Evening star., 1899-10-17
GOOD TIMES IN THE WEST.
An Indiana Business Man Describes
His observations.

An Indiana Business Man Describes
His observations.
Mr.. John c. Wingate, a prominent busi-
ress man of Indiana, is in Washington for
a few days. He has just returned from a
successful trip through the west and is
enthusiastic over the political situation in
that section. Mr. Wingate was brought into
prominence as a politician during the cam
paign of 1896, when he managed the candi-
dacy of Gov. Mount, and later last January
in the successful management of the cam
paign of Senator Beverdge He is close
student of conditions, and, being conserva-
tive his deductions are of considerable i'm
portance.
To reporter of The Star today Mr.. Win
gate said:
1T is impossible for me to be extrava-
CANT in what l tell you of the political sit
uation in the west. That great section of
the country Is brimming to overfiowing
with prosperity, and there Is a degree of
confidence among the people that is re-
ffeshing to understand. My trip extended
through many states and not in a single in
stance did l see anything that could be
construed as dissatisfaction with the ad-
mlnlstration. OF course, the great crops
and the increased demand and consequent
advance in prices have been responsible for
some of this. But of far more importance
IN deciding upon the cause Is the conf
dence of the people. which has been restor-
OF republicanism. In former trips to the
west L have noticed the large army of un-
employed. 1t is now a hideOus nightmare
everybody is at work. and the farmers are
crying for more help. Wages have advanced
and harvest hands, who We're plentiful two
Years ago at dollar and a quarter a day
cannot now be had at So day Only a
snort time ago the west depended upon the
east Tor Its finances, and the local banks
and all the little hamlets scattered through
our that great western country were forced
east to get paper discounted and secure
luhos Tor moving the crops. What a differ
efce III the panorama of events. Today the
banks have more money than they know
what to do with and money is easy
one OF the best indications of prosperity
70 my mind is the travel on the railroads.
IN the past few years I have noticed in
my peregrtnations the limited number of
people travelling. Now everything is chang
ed III TINS line, and in my recent trip
through the Dakotas all the trains were
crowded, and 1t was necessary in making
Journey by night to secure a berth sew
era! days in advance. 1T is the return of
confidence that is doing this and the money
the people nave been boarding is being
Drought into circulation. l know in my own
little town a number of people who have
made trips this summer
1t was really a revelation to me to learn
the real feeling of the people in the west
on TINS subject of expansion. l can best de-
scribe 1t by comparing them to a barrel
loaded with good things the barrel under
terrible strain and finally giving way and
spreading its contents. They are reaching
out In the west; they feel that the United
states is bigger than ever before and while
they know nothing of the details of the
proposition, they are eXpansonists because
they realize that through that the United
states has the open sesame to the markets
of the world.
AS for republican success in 1900, l think
there is not a shadow of a doubt, and the
nomination and election of President Nc
kinney Is fOregone conclusion. The dem
ocratic party in the west is lost through it's
disruption and the great prosperity of the
country. What few democrats | met are
Tor Bryan and free silver But the farmer
and the workingman, whom Mr.. Bryan has
all along claimed as his stanchest allies
are contented under republican rule and
Will so express themselves in no uncertain
terms when the ballot boxes are opened
Inc populfstS are minus quantity and lit
tie Is ever heard of them. Altogether nv
trip this year has been most satisfactory
from a business standpoint 1t could not
nave been better. and / assure you it makes
me leel proud-yes, prouder than ever be-
lore-to be an American citizen and a re-
publican"