Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-28
Western Maryland is Little Influenced
by Wellington's Flop.
BALTIMORE MAY SWING State
There the Sound Money Idea is
Dominant.
PEOPLE APATHETIC
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.


Western Maryland is republican. 1t
always has been and will probably vote
almost as solidly for Mckinley as 1t did
four years ago. There will be falling off
here and there owing to this disaffection
or that, but a general thing the noun
tain country OF this state will vote on very
nearly the same lines that 1t did four years
ago. There will be some falling off, per-
haps, in Cumberland and in some other
sections, but unless all signs fail this fall
ing off will be SO slight to not materially
affect the result.
The western Maryland republicans say
that the position the state takes in the
presidential contest must be decided in Bal
timore. Information seems to point to the
fact that the eastern shore and the south
ern part Of the state Is likely to round up
upon Its old democratic lines, and that the
republicans cannot count upon any such in
creased vote as they obtained in 1896.
Many Of the gold democrats who voted the
republican ticket are very likely to return
to their ancient moOrings, especially as
they have been assured that there Is no
danger to the finances of the country II
Bryan is elected.
Effect of WellingtOn's Flop.
Wellington once represented this district
in Congress. After McComas had been de-
feated in the great slump of 1890, Yelling
ton came to the front and was elected
member of Congress, and riding on the
tidal wave which swept Maryland into the
republican party, became United States
senator. The question has arisen several
times, What has been the effect of Yelling
tons flop, and how many votes will he
carry with him? He will not influence
many republicans, especially in this
tion His influence will be mainly among
gold democrats democrats who want to
vote with their party, but who left the
democratic party in 1895 on account of the
money question. Wellington being a banker
and a gold standard man, he declares,
and yet heartily supporting Bryan, is suffi-
cfent to convince a number of gold demo-
Gratis that there can be no danger to the
financial interests of the country If Bryan
is elected. Outside of that it cannot be
shown that Wellington has any influence.
Certainly not in the mountain country,
where the farmers do not follow any man
away from the republican party but who
vote the republican ticket with a great deal
of regularity There never was a very
large gold democratic vote in this section
of the state, and but few republicans who
left the party on the silver issue in 1885.
Maryland was sound money state to be-
gin with, and there were few silver men at
any time although Bryan received over
100000 votes four years ago. The position
of Maryland depends upon the eastern
part of the state, and more particularly
upon Baltimore. 1t is believed that the
state outside of Baltimore will be very
nearly even; that the western republican
Vote will offset the eastern democratic
vote. 1t is believed by republican leaders
generally that if Baltimore gives 5000
either way that will settle the election.
Question as to the Labor Vote.
There is a great deal Of uncertainty yet
about the labor vote. Four years ago the
laboring men who were employed generally
came out quite solidly for the republican
candidates. Since the election of 1896 there
has been a great increase in the number of
men employed, especially along the rail-
roads 1t is not to be denied that the coal
strike is agtating the laboring men. I'm
der strike conditions the labor vote is more
apt to go to the party that is out rather
than for the party that is in, although
there can be no possible connection between
the persons responsible for the strike and
the party in power.
1t is not until one gets out into the coun-
try that he realizes what is meant by the
reign of general apathy People
tainly not interested in the presidential
election in this part Of the country. Four
years ago everybody was talking about 1t.
1t was wonderful campaign to arouse in
terest. Now there seems to be nothing to
arouse interest. People do not believe that
there is any menace from silver disrup-
ton of the finances. Nor do they take any
stock whatever in imperialism" More
than that, they care but little for expansion
for the Philippines. These matters all
seem things apart from them. They do not
seem to be brought home to the country
voters directly, and for that reason they
will not manifest interest in the cam
paign.
Believe Mckinley Will He Elected.
Another reason for lack of interest is the
fact that the average republican does not
believe that there Is the least possibility of
Mckinley being defeated. No matter what
claims the leaders may make, or how much
talking Bryan may do, or how much money
Croker is alleged to have wagered every
body says 1t is one-sided." AS long as
this sort of feeling continues there is bound
to be more or less lack of interest There
is little to wake up the people of Maryland
in the local elections. And consequently
there has been lack of that general inter-
est shown which alarms republican lead
erS.
One thing the republicans are interested
in, however, is the return of Representative
Pearre. They are satisfied with the record |
he has made, and believe that he is one of |
the best men they could pick out to serve |
them. But there Is no question about his |
election The same thing that is said about |
Mckinley is said about Mr. Pearre II is |
absolutely one-Sided in the sixth district |
At the same time it is believed that the re |
publican vote will come out at least in this |
section of the country, where the repub |