappointed.
This IS very disappointing to the repub-
Hcans. and many murmurs of dissatisfac-
uon are heard. The absence of Senator
Fairbanks has been materially felt The
senator is one of the shrewdest party man
ayers the state has known. He has been
of late years to the republicans what Thos
A Hendricks to the dernocrats-the
peacemaker. In MortOn's time harmony
was brought about by the sIedgehammer
process. that distinguished politician be
HeviH@ il useless waste of time to try 10
P!a"ate those who We're disposed to kick
General Harrison never possessed much of
the talent Of the peacemaker: so until the
advent Of Mr.. Fairbanks as a leader the
republicans always had fighting factions
Mr- Fairbanks has never been as quick to
seize upon the potent issue of a ,.ampaign
as either Morton or Harrison but he sur
passes in the art of healing up factionaI
difference He cannot arouse all the facuI-
Ties OF friends for persistent. active, hard
work as could Morton, but he makes no
antaEOnisInS.
Just now his voice and his talents as a
peacemaker are very much needed. His
party IS proud of the high position he holds
IN the Canadian commission. but they
would much rather have him at home for
the next four weeks
The absence of General Harrison is felt
IN another direction He would not be so
potent factor in the counsels of the pa,.tv
as Fairbanks. but there is a ring about his
SpttcheS that always arouses enthusiasm
and brings ont the voters on election day
He Is not personally loved but everybody
has fun faith in his sincerity his natrinf-
Ism and his Judgment on the issues of the
day. Thus. if he should say to his party
that expansion is right and necessary they
would believe him and earnestly work that
President Mckinley might have a republi-
can Congress at his back. If on the other
hand. he should still remain out of the
fight the apathy in the party will continue
and one or more congressional districts will
be endangered for the republicans
Republicans Have Best Orators.
In speech making the republicans have
something the best of the democrats as
they have more local orators Of ability.
Most Of the democratic sneakers Of tba
state who have been known for their pow
erS on the stump at heart gold men
anu they cannot get up any enthusiasm for
silver The party convention made so far
as II could an issue out of silver If that
should he eliminated there would he little
s-se 70 tax about as the democrats con-
less that III" republican state adninfst-a-
uon has been able and honest. Thus rbe
democrats are handicapped. The desertion
OF MI BEnum has not been unexpected
ana therefore it has not dfsa ranged partv
plans. nor Will 1t have much influence for
good or evil. Mr.. Bynum is an able man.
ana at one time welded a great influence
among the laboring men. especially of mis-
congressional district: but he lost tl,s5 IN
HuenCe some years ago
me legislative outlook is stir uncertain.
5n,'t.,tf +Ji"t ~ STATE may be put down in the
d"Lbful column as TO the election of a
successor 10 Senator Turpie YET there MAJ
Sli'.s Slst thns surprises when the votes
sIg counted out Take Fort Wayne as
sample 1t has always been a stronghold
"l democracy. and the memory of man
, -, "a ilnL back TO a time when any hut a
I','traJ mas represented Allen COUNTY in
tht legislature II ought this wear to hay-a
q h"IG-9Ner senator, but the fncumbont re-
fEn-t som months ago and the vacancy
There has been a tu-,;,- 49,
pefA"cFs'tc Gibraltar. and the repubIfcans
ar counting on electing their candidate
ne democrats try 10 make light of this
claim, but IL is evident they are very mn
easy over the situation.
Democrats May Win i'm Cas BeIt
Two years ago the gas belt went strongIv
Tor the republicans. the greatest unheava1
being In Madison county which had fo--
HerIy been largely democratic Prosperity
ma apparently been reigning in the gas
1tit L'r TWO years, and the republicans
nave believed their plurality of two wears
ago would he materially increased Word
Genes. however, that all things are not
50 IpFe4y IN Madison county. and that there
IS n prospect Of democratic success There
- marked disafrection but its full
sreng'h cannot Yet be determined. Many
Or the worktngmen OF that section are
democrats by training and inclination Two
years ago they voted with the republicans
on the tariff question. They say that uues-
t"n IS settled and there Is NO reasnn why
tkey should longer cooperate with their
old-umc enemies. They declare that the
silver question is practically dead and is
no longer issue.
This same feeling exists in a greater or
less degree in several other counties The
popuiists. PrUhibitionists and socialists have
Il ticket IN the field. but none of them will
cut much Of a figure 1t is conceded thar
on TINS and Nanderburg counties hinges
the legislature. Here the republicans are
the most active. and their sixty-day poll
Showed up very well, but polls are not al
ways reliable. Just now II looks as IL the
democratic legislative ticket in this county
would win II depends upon what the gold
democrats do.
There are two doubtful congressional dis
trIcts-the first and fifth-bOth now repre-
sented Dy republican In the first the
chances are in favor of Hemmenway the
present member but his election is not as
sured. In the fifth the chances are against
Faris.
The rennhIican stata ticI.at r,iIl t1 oloo..a