The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-09-24
HOW VOTERS ARE Thinking
CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE TEST
ING THE PUBLIC PULSE.
Letters From Many Districts In the
Middle West show That Bryan
ism and Not Imperialism Is the
Paramount Issue of Campaign.

Paramount Issue of Campaign.
Special Dispatch TO the Post-rntelligencer
WASHINGTON, Sept. 22.-The Repub-
lican congressional committee. whose
Eastern headquarters are in this city,
have been receiving during the past week
large amount OF correspondence regard
Ing the political situation throughout the
various congressional districts. These let
ters were written in reply TO inquiries
sent out by the committee some time ago
asking for clear, unbiased statement OF
conditions in the district in which the
person to whom the inquiry addressed
lived
The men OF whom an opinion was thus
sought were not congressman or pohu-
cal leaders but men in different walks OF
life-commercial. professional. manufac-
turing. political and agricultural. These
men were selected by the committee Se-
cause OF their known familiarity with
business conditions in their respective
communities Strong emphasis was laid
upon the statement that II was desired
to have their replies uncolored and unbi-
ased. the committee being anxious TO OBJ
tain actual facts rather than the impress
sions Of parties or party leaders or fol-
lowers. Particular stress was laid upon
two points. whether imperialism" was
petflE accepted HN t0t ptpplt rs puid-
mount issue" and IL so whether II was
working for or against the Republican
party and second. whether there was
threatened detection of the German vote.
The extreme Western districts were not
covered at all. az II Wa thought thsF
were safe. but replies from the Middle
West show that the writers are unan-
nous upon two propositions. That the
German vote Is not going to the Democra-
cy and that the attitude OF this admins
trafion toward the possessions acquired
az the result OF the war with Spain viii
be roundly supported by the people.
Simple From Illinois.
Here IL n sample letter from Illinois.
There IL no foundation for the claim
81 the Democratic leaders" SAYS the cor
respondent. that the Germans will leave
the Republican party and vote for Bryan
and the Democratic ticket The Germans
are essentially n sound money people. and
from nll the information have thus far
been able TO gather they are strongly in
favor of Mckinley and the Republican
party.
"On the question OF imperialism the
people are not inclined to consider that
that any effort to prejudice them by the
cry of Imperialism will rebound to the
benefit OF the Republican ticket.
There Is no disposition to worry over
the Democratic cry OF imperialism as an
issue. The tendency seems rather to be
to impress upon the people the import
snce OF returning Republican congress.
sustaining the president In HE actions
during the past four years and enabling
the continuance Of our present tariff and
monetary system. and leaving the con-
dillon Of the country uudistnrbed.
think there is no danger from any argu-
ment that can be made by the Democratic
pu ~ hauqn shp ,ia
form"
Letters From Indiana.
Letters from Indiana were OF a uniform
tenor of which the following gives an
idea;
The Germans viii not leave the Re-
publican party. This "a based upon per-
sonal inquiry among 100 voters. not only
~ 20 themselves but M 10 their friends
and acquaintances Only one or two we're
ii,,ie out % line and even they will
vote the Republican ticket on election
fav.
There are quite number Of Germans
IN this community. Many Democratic
Germans tell mo they will vote against
Rrvan. The mass OF the people take no
Interest IN the issue OF Imperialism.
The political situation II more favor
shie 20 tho Republicans than II was IN
ise There IL no foundation for the as
sertion that Germans Will leave the party
We are perfectly willing TO meet the
Democrat. on their paramount issue Of
irsneriailsu. ne our people are In favor ~
eNpansion predict one Of the greatest
defeats that has ever hefaiien the Demo-
cratic partv IN Indiana.
y know ~ nut few Germans who have
returned % Democracy. but can count
Numbers who were AGAINST rs four years
90 az ,s n @.,, Ttn w d enc ys EspS slas
" ne Democrats insis, unon imperial
lem IS the main issue. 7 am only afraid
sr-ree coinage AZ the ratio OF "a 10 l.
me generally accepted Idea ~ the Inabil-
~ ~ The Democratic rariv 90 manage
the snairs - government and tho willing.
ness ~ Mr. nrfar % adoni any Kind ~
= hnii'sv 81 win viii probably furnish the
Herntiitars sufficient ammunition for
Eraf tamraien IN this congressional dia-
~e detection IN Nebraska.
y. Hrrans own state an reports are
fhaf 80 German vote 81 absolutely safe
anf chat fha veif Democrats ~ four
fssrs aso afe 80 Niih The nspuh'icanns
noniratlon. nns promineH' correspondent
aasrmans N rrssi nanssrs 10Th Demo.
~ ~ nsuasiraa eassisais ~ rovsfn.
~ arf nrav nrmorfstie Germans win
wee fhf wtr's nfnntitrsn ticket
A., 80 -, s =. ''. ,sl. ~, p . l,.ss
n urrarisai shi-h mans ios our
haer
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