The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-09-09

lcIteF. he mas the COnHueuce OF the peO-
pie as no other who has been in public life
in West Virginia enjoys it. The preachers,
the professional men, the thinkers have
looked to him to guide. In 1896 he was in
| Cleveland's cabinet, and went with his
chief against Bryan. When his letter for
| Bryan was read at Democratic meeting a
| few days ago, gentleman who was pres
ent said it made everybody feel that West
| Virginia had been taken out OF the
doubtful column. And when, on top of
that, ex-senator Camden presided over
the biggest Bryan meeting in the State,
it was regarded as a clincher for victory.
Mr.. Camden is one of the best men
in West Virginia and in 1896 he opposed
Bryan 1t hurt This year he is putting
his heart and soul into the campaign
and his influence is worth thousands of
votes. He is millionaire.
There is equal, or even more conf
dence that Bryan will carry Indiana and
Kentucky. l talked here today with a
we'll known Indiana man who thought a
Democrat until 1896 voted that year for
Mckinley He is a strong gold man and
l do not know how he will vote this
year, but he said: There is no doubt
that Bryan will carry Indiana this year.
The change in the vote of the gold Demo-
Gratis alone would put Indiana back into
the Democratic column, but that is the
least change He is going to get the la
Dor vote-not half but practically all
of it, and he will get ten thousand votes
on the issue Of anti-imperialism, mostly
from the foreign born citizens or their
descendants. In one college in Indiana in
1896, with faculty of seventeen, Bryan
got only one vote. This year he will get
II sure and probably all but one. The
educated men of the country see the
tendency toward empire better than any
others and most of thesevbgkq cmfwyp
others and most of them will vote for
Bryan this year"
The Democratic leaders here know lit
tie if any more about the situation in
the Middle West than the average news
paper reader, for it is not in their ter
ritory, but they are in close touch with
the National Committee and say that
the prospects are good for carrying IL
linois, Ohio, Minnesota, Michigan and
Wisconsin. In the last named State the
German vote is larger than anywhere
else, and. though the odds are very
much against Democratic success, the
Democrats of that State report that
tion than in 1892, when the Democrats
carried Wisconsin.
The trend is all toward the Democracy
and there are many evidences that we
are on the eve Of as great a political
change as was witnessed in 1892 Indeed
there are many more things that promise
Democratic success now than then. The
people are much more with Bryan now
fha1a fI,oxy
Democrats had more money that shr
Democrats had more money in that cam
paign than now. But now the Demo-
Gratis have every other influence more
strongly than in 1892
There is deep interest here over the
Congressional situation in the eighth and
ninth Congressional districts. Pritchard
and Holton were both here yesterday
and gave it out that the Republicans
were certain to carry these two districts
1t is, practically certain that they will
get the "spondulicks" they are after to
use in North Carolina. Their plan is to,
say that with proper help they win
certainly carry two, and probably fouI (
Congressional districts, and then to use(
it also to get the negro vote in the hope
of carrying the electoral vote for Nc
Kinley.
There is every reason to believe that
the Democrats will carry the House if
they make the expected gains in the
South. The North Carolina delegation
now stands five Democrats and three Re-
publicans since Pearson stole Crawford's
seat. The Republicans will fight to hold
the same representation they have now
They count on carrying the second dis
trict, but they figure on holding the
eighth and ninth, and carrying one other
They believe they have a better chance
Of carrying the fifth than any other dis
trict and will send the 'stuff" down
there. Later on they will probably send
enough money to put up stiff fight in all
the districts. Republican told friend
of mine that Republican leaders here
had no hope in North Carolina Unless
they could quietly organize the solid ne
gro vote and that it was their purpose
to make a systematic effort in that di-
rection the last week of the campaign
| am going to venture a table showing
the situation in the several States. Bryan
will carry the following:
BRYAN'S CERTAIN VOTE.
AJaHa