The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-10-05
Ole @essenger.
ALATER GLANCE OVER THE FIELD

II il not difficult TO elect a candidate
for the senate or for the presidency
on paper. 1t is said that figures do not
lie, but figuring lies prodlg1ously some
times. The Messenger In glancing at
the campaign reports sees every day
that Bryan is elected in some demo-
cratic paper and Mckinley is elected
the same day in a republican paper.
The game Of brag is facile and flash
ing but it doe not necessarily forecast
wisely or certainly. Let Us take a
brief survey today OF the apparent out
look.
Republicans are believed to be really
on the run. Mckinley is very Uneasy.
Republicans are preparing to introduce
repeaters-not pistols but voters-in
West Virginia. They are iocking
there in droves. A special TO the Bal
timore Sun dated Chicago 18th. says
that Illinois has become even more
doubtful than Indiana. This develop
ment of the campaign was contained
in the news received at republican ma
tionaI headquarters today.
A poll of the state taken for the our
pose of arriving at the exact situation,
has shown the republican leaders that.
while Mckinley is holding his strength
in the rural districts, Bryan IS making
decided gains in the cities" IL looks
favorable as a whole TO Bryan
MI. Bryan on Saturday in North Da-
kota began his first speech at. $40 in
the morning. He spoke twelve times,
travelled 26O miles, n was greeted
by big crowds. He thinks the strikes
should be settled by arbitration. He Is
right in this.
John G.. Carlisle fights Bryan, has
been elected president of a goldbug law
club for the campaign. Other promi-
nent gold democrats unite with John
in his old fight. Will Cleveland "%jine?'
Hon. A. E. Stevenson has published
his political itinerary for October. He
will speak in Indiana, Ohio, West Vir-
ginia, Maryland, Delaware, New York
taking him to the 10Th inst.
Carl Schurz, by odds the ablest Ger
man in this country, and one of the
strongest men in politics, with per-
haps not a a dozen equals, made a
speech in New York city on Friday
night to a vast audience. He made a
speech of extraordinary interest and
ability. He is for Bryan.
The Washington Post is for gold.
high tariff tax, expansion, and McKin-
ley. But it seems to regard the cleo
ztion as one of doubt.
Mr.. w. E. Curtis, the well known
correspondent of the Chicago Record
writes that the democrats are more ac-
tive than the enemy. He thinks the
in New York and the republicans are
losing. He writes: =
1.-The republicans are losing conf
<dence too. They are no longer taking
it for granted that Mckinley is irwin
chile and scofing at those who init
mate that he is not. The betting is
running toward Bryan also, and that
IS the best barometer Of a public sentf-
ment.
Two months ago the Mckinley root
erS were offering odds of t and D to l.
When Bryan abandoned the silver is
sue the betting was 3 to l and then . TO
=. ~ to l and the O0QS nave hepI get
ting smaller with every large bet until
now the Mckinley men will give no
better than 2 to l."
We were talking with one Of our
leading business men who has been to
New York. He t0id is that when you
talked with a merchant, he would say
Mckinley would be elected, but there
was no enthusiasm as there was in
1896. He says all along Broadway four
years ago he saw Mckinley flags
stretched. on his late visit he saw u
two of these, but Bryan banners were
thickly strewn. Even the extreme re-
publican organ, the New York Press,
admits tha it's state is doubtful. 1t
New York is not what it was in 1886.
Now it is an open battle ground. 1t
must be fought for and hard! And the
candidate Dr. party so fortunate as 20
win 1T must do so in a terrific if not
desperate struggle"