The evening times., 1900-10-12
CONFESSION IN INDIANA
Republicans Astonished by General
Harrison Statement.
The ex-President's LukessarIn Sup-
port ef Mckinley Presages Defeat
iH the Hoosier state-EHsnna Lead
ers Sad Counted Upon Several
sDeeclyes-Bryan Making Gains.

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, Oct 12-Ex-Pres-
ident Harrison s statement is unInistaka-
bly, big disappointment to Indiana Re-
publicans. They had looked for something
more to their liking. Evidences of the dis
appointed feeling were seen wherever Gov
ernor Roosevelt went yesterday Notwfth-
standing that the Roosevelt demonstration
was occupying the minds of the Republican
managers, they showed that they expected
more from General Harrison than they re-
ceived.
The State Committee thought it had sat
isfactory assurances that the ex-Presfdent
would make at least one important cam
paign address and had planned to secure
several short speeches besides. The plan
was to have his principal address made at
| Fort Wayne or Lafayette and TO take him
TO the place selected on a special train
which would make a number of stops so as
TO give the Republicans a series OF rallies
This was the rrangement followed In Gen
eral Harrison's campaign tour of 1896. His
declaration that he would make no
speeches this year has upset the State
! Committees premature arrangements
Publicly the Republican leaders say Cen
eral Harrison's course is satisfactory"
Some of the newspapers republish his Car
neSIe Hall speech of four years ago, in
which he criticised Bryan. This. however,
does not meet with the expectation of In
diana Republicans, which was for a new
speech from General Harrison that would
cover new ground and compel discussion
and refutation by the Democrats
The Democrats had been counting 4 a
campaign deliverance from him which
would be one of the strong Republican IN
huenees in the last weeks of the cam
paign and had been preparing to meet it,
They are relieved by his mild endorse
ment OF his partys position on a few
points and are making much of his de-
nunciation of the Porto RIcan bill.
The Republicans would have been
grateful II General Harrison could have
been persuaded to say something about
the flag in the Philippines. Their great
est disappointment is over his silence on
this subject Some of them say that
when he returns home and sees how the
Democrats are making capital cut CT his
brief utteranee he viii make speech to
his neigbbors, but their own wishes are
the only basis for their belief
To state the fact biuntIy, the Republi-
cans OF Indiana who appreciate the po-
HtIcal situation are scared beyond ex-
preston Witness the words of a leader
who is making great efforts to capture
The farmers vote. and rememb r that un-
less Mckinley gets the farmers vote
he n ust lose in Indiana:
In tie first place the Indiana country
vote Is as to l compared with the city
vote. When I tell you that the Repub-
hcan poll of the city vote shows loss OF
4.G60 votes in indianapolis alone. you will
understand that Mckinley is beaten un-
less We can make corresponding gains in
the rural districts
Now in 1896 Bryan was strong in the
rural regions OF Indiana, and we must gain
six 10 eight votes in every country pre-
einct before We can win We are sure
that Bryan has gained in nearly every
town in the State, and naturally we are
driven 10 do our best work in the Country.
But the question is, Can we bring out
the farmer vote? Rain on election day
would probably defeat Mckinley in Indi-
ana It is sure to be that close sick
hog will keep one farmer from the polls.
and 100 sick hogs may give the State 10
Bryan.
The railroad employees are almost solid
for Bryan They scon at prosperity, be-
cause, while the roads have made more
moneF since 1896 than ever before. wages
have not been raised and the employees are
diseontented- II the rural districts we
planned to aid Debs because We thought he
would draw largely from the Democratic
party. But We were foolish. He has
drawn mostly from the Republican party
The small stoTekeeper and well-to-do
farmer will not contribute to the campaign
fund They say, Why don't you get your