The age-herald., 1900-09-18
WHARTON BARKER
 SAYS THE APATHY
About the Presidential Election is
 Most Extraordinary
HE HAS EVER EXPERIENCED
Five Hundred Thousand Votes Hopes to Garry Georgia-
 Strong in Other States

Wharton Barker of Philadelphia, Populist nominee for President of the United States, Was in Birmingham yesterday. He came to this city on private business, the nature of which he would not discuss. He arrived in the city on an early morning train and left at 4:40 D. m. for Atlanta, whither he goes on political mission.
 MT. Wharton was in conference with Dr. G. B. Grove of this city, leader of the Populists in Alabama, portion of the time he was here, but they discussed business matters principally While in the city he was introduced to General Charles M. Shel- ley; Sydney J. Bowie, nominee for Repre- sentative in Congress from the Fourth District; John T. Shugart and others, with whom he discussed the political situation quite freely
 To an Age-Herald reporter MT. Barker stated that he expected to poll about one million five hundred votes in the Noven- Der election. Continuing, he said:
 We are going to poll a surprisingly large vote in several States where least expected. Our strength in Georgia, Texas, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri and other States is much greater than the Democrats and Republi- cans imagine. In Georgia and Texas par tlcularly we will get a good vote. 1 am advised by responsible parties that our vote in Georgia will be heavy and that there is chance of our carrying that State. I am going to Atlanta this after noon and will remain in Georgia two or three days, after which I will be able to form a better conclusion as to pros poets there. have recently been in Texas, ub I found aging for our cause. have also made slight canvass for Missouri and feel con- fident of good vote there.
 Tn Pennsylvania, where no one would hardly expect it., we will poll fully 5000 votes, and perhaps 4O,0OO, and we will elect one member of the Legislature from War ren County That county has nothing but Populists.
 We have a good following in Nebraska and New Jersey, and we will get heavy vote in those two States in November.
 "The strike inaugurated by the coal miners in Pennsylvania today is going to have a powerful effect on the political situation in that State and will likely play an important part in the election of a United States Senator next winter I am not able to say which of the two leading parties will be most affected by the strike. but should the miners undertake to run candidates of their own they will be able to elect enough members of the legislature to give them the balance of pewer.'
 Which of the two leading parties will your vote in the other states hurt most?' was asked
 That 1 am not able to answer" replied MT. Barker except as to Missouri where all of the Populist vote will come from former Democrats. In the other states our vote will come from both parties, but in what proportion I can not say.''
 From MT. Barker's statements, however, one could easily infer that he believed that the Democrats would suffer more from his vote than would the Republicans.
 ''There is a marked apathy all over the country" continued MT. Barker, "and nothing like a full vote will be boiled by either the Democrats or the Republicans. In the North I estimate that three out of every seven Republicans and two out of every seven Democrats will decline to vote in November. I never saw such apathy in The people are taking no interest whatever in the campaign and the large majority of the voters have no choice as between Me Kinly and Bryan. They look upon the whole thing as a case of jumping out of the flying pan into the fire"
 Mir Barker said his visit to Birmingham was purely of a business nature and had