Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-06
Democrats Seem to Have Best of First
Weeks Canvass.
Old BREACHES BRIlGED OVER
Republicans Handicapped by Sew.
eraI Troublesome Factions.
KURTZ- M'LEAN ALLAH G E
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

in favor of the democrats. They have gain
ed not only by the increased weakness OF
the republicans, but by harmonizing their
own ranks to a degree not thought possible
at the time the ticket was nominated. 1t
was generally expected that the nomination
of Mclean would result in an open revolt
of the moss back element of the party.
as the adherents of Pendleton, Thurman
and Ward were called when the McLeans
were fighting them. But they are not max
ing any open fight, and from all that can
be made out so far seem to be for the
most part cordially supporting the ticket.
Even Allen w. Thurman. who was Nc
Leans most unre,enting opponent at Zanes-
vile and who said immedia tely after the
nomination that he would bolt the ticket,
is not doing anything of the kind 1t may
be that the fact that his son is candidate
on the democratic ticket here for states
attorney has something to do with keeping
him in line with his party, but he is in line.
no matter what the cause Of it is.
The Plain Dealer in Opposition.
1t is true that the Cleveland Plain Dealer
is fighting Mclean and will no doubt con-
tinue to do so to the close of the campaign,
but the Importance of this bolt Is gen
orally overestimated. The Plain Dea,er has
not been very influential in the democratic
party for several years because its owner,
L. +. Holden. has seemed to make it too
much his personal organ. The effect is
likely to be to increase ma terally the very
large vote that Mayor Jones, the independ-
ent candidate for governor, would get in
Cuyahoga county anyhow.
The democrats are helped by the belief
that has spread very generally among the
members of the party that there is a good
chance to win in this state this fall. Defeat
comes so generally to them the result of
state campaigns that prospect of victory
is quite sufficient of to
thusasm. The republican newspapers are
pointing to the fact that the democratic
meetings are not largely attended and say
Ing that this indicates apathy in the party
1t is true that the democratic meetings are
not large, but the same thing is true of the
republican meetings. Executing only the
opening meeting at Akron, the attendance
at their meetings has been unusually light.
The fact is that in point of crowds the
meetings of Mayor Jones are about as
large and a great deal more enthusiastic
than those addressed by the regular can
didates.
Influences Against Republicans.
There are fully a dozen influences. of
more or less Importance, operating in the
campaign now against the republicans. By
no means the least is the operation of the
civil service law. Enforced as it is the
workers of the party, who have been able
to count with certainty upon reward for
their political work, out of the spoils of
office, have lately found it difficult, if not
impossible, to get office under the national
administration. AS the result, they are not
working very much. They must make their
ivings elsewhere and in other ways.
The conduct of the pension department
by Commissioner Evans is causing great
trouble for the republicans in the soldier
vote of their party. The rulings of the de-
partment have caused much dissatisfaction
in this state. and upon the sentiment thus
engendered the democrats are making a
St-g ;ol
old soldiers has been established here whose
sole work 1t will be for the next month
to cultivate the anti-Evans sentiment and
make it count against the republican party
in the present state campaign
The large Quaker vote of the southern
part of the state, almost solidy republican,
is found to be badly disaffected by the war
In the Philippines. BY faith they are OPP
posed to war of any kind, and to this one
particularly. The Quakers sometimes pro-
test against the actions of their party but
they generally do 1t by refraining from vot-
ing at all; but this time it seems likely
that they will actually cast their votes pref
ty generally against the republican plat
form on this issue alone.
Unfortunate Attack on Foraker.
The attack of the Chicago Times-Herald
upon Senator Foraker a few months ago
was very unfortunate for the Ohio repub-
lic2ns in this campaign. Although all par
ties concerned in the attack have asserted
that it was in way instigated or even
suggested by Senator Hanna, the friends
of Senator Foraker cannot be made to be-
lieve that this is true The friends of Sen
ator Foraker are a great deal more bitter
ly opposed to Senator Hanna than Senator
Foraker is, and while Senator Foraker
seems to be inclined, outwardly at least, to
support the state ticket cordially, it Is hard
ly to be expected that he will use his best
efforts to induce his friends to do so too
and it is doubtful whether he could do 50
II he would try. He did not hold them in
line for the Legislature, expected to elect
Mr.. Hanna to the Senate two years ago.
This brings us to the most threatening
condition that confronts the Ohio repub!i-
cans in the present contest. 1t IS the coali-
ton of the anti-Hanna republicans, led by
Governor Bushnell and Charles l.. kurtZ
with the forces that are at work now try
ing to elect Mr.. Mclean governor of the
state. Indications of this state of things
are coming to light in so many different
forms and from so many widely separated
sources as to leave little room for doubt
that this element of the party is perfectly
organized for operation with the democrats
for the defeat of Judge Nash. Senator
Hanna is the man they are after, however.
SO far as Judge Nash is concerned himself
they would probably vote for him will
ingy as for any other man in the party.
They are against him only because he sur
rendered himself into the hands of Senator
Hanna and permitted himself to be used by
the senator in his effort to hold the party
McLean's Conference With Kurtz.
From many facts that have become pub
lie in the last week it4seems to be over
whelmngly probable that it was after a
conference with Mr.. Kurtz that John r.
Mclean decided to become candidate for
governor. Assurances that kurtZ was able
to make made it seem worth while to Mr..
Mclean to be a candidate for governor.
Neither Governor Bushnell NOR Mr.. Kurtz
takes pains to conceal his hostility to Judge
Nash. Both have spoken highly of the
qualifications Of Mr.. Mclean and declare
him to be an unusually strong candidate,
and predicted close contest At the re-
publican state committees roams this week
1t was admitted that the old anti-Hanna
leaders could be depended upon to use all
their power in trying to throw the support
of their faction from Nash to Mclean, but
they claim that they will befunable to do
1t. The committee claims that the pub
licity which has been given the treacherous
plans will prevent their success. 1t was
only the secrecy that was thrown around
the movements of this same faction in 1897,
they say that enabled them to come so
near succeeding in preventing the election
of Mr.. Hanna to the Senate. The discov-
cry of the plans will alone be sufficient to
thwarl them.
Against the several influences working
CT of yrh inh ra