The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-02

not carried by predictions. and IL would
not stultify itself by making claim that
was preposterous or highly improbable on
its face. There have been elections in past
years when neither party could claim Indi-
ana in advance with entire confidence. and
when the State was so close as to justify
both in a reasonable hope of carrying 1t. In
the opinion Of the Journal that is not the
situation at present. There are very strong
election the State will go Republican by at
least 1900 to 1900 majority and probably
much more. The Republican majority is
more likely to exceed 10000 than 1t is to fall
below 1900. No intelligent correspondent
from outside who has visited the State, and
no Republican speaker who has canvassed
it, including home speakers who know the
State well. places the Republican majority
this year below that of 1896. in round num-
bers 1900, and some of them place 1t much
higher. There are no judges on the Demo-
cratic side as well informed or as compe-
tent to judge intelligently of the situation
are the Republicans who make this pre-
diction. Some of the Democratic claims
are preposterous on their face. OF this
class is a statement issued by Chairman
Martin, of the Democratic state committee,
yesterday. The Dreadful Jones, in all his
glory, was not a greater rainbow chaser
than Mr.. Martin. If he knows anything at
all about the political situation in the State
he carefully conceals his knowledge. II
can say positively that Indiana is Demo-
cratic" he says. 1.-THE Republicans can
neither beg, buy nor steal it." If Mr.. Mar
tin would recall that the Popocrats have to
wipe out Republican majority of 1880
only two years ago he might realize the
rashness of his assertion. His alleged
grounds for making it emphasize it's alb
surdity. He says Mr.. Bryan will get the
vote of the railroad men and of working
men generally; that large numbers of old
soldiers who have not been with us before
will vote with us this year." that 1--WE will
thousands have come TO us on account of
the trust question:" that "the Debs vote
wiz come mostly from men who voted four
years ago for Mckinley" that "most of the
Gold Democrats are back in the fold" and
so on. Each and every one of these claims
is groundless.
For twenty-five years past, with one ex-
ception, the party that carried Indiana in
the "off year. has carried it in the next
succeeding presidential election. The only
exception was in 1880. when Garfield carried
the State by 5000 majority two years after
it had elected a Democratic secretary of
state by 1900. In every other election for
a quarter of century past the successful
party in the off year has been successful
in the presidential year following. The
and by 1888 for Tilden in 1876. In 1852 they
carried it by 1864 and in 1884 for Cleveland
by $500. In 1856 the Republicans carried the
state election by $500 and Harrison carried
it in 1883 by $500. Matthews carried the
State by 1880 in 1890 and Cleveland by 100
in 1892. The Republicans carried the State
by 1900 in 1894 and in 1896 1t gave Mckinley
Is, 100 In 1898 the Republicans carried the
State by 1880. and the logic of the situa-
ton points to a Republican victory in 1907.
All of the important influences that OPP
Grated in favor of the Republicans two
years ago are operating now, and some of
them more strongly now than then Com
pairing this year with 1896, there is every
reason to believe that Mr.. Mckinley is
stronger now than he was then. He will
receive larger percentage Of the sound
money Democratic vote than he did then, a
larger vote among the farmers, fully as
large vote among the workingmen and an
| unusually large percentage of first voters
or young men. The independent vote is
solid for him, and he will receive a larger
vote among business men than he did four
years ago. In no direction has the Repub-
lican party lost ground. If 1t had failed to
make good it's promises of four years ago;
| If any of Mr.. Bryan's dismal predictions
had come true; if times were worse or not
decidedly better than they were four years
ago; If the national and state governments
had not been honestly. ably and faithfully
| administered-in short, if the Republicans
| had done anything to forfeit or weaken
| public confidence or If the Bryanites had
| done anything to win or deserve it, there
| might be drift that would reduce the
large Republican majority of 1896. almost
| repeated in 1898. But the reverse is true.
| The people have even more confidence in
| the Republican party now than they had
| four years ago and even less in the Bryan
party. These facts should encourage Indi-
ana Republicans to continue the good work
until election day in the confident hope of a
| splendid victory.