The Savannah morning news., 1900-08-21
MAYOR MYERS ON BRYAN.
CANNOT CARRY NEW YORK on ANY
EASTERN STATE, HE SAYS.

business Men VIII Vote for McKin-
ley This Year as They Did in 1896.
The Machine Democracy More In
terested in state and City Affairs.
Bryan May Win by Carrying Some
of the Leading Western States.
business Men Watching the Cha
nese Situation Very CIoseIy-War
Among the Powers Would Serious
Iy Interfere With American Ex-
port Trade.
Mayor Myers returned to the city yes
terday after an absence of nearly a month
spent in New York. He has been looking
after the affairs of the Cuban-American
Manufacturing Company, one of the lsrg-
est cigar manufacturing companies in the
country, during the absence of his broth
er, Mr.. Sligo Myers.
Mayor Myers was on hand at his usual
hour at the City Exchange, relieving Act
ing Mayor Dixon. who has presided since
the departure of Acting Mayor Tiedeman,
chairman of Council. When seen by a
Morning News reporter the mayor said
that he brought back very little news of
interest. ut has been mostly business
with me-" he said, and I have given
very little time to recreation"
How about the political situation?" he
was asked. What are Bryans chances
in New York;"
Il don't think that Bryan has the ghost
of show of carrying New York or any
other Eastern State" replied the mayor.
1T is true that my associations were
Chiefly with the business men and l am
merely stating their views of the situa-
ton. l did not circulate to any extent
among the politicians. The business men
occupy practically the same position to-
day that they did in 1896. They voted for
Mckinley in 1896 and they expect to vote
for him this year. There are a good many
who disagree with him in his imperial
istic views, but they consider other ques-
tons of superior Importance and will vote
accordingly. The business element gener-
ally seems satisfied with the manner in
which the administration is handling the
Chinese situation and approves the conser-
VatiVe policy announced by it on that
question:
But how about Tammany and the
Democrats machine? What will they ac-
complish for Bryan?" the mayor was
asked.
Il did not see any indications of any IN
usual efforts in Mr.. Bryan's behalf by the
machine leaders, he replied. "They will
90 through the usual performance and will
doubtless make a fair showing, but l do
not think they have the slightest hope of
carrying New York for Bryan. All their
efforts are being concentrated for the con-
troll of state and municipal affairs. The
success of the national ticket is a sec
ondary consideration with them" 81 do
not mean to say" said Mayor Myers,
that Bryan cannot be elected but what
I do say is that If elected, his election
must come by the votes of the South and
the West He has the South solid. Ken
lucky will go Democratic and perhaps
Maryland He will not carry New York,
New Jersey, Connecticut or any other
Eastern state. The Democratic battle
must be fought in the large Western
states. Illinois is debatable ground, Bryan
has a fighting chance in Michigan and
Wisconsin, and Indiana looks very favor
able 1t is possible for Bryan to win
without carrying a single Eastern state,
but it is an uphill battle"
As to the business outlook, Mayor Myers
said that present conditions are fairly sat
isfactory, and the prospects good, though
not unduly bright. A great deal depends
upon the outcome of the trouble in China.
"Our export trade" the Mayor said
has reached vast proportions and has be-
come of immense Importance to the bust
ness of the country. Should the Euro
pean nations become embroied because OF
their inability to agree on a settlement of
the Chinese question, this trade would be
very seriously interfered with and bust
ness affected accordingly. 1t is this mat
ter which gives the business men serious
thought for consideration at present and
makes them uncertain of the future"
Personally Mayor Myers does not think
the Powers will go to war over China.
They are all too heavily in debt, he says,
and they realize that warfare under mod
ern conditions is a very expensive bust
ness