The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-10-31
ARE THINKING
Many More Prosperous Under Clevel-
and Than Under Mckinley.
SMALL MANUFACTURERS FOR Mr.. BRYAN
They Have Felt the ThrottIing Clutch of the
Trusts and Know to Whom to Turn For
Relief. All Signs Point to
Mr.. Bryan,

Especial to the News and Observer.)
Washington, October 30.-Perhaps l
could not better present the more sig
niticant phases of the campaign at the
stating the points Of several conversa-
tions l have had today with intelligent
men on both sides. First, as to Republ-
can hopes, expectations and calculations.
On street N. w, l met the correspond
ent of great independent newspaper of
New England, who personally is a Repub-
lican and supporter of Mckinley He
said: "Conceding discomfort with the
administration on one ground or another,
and that the workingmen are for Bryan,
think the attitude of the business men
will decide the election, but l agree with
you that it is hard to tell in Presidential
elections by any one or two tests claimed
as decisive. Suppose Bryan is elected,
what would be gained?" This was not
putting it as the politicians Of his party
do. But it was getting all of his market
able eggs in one basket, and running the
risk of having them smashed on the 9Th
Of November. The working class whom
he was aiming at, have followed the Re-
publican party about as long as they deem
1t is wise to do so, and they feel as COM
petent as this gentleman, with all of his
breeding refinement and prediction for
class advantage and privilege, to decide
for themselves the wisdom of elevating
Mr.. Bryan to the Chief Magistracy of the
Republic They imagine that they will
gain and that the whole country will
gain immeasurably by the step. 1t is CON
ceded generally that the labor vote is
already won by the Democrats, but Perry
Heath and other Republicans are trying
to win back some of the workingmen in
factories by the cry of free trade" This
cry will prove abortive. The demonstra-
tions to the contrary in West Virginia,
Maryland, New Jersey and New York
ought to be conclusive on that head.
AT the Riggs House Commissioner
Miller who is not a sanguine man. but
is very conservative in temper as we'll
as views, observed that he thought Bryan
perceptibly gained ground within the past
week. He considered the outlook excel
lent. He had great hopes of New Jer-
sey and New York, and did not see how
Indiana could now be lost to the Demo-
Bryan. Mr. Miller whose long connec-
ticn with business and whose administra-
tion of the office of Commissioner of In
ternal Revenue under President Cleye-
land entities him to an opinion, says that
Bryan can certainly rely upon one class
of manufacturers of whom there are many
in Cleveland, Ohio, and other cities in
the North-the smaller manufacturers,
whose hueinpGc hac
ed by trusts and combinations They
and their employees from a very consider
able part of the voting population, and
not enough attention has been paid to
the probability that the whole class would
slump from the Republicans on account
of the Democrats giving such prominence
as they had to the trust issue. There
was another matter, he said. The intellf-
gent farmers who are appealed to by the
Republicans on the ground of existing or
alleged prosperity would take out their
account books and compare the net re-
suits of their operations under Cleve-
lands administration with the net results |
under McKinley's. 81 know a well-to-do |
West Virginia farmer named Mcdowell
and by the way all of that family name
in our State are reliable and intelligent
income and purchase, item by item, and
his accounts show that he made a good |
deal more money under Cleveland than |
he has under Mckinley, year by year |
THESE are facts which will not induce |
farmers who ever voted the Democratic |
ticket to desert their party. On the CON
trary they tend to induce Republican far |
mers to vote for Bryan and Stevenson" |
A Pennsylvania Democrat remarked: |
The outcome of the strike and the dis |
cusslon on trusts is going to be a very |
heavy falling off of the Republican ma
Joritles in the old keystone State. A
very active man, who goes about great |
deal, and although not a politician, keeps |
Wei posted in public sentiment. tells me |
that the Republican Presidential ticket |
this year will have only 100. 900 majority. |
whereas, in 1896, it had 300. 600. | am |
willing to bet that Mckinley and Roose- |
velt will not have 100000 majority in fhe |
State of Pennsylvania. Furthermore. |
regard New Jersey and New York as |
surely Democratic. Ohio is even more GER
tain to go against the President than |
Indiana. This thing is going to be a |
While ] am not quite prepared to say |
nay to my sanguine friends prediction, / |
do not claim altogether as much as he !
does. The outlook is, however. increasing |
y favorable toBryan and Stevenson How |
far credence should be given to private |
accidentally overheard and /
under honorable reservations of !