Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1900-02-16

VOL. 10. NUMBER 81.
BRYAN WILL CARRY OHIO.
III A short trip through northern Ohio
and talk with Mayor Jones of Toledo,
have convinced me that Mr.. Bryan will
probably carry the state this year. The
slightest investigation of the situation
is sufficient to discover the fact that a
heavy majority of the 1o6, 721 citizens
who voted for Mayor Jones for govern
or in the recent election will support
the Democratic national ticket. That,
of itself, will be sufficient to defeat
President Mckinley is his own state.
In the last campaign announced at
the very beginning of the struggle that
the Democrats would be Overwhelming
ly beaten at the polls, and my persist
ence in telling the truth subjected the
Journal to constant and severe criticism
by reckless party organs. The examine
tion of facts which satisfied me that Mr..
Mckinley is Likely to loose Ohio this
year has been as careful and impartial
as that which enabled me only few
months ago to boldly prophesy Mr..
Nash's election.
Senator Hanna is making impressive
appeals to the trusts for fund large
enough TO crush the Bryan movement
in the middle west, but the experience
of both Democrats and Republicans
has proved that the power Of money in
elections, although great, is limited.
The uncheatable secrecy of the Austral-
ian ballot system makes it impossible to
buy and deliver votes. The fact is that
Mr.. Hanna and the trusts which he
boldly champions and befriends have
placed Ohio in the doubtful if not the
Democratic column of states this year.
If ene-half of the men who voted for
Mayor Jones three months ago support
Mr.. Bryan, Ohio is secure Democratic
state Nearly all of the men who were
prominent in the Jones movement have
privately assured me that they and
their friends will vo,e against McKin-
leyism and Hannaism this year.
The most vital element in the situa-
tion is Mayor Jones himself. He does
not pretend to be able to swing his fol-
lowers in mass from one side to an
other, nor does he for a moment pro-
pose to relax his fight for the non-par-
tisan idea in politics; that is, the sys-
tenn of nominating candidates for Office
by free petition and not by boss.ridden
party conventions. Up to today he has
been a mystery to the professional poll
ticians. All realize the tremendous
power which he holds in his hands. The
question which the leaders have been
trying to solve is whether Mayor Jones
will throw the weight of his influence
with the enormous detached mass of
Ohio voters in favor of President Nc.
Kinley, or against him.
my position said Mayor Jones,
will be this; am opposed to the old
party and boss system, but in the presi-
Dental contest my support will be given
to the party whose platform contributes
most to the cause of human liberty
and the uplifting of the plain people to
a higher level of life. The non partisan
movement will be influenced more by
true and noble political ideas than by
any sordid appeal to the stomach or
pocket. We are anxious to arouse
larger, purer patriotism in the people
It is degrading to ask man to vote for
something that will help him materially
for the moment at the expense of other
men. The Republican and Democratic
parties both base their arguments too
much on mere material considerations.
OF course the Democrats stand on high
er ground, much higher ground than
the Republicans. If the Democratic
national platform is lifted little more
to purer level Of ideal politics have
no doubt that Ohio will be carried by
the Democratic candidate this year"
"How will you vote yourself, Mr.
Jones? Holding the views that you do
you cannot escape the responsibility OF
throwing the weight of your influence
on one side or the other in the coming
struggle between Mr.. Mckinley and
Mr.. Bryan. Your influence may be de-
cisive in this state, and it is likely the
electoral vote of Ohie may settle the
election. To vote in the air through
third party will be merely an Indirect
way of helping one side or the other.
Of course you will not be guilty OF
that"
'Ihave thought it all over carefully, :"
said Mr.. Jones gravely. land I have no
doubt that will support Mr.. Bryan If
he is nominated"
"Do you see any hope of relief from
present conditions in the Republican
party?'
.None Whatever But want to see
the Democratic platform before make
any definite, formal announcement OF
tho mart T shall take in the presidential