The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-10-02
INDIANA
is SAFELY
REPUBLICAN,.
c. A. Mcconnell, Of indianapolis,
Will Back His Reputation on
$1,000 Majority.
THE OLDCOPPERHEAD ELEMENT
Is No Longer in Evidence-The Gas
Belt Vote Adds Strength to
the Republican Party.

II has been the general impression
among Republicans that the State OF
Indiana would return to its old love at
the approaching November election and
cast Its electoral vote for the Prophet
az Disaster" That belief has arisen
from various sources, but the most POI
tent argument bearing out the sugges-
tion is, that at heart Indiana has been
u Democratic state.
In ,contravention Of this false convic-
ton, an Inteliisencer reporter had q
talk last evening with Mr.. C.. A. Nc
Connell. general agent of the Mosler
safe Company, who has been o resident
OF Indianapolis for the larger part OF
his life. Mr.. Mcconnell was born at
Bridgeport, Ohio. and is here combining
business with n visit.
When asked about the condition OF
politics In Indiana, Mr.. Mcconnell said:
"I will bank my reputation as a pollt-
icai prognosticator upon the statement
that the Hoosier State will give McKin-
ley and Roosevelt from $4,000 to $4,000
majority and the state ticket Will go
through by majority equally as good.
II may sound to those who are unac-
ouaInted with the condition of affairs
in Indiana, that am talking at ran
dom, but my business has called me into
every county Of the state and l believe
that am conversant with the drift Of
sentiment.
LET me give you few reasons why
Indiana has changed from a Democrat
lie to a Republican state, and why It
will remain in the Republican column.
The old 'copperhead' element that con-
.troNed Indiana for so many years has
completely died out, and the descend
ants OF those sympathizers OF secession
are, for the most part. supporters Of the
Republican faith. The son OF the late
w. E. English. and who by the way. Is
one Of the leading business men In In
dianapolis, Is making speeches for the
Republican candidates. and In addition,
I might name others who nave come
from the we'll known names Of Brig
ham, lilligan, Horsey. Bowles and
Dodge.
1.-THE gas belt has been the means Of
introducing numerous and varied man
ufactorles, and with the hundreds OF
enterprises have come a vast army of
floating voters who, at first. were fa-
vorably impressed with Democratic
doctrines, but who. since 1896, have de-
veloped into Republicans. The Gold
Democrats are also In line and will cast
their ballots against the apostle of FREQ
silver Seventy-five per cent Of the
German vote will also be for the Re-
publican ticket. That means many
thousands Of ballots for our party. for
the German vote Is by no means q
small factor.
"And then there is Debs. who will
draw from the Bryan vote to the tune
of 10000 to 5000. He is conducting n
personal canvass. and is scheduled for
large number of speeches where he
has friends and followers. He Is saw
ing wood strictly on his own woodpile
and Is having absolutely nothing to do
with Bryan. No one can impugn his
personal or political honesty or ques-
ton the integrity OF his motives. The
worst that can be said OF him by those
who are put out by his candidacy is
that he is fanatical and dangerous, and
the same can be said of Bryan.
Taking all these factors into consId-
Grafton. am led to believe that the ma
jorIty for Mckinley and Roosevelt will
be what I have already indicated"