The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-05-30
OHIO TO BE THE
BATTLE GROUND.
The Contest in That State in Noyem-
Der of Unusual Interest.
BRYANISM'SLAST CHANCE GUlCH
M Other Point I'm the Republican
Lines That Offers Any Encourage
ment To Democracy On a Free
Silver Platform.

Silver Platform.
WASHINGTON. May T-speoial.-lt
looks from this point OF view as II inc
contest in Ohio in November "oulu pc
one Of extraordinary interest. ONO -
considered by some to be a sort OF iast-
chance-gulch" for the Democratic party
on it's present free silver basis. IL Is eS
II one army on a battlefield were belhg
gradually beaten back, and as II us leaoel
saw one important strategic point which,
II he could gain. the day might Hhsiiy
be saved. To attempt to carry 1t might
be a very rash move. and yet upon the
success Of the entur all might depend.
This is the position Of Ohio for the
BRYAN Democrats this fall, viewed In the
light Of the contest of next year. Fight
ing on the old lines, the national battle
field is overwhelmingly in the possession
of the Republicans. and with every new
skirmish il IS becoming more so. Nhen
the battle day OF November. 1873, was
ended. It appeared that the Republicans
were in possession of everything north
81 the Potomac. north OF the boundary
line between Tennessee and Kentucky,
north OF Missouri. and east Of the merl-
dian Of Kansas city. In addition. they.
had held a strip on the Pacific coast from
the northern boundary Of oregon 10
Lower California.
They were also in possession OF Nortn
Dakota. This was a geographical DIVISION
Of the country more marked thah III ""y
other presidential contest Of recent years
one could almost imagine the country
n battlefield in which armies had thrown
M entertainments at the various points.
The contest had certainly become most
bitter along the line dividing the terri
tory OF the v armies.
LOST MORE GROUND.
In the three years which have now
nearly passed since that memorable con-
glcf the Bryan forces have been sun
nushed back further. They have been
driven out OF Kansas. Nebraska and
Washington State. They have been weak
ened I'm their other stronghoids. Their
enemies are more firmly c~ntrcnched than
ever in the territory which they galneu
IN 1896 The only exception seems TO be
Kentucky. That may have been recov-
cred bv the Bryanites. but If SO IL is due
10 other weapons and not the main line
az Bryan advance. How. then. the Demo-
cratic generals may we'll ask, are they 10
win the battle I'm 1900 III they are gradually
losing so much OF the field as they were
able 10 hold I'm the hotly-contcsted fight
OF 1896? There is only one possible way
for them 20 do IL. II they could dash
out Of the old lines this fall and capture
the great strategic point of Ohio a DIFF
ferent face would be upon the ap-
preaching contest.
II does not here look as II they stood
one chance I'm twenty OF carrying Ohio,
but upon the success OF that one chance
ia .H.s. H...a E-m 1000 aaarnfnWNE nanHm1
There IS no other point i'm the Republican
lines that offers any encouragement 10 the
Democrats ON q Bryan platform. New
York and New Jersey. Judging from the
returns OF 1893. would both vote for the
Democratic candidate I'm 1900 II they could
have n fairly acceptable platform upon
which 20 stand. but this is unlikely. ohio,
then. remains as the forlorn hope.
SOMB PECULIARITIES.
There are some very peculiar things
about tho politics OF Ohio. In 1895 VIII
liam J. Bryan received in that State-the
home Of the Republican candidate-iI.i 1874
votes. This IS about 1900 more votes
than the same State gave Benjamin Har-
ris0n. the Republican candidate for the
presidency. only four years before and
100 more votes than the State gave
Grover Cleveland.
In other words. Mr.. Bryan made a
phenomenal runi u Ohio i'm 1896. Ho polled
1872 per cent. Of the vote cast. On the
vote for secretary Of State i'm 1898, al
though the Republican candidates ma
| jorlty was $1,000. his vote was 66,ooo sherf
OF that cast for Mr.. Bryan. There Is
always a great deal Of factional fighting
among Ohio Republicans. and this year
seems TO be no exception. If by any
chance the Democrats should carry 1he
State. and by q majority 50 decisive a
TO make them believe they could carry
II again. the general outlook would be
much modified.