The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-10-22
SWEEPING THE COUNTRY
Sentiment Strongly Favorable to
the Democratic Ticket.
The Political Situation Summed Up
nv The National Congressional
Commfttec-EIcmen Antngonistic
to Mr.. Bryan in 1876 Supporting
Kim This Year-A Contrast Drawn.

Him This Year-A Contrast Drawn.
The Democratic National Congressional
Committee has issued the following state
ment concerning The political situation:
"a tidal wave of Democracy is sweeping
over the country, and indications now
point to the greatest popular majority for
Bryan next month ever given to any DEM
ocratic Presidential candidate. -iie great
popular uprising in favor of Bryan is not
confined to any particular section OF the
county: it is universal. The sign is in
the sky and it spells victory.
ut is universally conceded, even by the
Republican leaders, that Mr.. Bryan ma.
lost nothing of the strength he had in
1886. when less than $4,000 votes. properly
distributed, would have elected him. 1t
therefore follows that this year he will
receive at least as many votes as in 1896,
plus the natural increase in the number
of young Democratic voters who nave
come of age since the last national cam
paign. But this year Mr.. Bryan has many
elements of strength which he lacked in
him a tremendous majority. both in the
popular vote and the electoral college.
IN 1896 the German vote went almost
entirely for Mckinley. This year Mr.
Bryan will receive. by the most conserva-
tive estimate, GO per cent OF this vote
A gain of 10 per cent in the German vote
alone is sufficient 20 carry several of the
so-caned doubtful States and elect the
Democratic national ticket.
largely given to Mckinley on the alleged
prosperity ISSUE This year the vote
of organized labor numbering hundreds
of thousands. will be cast for Bryan.
This vote alone is sufficient to carry sew
eral doubtful States for Bryan and
Stevenson.
I'm 1896 the Gold Democrats left the
regular organization on the financial is
sue and they claim to have cast 1,eOO,000
votes, most Of which were given direct to
Mckinley This year the Gold Demo-
Gratis recognizing that their contention
has for the time being been settled by
statute. have returned to the old party,
and fully SO per cent Of them will vote for
Bryan. This vote ensures a safe Demo-
cratic majority in several close States.
I'm 1896 large majority of the Irish
vote was cast for Mckinley This year
this vote will be given 10 Bryan, and this
States which four years ago gave their
electoral votes to Mckinley.
'.The Holland vote, which has always
heretofore been Republican. will this year
go over to Bryan with practical unanimity
because of the unfriendiy attitude of the
Administration toward the struggling
Boer Republics. In three or four import
ant States this vote holds the balance of
power.
1.-The anti-Imperalistic voc will beast
unanimously for Bryan next month. This
is new and unknown quantity in ma
tional politics. but the leaders of the
movement claim that in one pivotal
State alone they have 100000 voters en-
rolled and that these are drawn almost
exclusively from the ranks CT the Repub-
1icaEs. In score of other States this
vote is also said to be very large. 1t will
undoubtedly be a most important and
perhaps conclusive factor in the ap-
preaching election.
.'Th. reform vote will be given almost
unanimously to Bryan this year. Here
lofore 1t has been scattered about
through numerous small parry crsaniza
tions where it has not made itself felt
but in the aggregate it is a great power
This includes the Single Takers. the Di-
Rect Legislationists. the Golden Rule
jones people, t1Gs. COO in Ohio. and
more than enc million votes.
Tho independent vote CT the county,
which in late years has been such an
important factor in determining cleo
tons. will this fall be sat soIIdly for
Bryan. This alone is sufficient to de id
the election in certain States and give
the national victory 10 the Democracy.
'1n 1896 the vote and influence of the
commercial travellers of the country were
,rI- h,e ,fs haC
alleged that this was the deciding in
influence of the last national campaign.
This year the travelling men are almost
unanimously for Bryan, and they are
working as hard for him as they did for
Mckinley in 49, Perhaps TO ether signs
of the times is more significant than the
attitude of the travelling men in this
campaign.
In 1896 a large proportion of the Pro-
hibition vote of the country was cast for
Mckinley under a mistaken impression.
This year every Prohibition vote not
given to Bryan will undoubtedly be cast
for MIR. woolley. Certainly Mckinley will
receive none of them. In addition to
which one great religious society has
deemed it necessary to start an endless
chain of prayer against the reelection OF
the present incumbent of the White House,
and this will certainly affect thousands OF
church voters VINO gave MIN tAelr sup
post four years ago.
And then there are the thousands of
conscientious and patriotic Republicans
who have been compelled to renounce their
party, or its candidate, because of the
bold and glaring corruptions which have
marked its administration of public af-
fairs, and who will this year vote and
work for Mr. Bryan. This condition Is
something unprecedented in American pol
itics, and is in itself more than sufficient
to overcome the small adverse popular
majority against Bryan four years ago.
LAS against this tremendous and over
whelming change In popular sentiment in
favor Of the Democratic national ticket.
the Republicans have nothing to fix their
hope on except Hanna's corruption fund.
And this will not suffice. -Four years ago
every man who could be bought or coerced
was handled by the Republican managers.
They can do no worse this year But the
elements mentioned above. who have
Joined the Democratic ranks since 1896,
are not purchasable. They have come
over to the Democratic party and its can
dates from principle, and are in the
fight to stay. These are the true elements