The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-10-02
NOTES OF THE CAMPAIGN.

The Popular yotc.-A curious admis-
sion made by Senator Hanna has leaked
out from Republican national head
quarters in New York through a con-
f1dential source. MIR. Hanna, Mr.. Bliss.
Senator Scott, and Mr.. Manley were dis
cussing last Saturday morning tie
favorite theme of apathy among Re-
publicans and the best means to destroy
1t. MIR. Hanna was industriously cipher
ing on a big sheet Of paper while the
discussion ragged. and finally he read
some figures which astounded his asso-
ciates. He had put down in separate
columns the probable Republican and
Democratic vote in every State, and his
totals showed that Mr.. Bryan will get
considerably larger proportion of the
popular vote in November than he Sc
cured in 1S96-and still. according to
Senator Hanna's figures, Mr.. Bryan will
be defeated. Mr.. H-ana's column ex-
hibited much smaller vote in Indiana.
Illinois, and Ohio than was cast four
years ago, and this largely accounted
for the reduced vote he was able to
figure out for Mr.. Mckinley. He also
eliminated from his count for Mr.. Nc
Kinley nearly the entire negro vote of
IL
which have adopted new franchise laws
since the last national election. This
elimination also contributed heavily to
the decrease in the popular vote which
he has estimated for Mr.. Mckinley. Mr..
Hanna's figures are said to have shown
plainly that the popular vote will be
considerably smaller this year than it
was four years ago. despite the natural
increase in the voting strength of the
get approximately the same popular
vote Mr. McKinley's popular plurali y
in 1896 was about 6e0.COO According 20
Mr.. Hannas estimate this plurality
may entirely disappear in November.
and still Mr. Mckinley can be reelected
by comfortable majority in the cleo
toral college. In the Tilden Hayes
election the Democratic candidate re-
ceived nearly 100000 more votes than
his successful opponent, and in 1888 Mr..
Cleveland got nearly a hundred thousand
plurality and still was defeated by Cen
eral Harrison. Mr.. Hanna evidently is
figuring on some such victory as this
for his candidate this year.
MIR. Hay Mt His Post.-The Hon. John
Hay has returned to his post at the head
of the State Department and shows no
sistently sent out from Canton, ascribed
to him during his stay at his summer
home. THE Felis," in New Hampshire.
In point of fact, Mr.. Hay looks much bet
ter now than he did when he left here
two months ago. His only reply to enquir-
les concerning his health is that he feels
quite as well as a man at his age should
expect to feel. Through various friends
and official associates Mr.. Hay denies the
rumors of his intended resignation from
Office, and intimates that affairs in the
State Department have been conducted
exactly to his Hiking during his absence
There is no intimation from him. howey-
er, tina he has had anything directly to
do with shaping the policies which have
been inaugurated by the Department DUR
ing his absence, though, of course. he
formally endorses everything that has
been done in Chinese and other matters.
In spite of the Secretary's apparent har
rony with his surroundings and submits
sion to conditions which 1t is known he
has had no part in creating. the report
continues TO be circulated widely that he
either will tender his resignation to the
President Immediately after the election
or will decline to enter the next Cabinet
at Mr.. McKinley's Invitation, should the
latter. of course.~haye the opportunity to
form another Cabinet. II is now said
that Mr.. Hay would not object to resum-4
ing the post of Ambassador at the Court
of st. James il the opportunity to do SO
were presented. Mr.. Choate. our pres
ent Ambassador. appears to be giving
entire satisfaction to both countries,
though the claim is made that the large
corporate interests, for which he was for
so many years the chief legal guide, are
clamoring for him to return home and
help them out of difficulties into which
they have fallen since they lost his active
counsel. 1t is thought to be probable
that Mr.. Choate will ask to be relieved
of his post in England because of this de-
mand, and in that event Mr.. Hay may
again have a chance to go over to Lon
don in a position which he is known to
like very much better than the one he
now occupies and in which he is doomed
to be a fgurehead.