New-York tribune., 1900-09-08
GRAVEYARD VHISTLJNG

With the returns from Oregon and Vermont
beclouding their early campaign hopes and
forecasts, it is not surprising to find the Demo-
cratic managers indulging in some rather dolo-
rous graveyard whistling. In an article IN ;he
current number of THE Forum Ex-Governor
William J. Stone of Missouri vice-chairman of
the Democratic National Committee, gives an
exhibition of the art of sustaining ones politi-
cal courage amid the creepiest SURROUNDINGS
Ex-Governor Stone has a double method of
extracting comfort from the decidedly depress
ing signs and Omens Of the present canvass
His first resource is to minimize the extent of
the disaster suffered four years ago by the
allied free silver forces The margin by which
Colonel Bryan lost the Presidency in 1896 was
according to the Democratic vce-chairman, far
narrower than popular opinion suspects A
trifing redistribution" of surplus Democratic
votes would have suf1ced to turn the scale in
the Electoral College. converting fusion 81 ort
age Of 90 into an actual plurality of from
Z to %. BY Mr.. Stones calculations "a
Change of 22,018 votes properly distributed
would have given Mr.. Bryan the States of
California Delaware. Indiana, Kentucky, North
Dakota, Oregon and West Virginia and would
have elected him. A change of IS 191 votes
properly distributed, would have added Mary
"land to the Bryan column. in addition to the
States named, and thus given him the cleo
"tion by a majority of % in the Electoral Col
'1ege"
This sounds imposing for graveyard logic.
But unfortunately 1t assumes that all the mar
row margin contests of 1896 were decided ad-
versely to Colonel Bryan. Allowing similar
latitude Of redistribution" in Major McKinley's
interest four years agO, what becomes of the
fancied narrowness of the Republican triumph?
change Of only 20,059 votes, properly dis
tributed," would have given the Republican
nominee two additional votes in Kentucky and
California where solitary Democratic electors
were chosen; three in Wyoming four in Wash
ington four in South Dakota, eight in Nebrasl1a
and ten in Kansas. With change of ONLY
29,761 votes Tennessee would also have been
added to the Mckinley column giving the Re-
publican candidate 314 electors TO Colonel
Bryan's 1884 Republican preponderance of
over two-thirds.
Clearly the redistribution" scheme has its
limitations as a promoter OF campaign conf
dence Mr. Stone is not without other in
centives to hopefulness, however and he adj
duCes in his Forum" article these seven sep
arate reasons for thinking Colonel Bryans can
ddacy more formidable this year than 1t was
in 1896: First, the increased strength of the
free silver movement; second. a more expert
enced National Committee; third, the greater
solidarity of the party; fourth the force of anti
trust sentiment fifth, the growing antagonism
to an imperalistic National policy; sixth, the
larger support Of the Democratic press; sew
enth, the belief, which has grown with better
acquaintance with Mr.. Bryan, that he is a safe
man to be trusted with the office of President
But though reasons are as plentiful as black.
berries with Vice-Chairman Stone, how nsub-
stantial and ghOstlike they appear in the light Of
the only two untrammelled expressions of opin-
ion In which the American voter has indulged
this year! Oregon, giving a Republican plural
ity last June four times that given for Pres-
dent In 1895 offers barren encouragement to
any schemes of judicious redistribution" Yer
mont casting September plurality for Re-
publican State officers greater than any other
save one in her history seems little impressed
by one or all of Vice-Chairman Stones seven
selected reasons" The Missouri statesman
cannot be blamed for whistling ms the shadows