Evening star., 1900-10-18
New York's Business Men Almost
Solid for Mckinley.
POLITICIANS FIGURES ON RESULT
All the Known Factors Point to
/ MckinIey's Election.
EFFECT OF EGISTRATION

| Special From STAFF Correspondent
| NEW YORK, October 1s.-It might hap
pen that Bryan would carry New York.
| Strange things do come about now and
| then. This is about as far as an examna-
| ton of the situation here now warrants any
| one in going in the direction of democratic
prophecy. The distinction between possi-
| biiity and probability is sharply drawn by
| the best informed conservative republicans.
| Admitting that such thing is possible,
they deny with marked emphasis that it is
probable. A goodly number of democrats
who are most earnest in their support of
Bryan entertain more than a not very
well defined hope that they may be able to
carry the state. Some of the very best of
them say that they have not enough light
yet to enable them to form an opinion. The
bold claims made by Croker and men of his
| class based on the clearly evident fact
| that the support Bryan has is earnest and
| determined and that the democratic organ
| ization in the entire state is unusually good.
There is no canvass behind these claims to
| give them character.
Business Men Are for Mckinley.
Democrats almost universally concede that
the great mass of business men in New
! York city and Brooklyn and in the state
| generally are supporting Mckinley. In all
| the business centers of New York city
abundant evidence is found that this is the
| case. Wall street is of one mind, and it is
an exception to a general rule if business
man who is not politician and member
| of Tammany expresses friendly feeling to-
ward Bryan. Wall street does not believe it
| is possible for Bryan to carry New Yory or
| to be elected. This is not necessarily be-
cause moneyed men are afraid that if he
We're elected he would be able t. bring
about the free coinage of silver or in any
way bring the country to silver currency
! basis. l think it may be safely said that
| as rule they do not believe silver can ever
| be forced on to the country. But irreSpec
| tive of that, they believe--or at least say
| with emphasis that implies firr con-
viCtion-that, on general principles, the
| election of Bryan would destroy values and
seriously interfere with business. The COM
| plant that he appeals to class prejudice
| the poor against the rich-and that he has
disturbing influence upon industrial cond-
| tions, is heard much more often than is
| any reference to his views on the currency
question.
Another thing, one that has not been
much considered in the general political
discussion, is that there is positive advo-
! cacy Of the broadcast territorial expansion
! among men who control large capital. Pub
lie discussion has been very largely on the
theory that the business men and capital
lists Indifferent or merely tolerant of the
administrations insular policy. / find from
talking with men who live in the atmos-
phere of enterprise and commercial activity
that there is positive and aggressive ad-
vocacy of expansion based upon the oppor-
tunity conceived to be afforded for the in
veStment, at considerable profit, of i'm
| mense surplus capital in developing these
| islands which have remained undeveloped
throughout their indolent existence.
Opportunities for Capital.
Cities, large or small, without sewers
street cars, electric lights, water works
| gas or convenience or sanitation of any
sort; railroads unbuilt and productive re-
sources undeveloped, seem to offer an op-
portunity for money and industry to be ap-
piled with profit Whether this is merely
dream or is clear business foresight. it is
attractive to men who are seeking
fields of profitable employment of their
surplus capital and to those who produce
those products OF industry which enter into
railroad building and general construction
and development in a new country. The
men who contemplate this prospect would
oppose Bryan on the Philippine question
alone, though he did not offend them with
his views on any other matter of policy.
As the democrats generally concede the
preponderance of sentiment among busi-
ness men who are not politicians against
them, so republicans familiar with the can
vass cOncede in private discussion that or
ganized labor Is very generally supporting
Bryan. and it is assumed that that which is
not organized will to a considera BILE extent
go with that of the same class which Is or
ganized. One of the best informed men at
republican headquarters told me today that
about the only thing that gave them any
trouble was organized labor, and that as
far as he could judge, this was almost SOL
idly for Bryan throughout the state He
added that this did not endanger the situa-
tion for the republicans, because about the
same thing was the case in SO. Conced-
ing the labor vote to Bryan he claimed the
state for Mckinley by a large majority.
The Increased Registration.
In this connection it is a matter worthy of
consideration that the large oS
registration up the state on the first day
of registration. SURPRISING that of 96, is in
large towns and cities. where considerable
labor vote is to be expected, there being no
registration in the rural districts.
Ii the situation in New York city may be
taken as typical the statement that the la
boring classes are for Bryan is borne out
by observation. just as is the fact that the
business interests are supporting McKin-
ley. While the business men are talking
Mckinley, cabmen, walters, bell boys and
all those who belong. In a sense to the
serving class in society are to a very large
extent talking Bryan. Within the limited OBJ
servation Of knocking about town and in
hotel lobbes and listening to the street
talk, this Is very apparent.
According to what l regard about the
best inside republican authority the farmer
vote In New York state is expected to be as
strong stronger for Mckinley as In
96 while the German vote is expected to
be distributed between the two parties by
ABOUT normal DIVISION, not being as near
ly solid for Mckinley as in '96, but the
usual large proportion being republican.
There Is no reason for doubt that Croker
and his organization are working with
might and main for Bryan determined to
give him the state of New York, If possible
The point about which both parties are in
doubt Is Brooklyn. 1t is said privately on
both sides that the situation there is so
bewildering that yet no judgment Of any
value can be founded upon it.
CrOker's Figures Involved I'm Result.
The result there, will of course, materially
affect Mr.. Croker's figures on the region
below the Bronx. Conservative republicans
would not be surprised at a democratic ma
jority of 65. 600 below the Bronx. though
they name 10000 as about what they ex-
pect. They name 100000 republican major
ity above the Bronx minimum.
Croker Is looking for eighty 10 eighty
five thousand democratic majority below the
Bronx, and counting on the republican ma
jority being less than 65,OO0 above the
Bronx.
The known quantities in this fight indicate
t.lar n,tt NJ fIar