Evening star., 1900-09-26
Assistant Secretary Taylor's View
of Political Conditions.
REGARDS STATE SURELY REPUBLICAN
Finds No German Detection, but
Many Leaving Bryan.
THE WESTERN SITUATION

claim or democratic leaders that WlScOn-
sin IS doubtful state. and that there are
chances of 1t going for Bryan. Mr.. Taylor
is the principal owner of prominent daily
paper in the state. and has been connected
so many years with the politics of Wis
consin that his opinion is especially valu-
able.
When Mr.. Taylor was asked by a repre-
sentative of The Star today for his opin-
ion as to Wisconsin and the west he said:
'Oh. what Is the use of talking about
Wisconsin? 1t IS as safely republican as
Vermont. The majority will be nearly, If
not quite, as great as four years ago. when
it passed the 100000 mark"
rs there no detection among the Ger
mans? The democratic leaders are report
ing that Wisconsin Is doubtful, and some
OF them claim that 1t is reasonably sure
for Bryan Senator Tiilman has been
stumpIng the state, and Bourke Cochran
and Bryan himself are going there which
looks as though the democrats We're hopeful
of good results. What do you think about
this p
No Detection Among the Germans.
Just as ! said. there Is no power in the
world that can prevent Wisconsin giving
its vote for the republican state and ma
tional tickets. There is no detection among
the Germans. 1 receive four daily papers
state, and also have large correspondence
with the most prominent republicans in all
sections of the state and with good many
gold democrats. / know the state thor
oughly. having been chairman of the re-
publican state central committee for many
years There is but one German paper in
the state that supported Mckinley four
years ago that does not support him now.
and that is small weekly with little cir
cuia alton or influence. l have recently con-
versed with two or three prominent Ger
mans widely acquainted in the state. and
who have lately travelled all over 1t, and
they all agree that there is no evidence of
any German detection anywhere. The total
vote of the state Is about $4,000. OF this
number 2I0.0OO voted for Mckinley In 1895
To make the state democratic 1t would re-
quire change of more than $4,000 votes,
or about one in every five Of the republi
can vote of four years ago. 1t is the height
of absurdity to even suggest that there is
any such change going on.
Desertions From Bryan.
I'm fact the reports which / receive IN
dicate that the changes are from Bryan to
Mckinley rather than the reverse. Several
prominent men in different sections of the
state who supported Bryan four years ago
are now open supporters Of Mckinley. In
one OF the most important districts of the
state a leading German brewer who was
Bryan supporter four years ago is now run
ming for the state senate on the republican
ticket. The gold democrats who voted IN
great numbers for Mckinley are nearly all
still supporting him. Z. c. Wall. who was
for many years chairman of the demo-
cratic state committee. and the Wisconsin
member OF the national committee. was de-
posed this year on account of his opposl-
ton 10 Bryanism. Ex-senator William T.
Villas. who held two positions in the cabinet
and was one of President Cleveland's lead
Ing advisers, and for years the most infic-
entail member of the democratic party Ill
ft1.ln
the heresies of the platform upon which he
is a candidate. / might name hundreds of
prominent Wisconsin democrats who are
supporters of Mckinley. If the democratic
predictions in regard to the other states are
as wild as they are In regard to Wisconsin,
and there Is no reason for thinking they
may not be, then Bryans electoral vote VIII
fall below what II was four years ago.
One Congregational District Doubtful.
What about the congressional districts?
VIII your state return a solid republican
delegation as it now has?''
Possibly not. There is one district. the
capital district OF the state in which l re-
side. about which there may be reasonably
entertained some doubt. When the demo-
Gratis had control of the legislature and
Gerrymandered the state, they fixed this
district that they believed 1t would for
ever be safely democratic. The average
democratic majority for many years was
from 5000 to 5000. but the district has
given republican majorities for three cleo
tions, owing purely to the attitude of the
democratic party upon the money question.
Two of the leading counties in the district
are almost entirely German, nearly all of
whom were formerly democrats, but on the
money issue they voted with the republi-
cans.
The republican majority two years ago
for member of Congress was ], 100 The
democrats have nominated a very bright
attractive and active young man as their
nf adj tba
ital OF the state. we'll known throughout
the district. an effective campaigner, and
there is a possibility that he may overcome
the small republican majority, although /
don't believe he will be able to do so. II is
my opinion that the present member, Mr..
Dahle. will be returned. He IL safe and
conservative man. and was influential In
protecting the farming interests; and as
the district Is largely agricultural II Is be-
leyed that his services will be indorsed.
The other nine districts are all quite GER
tain 10 elect republican members. There
IS something of a contest in the Milwaukee
district. where Ex-Governor Peck is the
democratic candidate but his opponent, Mr..
Often. is a strong man. in great favor
among the laboring people, and l don't be-
lieve he can be defeated. He has been
twice elected by good majorities.
''It seems a waste of breath to talk about
the situation in Wisconsin. There are plen-
" Of doubtful states about which 1t is
natural TO manifest serious concern.
conditions In the West Favorable.
What do you hear about the situation in
the west generally"
The reports are of the most satisfactory
character. l believe Mckinley will carry
every state he carried before, with the
addition Of Kansas. Washington, South
Dakota. Wyoming. and possibly Idaho and
Utah The only state that l regard with
any doubt Is Indiana. l think the contest
there will be close with chances favoring
the republicans"
What are your sources OF information In
regard 10 these conditions which you say
prevail in the west?"
I'm addition TO what / know about the
generally prosperous times which / believe
are certain to influence support for Nc
Kinley L have an opportunity to consult
with numerous men who are travelling
widely throughout all parts of the country.
Some of the bureaus OF the Treasury De-
partment over which l have supervision
the bureau of immigration, the chief clerk
and superintendent's Office, and the super
vfsing architects office-have large num-
bers of men constantly on the road looking
after various interests of these bureaus
These men are not politicians and are not
all republicans. They are employed in
various capacities which require constant
travel. and, of course, come in contact
with large numbers OF people and have