Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1900-10-30
sweepine the Country.
slroagiy Tavoraols % dls DemoTa

ing over the country, and indications now
point to the greatest popular majority for
Bryan next month ever given to any
Democratic Presidential candidate, The
great popular uprising in favor of Bryan
is not confined to any particular section
of the country; it is universal: The sign
is in the sky, and it spells victor.
1t is universally conceded, even by
the Republican leaders. that Mr. Bryan
has lost nothingof the strength he had in
1896. when less than 5000 votes. proper
ly distributed, would have elected him.
1t therefore follows that this year he will
receive at least as many votes as in 1896,
plus the natural increase in the number
of young Democratic voters who have
come of age since the last national cam
paign. But this year Mr. Bryan has many
elements of strength which he lacked in
1896, and which are sufficient to ensure
him tremendous majority, both in the
popular vote and the electoral college.
I'm 1896 the German vote went almost
entirely for Mckinley. This year Mr..
Bryan will receive, by the most conserva-
tive estimate 60 per cent of this vote.
A gain of 10 per cent in the German vote
alone is sufficient to carry several of the
so-called doubtful States and elect the
Democratic national ticket.
-Four years ago the labor vote was
largely given to Mckinley on the alleged
prosperity issue. This year the vote of
organized labor. numbering hundreds of
thousands, will be cast for Bryan. This
vote alone is sufficient to carry several
doubtful States for Bryan aud Stevenson.
In 1896 the Gold Democrats left the
regular organization on the financial is
sue, and they claim to have cast I, 600. 600
votes. most of which were given direct to
Mckinley. This year the Gold Demo
Gratis, recognizing that their contention
has for the time being been settled by
statute, have returned to the old party,
and fully SO percent of them will vote for
Bryan, This vote ensures safe Demo-
cratic majority in several close States.
g In 1896 large majority of the Irish
vote was cast for KcKinley. This year
this vote will be gwen to Bryan. and this
alone means success in several important
States which four ago gave their electoral
votet to KcKinley.
1.-THE Holland vote, which has always
heretofore been Republican. will this
year go over to Bryan with practical un-
animity, because of the unfriendly atti-
tude OF the Administration toward the
struggling Boer Republics. In three or
four important States this vote holds the
balance of power.
The anti-Imperalistic vote will beast
unanimouslyfor Bryan nextmonth. This
is anew and unknown quantity IN nation
al politics, but the leaders of the move
ment claim that in one pivotal State alone
they have 100. 600 voters enrolled and that
these are drawn almost exclusively from
the ranks of the Republicans. In score
of other States this vote is also said to be
very large. 1t will undoubtedly be a
most important and perhaps conclusive
factor in the approaching election.
The reform vote will be gwen almost
unanimously to Bryan this year. Here
tofore it has been scattered about through
numerous small party organizations,
where it has not made itself felt, but in
the aggregate it is great power. This
includes the Single Takers. the Direct
Legislationists, the Golden Rule Jones'
people, (1o6, 600 in Ohio. and many 9TH
ers, aggregatlng considerably more than
one million votes.
g The independentvote of the country,
which in late years has been such an inn
portant factor in determining elections.
will this fall be cast solidly for Bryan
This alone is sufficient to decide the cleo
ton in certain States and givethe nation
al victory to the Democracy.
In 1896 the vote and influence of the
commercial travellers of the country were
given to Mckinley, and it has often been
alleged that this was the deciding infu-
ence of the last national campaign. This
year the travelling men are almost unani-
mously ior Bryan. and they are working
as hard for him ashley did for Mckinley
in 90. Perhaps no other signs of the
times is more significant than the attitude
of the travelling men in this campaign.
In 1896 large proportion of the Pro-
hibition vote of the country was cast for
under mistaken impression.
This year every Prohibition vote not
given to Bryan will undoubtedly be cast
tor Mr.. woolley. Certainly Mckinley
will receive none of them. In addition
to which one great religious society has
deemed it necessary to start an endless
chain of prayer against the reelection of
the present incumbent of the White
House, and this will certainly affect
thousands of church voters who gave him
their support four years ago.
And then there are the thousands of |
conscientious and patriotic Republicans
who have been compelled to renounce
their party, or its candidate. because of
the bold and glazing corruptions which
have marked its administration of public |
affairs. and who will this year vote and
work for Mr.. Bryan. This condition Is
something unprecedented in American
politics, and is IN itself more than sufi-
Gent to overcome the small adverse pop
ular majority against Bryan four years
ago.
AS against this tremendous and over
whelming change in popular sentiment
in favor of the Democratic national tick
ct, the Republicans have nothing to fix
their hope on except Hanna's corruption