The age-herald., 1899-08-27

is of the opinion that the people are not ready to accept a 16 to platform and that less radical plank should be adopted.
 Next to MT. Bryan the most striking figure at the Chicago meeting was ex-Gov- ernor John F. Altgeld, the man who Is now regarded as the leader of that element in the democratic party that insists that the gospel of 1896 shall be the gospel of 19O0 As the result he has won the esteem of the radical free silverites in every part of the country and his support of the Bryan movement will depend upon this one ques- ton. Governor Altgeld is opposed to trusts and he is not in favor of expansion, but he believes that the financial question is the mother of the whole brood of evils and that when this is settled the other great questions can easily be met. If MT. Bryan should deviate from his former position, however, he would certainly lose the sup port of Mir. Altgeld, who has repeatedly asserted, we might as we'll drop the clause altogether as to change the ratio from the heaven-born 16 to l."
 These are but 0 few of the political leaders of certain sections of the country but are of sufficient importance to enti- tie them to attention and there is no doubt that their opinions will be considered by those who have the making or breaking of tthe democratic party in their hands. The present opinion here seems to be that the free silver plank will be retained and that to it there will be added blanks embodying antitrust and anti-imperialistic senti- ments. In certain parts of the country the feeling on the expansion question Is very strong and there is also a growing senti- ment against the increasing development of trusts and 1t is upon this fact that the silver men base their hopes that the gold democrats will vote with the party because they are so much opposed to these existing conditions.
 The republicans, on the other hand, are just as confident that the democratic lead CTS are working upon a wrong theory. They believe that the split In the party Is too wide to be bridged in any such man ner and that there is such strong expan- sion sentiment among Democrats, especial ly in the eastern states, that an anti-im- perialism plank will simply tend to create another division. In addition to this the republicans bank upon the fact that the civil and military affairs of the country have been well administered under Mc- Kinley, and that, in accordance with theii promises, prosperity has come under the Dingley tariff and the gold standard.
 While there is little reason to believe that the election figures of 1896 will give any accurate indication of the results to be expected in 1900 they are still of interest as indicating to certain degree, what MT. Bryan will have to overcome if he is to carry his standard to victory.
 In 1896 the republican vote was 7,104,779 as against 65O2, ,925, cast for Bryan. In elec- toral votes this represented 271 for the re- publicans as against 176. At this time Me Kinleys strength was limited almost en- tirely to the northeast section of the coun- try, Oregon and California being practi- cally the only exceptions.
 In 1898 the republican strength was ex- tended, that party having carried Kansas, South Dakota, Wyoming, and Washington, and at that time the electoral vote, if one L A-Y. nE for the republicans as against 175 for the democrats, the democratic victories in Minnesota and Kentucky offsetting the in- crease in the republican vote in the west. It is doubtful, however, if the members of the national committee will look upon Minnesota and Kentucky as democratic states. Minnesota will probably vote re- publican unless peace is restored in Ken