Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-08
Leaders Have Gone Intb Dkmoeratic
Camp Almost Alone.
FOLLOWERS RETURN TO oLD PARTY
Bryan's Gains Will Be Offset in
This Way.
SENTIMENT IN THE SOUTH

From the most reliable Information that
can be had at the political headquarters
here through correspondents In various Sec
tions of the country 1t appears that most
Of the gains which Mr.. Bryan will have in
this campaign will be Of democrats who
did not vote for him in 1895: and an offset
to these is found In the return to the repub-
lican party of men who left 1t on account
Of the money question in 1898. The best in
formation available indicates a considerable
restoration of old party conditions, though
the reports received by republicans indicate
that the return of the wanderers to the re-
publican freside is much more general than
that of democrats to their old matched
roof. A vast majority Of the changes noted
from various sections of the country are
purely reactionary. 1t Is said that in those
states where the silver sentiment dominated
everything in 1896 nearly all Of the republi-
cans who deserted their party at that time
have returned. There Is really nothing left
of the silver republican organization, all the
leaders who have not gone back into
the republican party having avowed their
respondence which the republican managers
have with responsible men in those sec
tons where the silver republican organiza-
ton amounted to something represents that
the silver republican leaders in going into the
democratic party have gone almost alone.
Cannon of Utah. Towne of Minnesota,
Hartman of Montana, Teller OF Colorado
and those lieutenants who have been their
trusted agents no longer make any pretense
OF independence OF the democratic organiza-
ton. The silver republican Is.rty had a
very respectable representation at their ma
tfonal convention held in Kansas CITY at the
same time with the democratic national con
Vention. But the showing at that conyen-
ton was very largely on account of the ex-
pectat1on that Mr.. Towne would be nomi-
tod fre
yer republican organization would become
an influential factor in the campaign.
Silver Republicans Di.gustcd.
The disappointment at Towne's failure to
receive the nomination sent large number
of the delegates home thoroughly disguised.
and the fact that the silver republican or
gsnization was then and there dishanded
left none of them with anything upon which
to base claim for the support Of such fol-
lowing as they had at home Reports which
republican managers receive indicate that
a very small percentage of the voters have
followed the few conspicuous leaders who
In abandoning their independent organiza-
tlon, went over to the democratic party. AS
an element, 1t Is said, the silver republicans
may be counted as in no sense factor in
this campaign.
The populist organization, too, as party,
has gone out of existence and fts Is report
GU SOIue sections Oh the country that
a very considerable element will vote the
republican ticket. 1t Is not believed that
the iddle-of-the-road populists will poll
large vote, but that most Of those who are
disguised with the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of their
own Independent party organization and
who have no interest in the para mount
issue" of the Kansas City convention will
their dissatisfaction by voting for
Mckinley. The number of votes which the
republican ticket will receive from this
"a VI fc CQi he mob lor
than had been counted on
Another thing indicated is that the demo-
Gratis will be greatly disappointed in their
expectations OF republican disaffection on
account of the policy of the administration
with reference to our new island posses
sions. Some such disaffectOnJ it is &C
exists, but that IT is{at all ex-
tensive is denied and it is manifest that
Senator Wellington, ex-Secretary Boutwell,,
ex-senator Henderson, and such other men
OF some prominence as have undertaken to
lead revolt against the administration on
account OF imperialism" have no such
as that which was mustered by
Teller, Dubois, Pettigrew, Hartman and
Towne. when, in 1896, they bolted the party
Oh account Of silver. Comparing the two
movements, republican managers calculate
that the return to the party Of those who
left In 1896 on account of silver Will more
than counterbalance any loss suffered on
account OF the cry Of imperialism" In the
no losses are anticipated from
such information as can be gathered at this
time, except through the return to the dem
ocratic party of gold democrats who voted
against Bryan in 1896
The Gold Democrats.
1t 10 acknowledged that very consider
able proportion of these gold democrats will
vote for Bryan in order to re-establish
themselves with the democratic party, and
to restore old party alignments as far as
posSihla. hut how much loSa this will in
volve upon the republican party it is diff
cult to estimate. The republican managers
express the opinion that 1t will not be
large. There never has been any reliable
basis upon which to estimate the size Of
the gold democratic vote cast for Mckinley
In 90. A great deal has been claimed for
1t, but there is no evidence that 1t was
very large. The opinion Is expressed that
the gold democrats who are now going to
support Bryan are mostly those who would
not vote for Mckinley in g6. but support
ed Palmer and Buckner. If all the gold
democrats who supported Palmer in 1896
should return to the democratic party 1t
would amount to only about $4,000 votes
From many quarters, but particularly from
the south, 1t Is reported that good many
democrats of high standing who voted for
Bryan in so and who have never objected
to the financial views of Mr.. Bryan, are
going to vote for Mckinley this fall on ac-
expansion. Conditions in the south render
Il almost ridiculous to make claim of the
possibility of the republicans carrying any
Of the southern states. Yet, the change
Of sentiment reported in some of those
states. conspicuously in North Carolina, is
phenomenal. Senator Pritchard in
private conversation expresses the opinion
that there are enough white votes In North
Carolina opposed to Bryan to give the state
to Mckinley If a fair count or anything
like 1t can be had. Some very earnest sup
porters of Bryan from that state acknowl-
edge frankly that there Is a strong anti
Bryan sentiment among men who have
never voted anything but the democratic
ticket. and who had no objection to Bryan
In 1896. To less marked degree the anti
Bryan sentiment is growing in other south
ern states, and the apprehension Is express
ed by some democrats that sther elimination
OF the negro vote will be a. boomerang for
the democrats and that the solid south
cannot be maintained through another
election. Some men with whom 1 have
talked go SO far as to express a fear that
the solidity of the SOUTH mayi be broken
this fall. -