The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1900-05-17
M'KINLEY IS GLOOMY.
THE STAY-AT.HOME VOTE FORE.
CASTS CERTAIN DEFEAT.
Evidence That Republican Disgust and
Consequent Apathy Will This Fall
Reduce the 1896 Mckinley Vote a
Good Round Million.

Washington correspondence:
The administration is feeling very
gloomy over recent reports regarding
State conventions in the North. In
New England the reports indicate that
only the machine could be induced to
turn out at the primaries. This pro-
duced the usual harmonious cOnven-
tiOns in which the administration was
overwhelmingly indorsed; but the rank
and file of the party staid away from
the polls to such an ektentthat In many
towns there We're hardly enough Re
publicans to make the formal OrganiZa
tiOn of the primaries.
This apathy and Indifference on the
part of the great body of the Republi-
cans of the North carries its lesson to
every one who knows the first principle
of politics. The stay-at-hOme Republi-
can vote is sure this fall to cut down
McKinley's enormous vote of 1896 not
less than a good round million, and
forecasts his inevitable and over
whelming defeat.
For instance the primaries which
elected delegates to the Republican
convention in the State of New Hamp-
shire, taking the State as whole. did
not amount to 5000 votes. The result
ing convention chose as delegate to
the Philadelphia convention Frank
Jones, of Portsmouth. Frank Jones
was once n Democrat. He now con-
trolls the Boston and Maine Railroad
system, which has done more than any
other agency to debauch politics in
New Hampshire. and he of all men is
now to be considered a Republican In
good standing and n candidate for the
seat in the United States Senate occu-
pied by VIM. f. Chandler.
In marked contrast is the Democratic
State convention in New Hampshire.
1t was the largest and most enthusias-
tic held in the State in many years.
The platform adopted was everything
that the Democracy could ask for. The
Chicago platform was reaffirmed, and
planks were adopted denouncing I'M
perialism, militarism and the trusts.
The old Granite State threatens to
swing from its Republican mOOrings
and become, as 1t was for more than
half century, the Gibraltar Of New
England Democracy.
What Is true of conditions in New
Hampshire Is true all through the
North. Careful reports from every in
dustry of New England discloses the
fact that not one of them claims to- day
to be prosperous. The shoe manufac-
turers in particular report that their
season is shorter than at any time in
former years, that their market Is al
ready cOngested with goods, and that
though the leather trust has forced up
the prices Of their raw material they
are unable to maintain the prices on
their products from lack of demand for
their goods. Everybody wears shoes.
If everybody has his shoes half-sOled
instead of buying new pair it cuts
down the consumption of shoes one
third in the United States. That Is
what Is the matter with the shoe indus
try. The masses are not prosperous
and the shoe industry is the surest
barometer.
Two States have been heard from
since the passage of the Porto Rican
bill. The town elections of Indiana in
dicate that the Democrats will carry
the State in November by the largest
majority in twenty years. All through
the gas and industrial belt towns and
cities hitherto reliably Republican
have gone Democratic for the first
time. Democratic towns and cities
have increased their majOrities, and
wherever the Republicans have Won it
has been by largely reduced pluralities
Anderson. the home Of the Republican
candidate for Governor. went Demo
cratic for the first time after a bitter
struggle In which the Republicans ex-
hausted their energies in attempting
To bring to the polls mass of voters
who refused TO come.
In Minnesota the city of st. Paul
went heavily Democratic for the first
time in eight years, electing the full
ticket from top to bottom by large ma
pOrities. Mckinley carried Ramsey
County. in which St Paul is located. by
over 1900 mapority. Hennepin COun-
ty, which gave Mckinley over 5000
majority. voted two years ago major
ity of over 5000 for Governor Lind, the
fusion candidate. Thus the two princi-
pal cities of Minnesota are now in the
Democratic line, representing a change
of over 1900 votes against what Nc
Kinley received In 1896. The same con-
ditions prevail throughout the State.
which may be counted as Il surety in
the Democratic column in November
The reports from Michigan are no
less encouraging. The trend of affairs
Is distinctly toward the Democratic
party. The unanimous nomination OF
Bryan is assured. Not n delegate has
50 far been chosen in opposition. Bryan
will hold his strength in the country
districts. and will gain in the Industrial
centers and large cities. The various
issues on which the Republicans will
be forced to make their campaign are
the ones which have brought about the
apathy in the Republican ranks. which
will insure McKinley's defeat The gold
Democrats. so-called. are getting into
line with the party in every section of
the country. Democratic enthusiasm Is
increasing every week. while the Re
publicans exhibit every sign of panic.
The leaders are quarreling among
themselves. and Mark Hanna's efforts
TO raise Il duplicate of the enormous
corruption fund which he had in 1896
are not meeting with success.
An interesting example of the way
the trusts work in partnership with
the Republican party has just come To
light and from Il Republican source
1t will be remembered that the steel
plate trust, formed by an alliance form
ed between the Carnegie and Bethle-
hem plants, has for two years claimed
that they could not make steel plates