Evening star., 1900-10-16
DELAWARE Is DOUBTFUL
DEMOCRATS ARE LESS CONFIDENT
THAN REPUBLICANS.
Regfstration No Doubt FavOrs the
Latter Party-Addicks Contest
Nearing Settlement.
sp. u, Correspondents Of The Evening Star.

WILMINGTON, Del, October Is. 1900
In view of the recent classification by Vice
Chairman Payne of the republican national
committee of Delaware as being among
those states which may be considered doubt
full. it Is Of interest to obtain the opinions
of the party men on each side who are most
interested.
I have observed. in conversation with
some Of the most influential. that this feel
Ing Of doubt seems to exist to greater ex-
tent among the democrats than among their
opponents. 1t is obvious that on the regis
tration as it now stands the republicans
have made the greatest gains: although the
democrats have also substantially increased
their lists Of voters and all are agreed that
no definite prediction-in fgures-can be
made prior to the receipt of returns from
the final registration on next Saturday.
One Of the shrewdest Of the democratic
leaders admitted to me his doubt as to car
rylng the state. although he hoped that the
total registration would show small plu-
rality for Mr.. Bryan. Indeed so iii satisfied
was he with this one feature of the cam
pa1gn that he stated that IL the vote were
polled now Mckinley would have a plural
ity of some 1,250 in Wilmington as against
a plurality of about 100 for Bryan in the
rest of the state. He estimates that about
20 per cent of the gold democrats are back
in the fold, which, however, 1 seriously
question. This same gentleman emphasizes
the fact that the party enthusiasm as
shown by their meetings, especially that or
last Saturday evening, when Mr.. Stevenson
addressed the voters, Is an indication OF
strong vitality in the democratic ranks. Ii
Is true that there has not been an excess OF
vim on the republican side, but then there
have been no meetings held which We're ad
dressed by other than local speakers, and ii
Is question which of the two indicates the
greater apathy-meetings and noise and
small registration or large registration and
small meetings
awakening, and by Saturday night some
fairly good conjecture can be formed as to
results. Mr.. Bryans approach will also
have somewhat electrical effect.
The chances are that the republican can
didate for governor will run well up with
democratic candidate, Mr.. Ford, on relig-
ious grounds will be more of factor than
is generally supposed and 1t extends pretty
much throughout the state.
The question of single legislative ticket
In Sussex county will probably be settled to-
harmony meeting between the two fac
uons. Heretofore both the regulars and
the unfonists have been anxious for one
ticket, but as neither side was willing to
drop all It's candidates no arrangement has
been possible. The fight is solely against
J. Edward Addicks. whom the regulars will
never cease to oppose; but as that gentle
man has surrendered much for the cause of
harmony the probabilities are that upon
that plea his enemies will be content to
name one-third of the ticket, the other two
thirds to be named by Mr.. Addcks' faction.
There Will be plethora of excitement
here In both parties from now until cleo
ton. and 1t does not require a very keen
observer to see that, SO far, the republicans
nave trftie the best of the proposition.