The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-09-22
Many People Seeming 0verconfdent
tbat w. j. Bryan VIII BE De-
feated as i'm 1896.
JONES RATHER OPTIMISTIC
DEMOCRATIC MANAGER THINKS HE
WILL CARRY WISCONSIN.
Also Laying Claims to Illinois-bry-
ans Latest Paramount Issue
Hanna and the Miners.

CHICAGO Sept 2.-As the campaign
progresses II becomes daily more evident
that the country is not In the throes OF
political ferment. The voters refuse 10 get
excited. They have had the same cnlet
candidates and practically the same issues
before them for four years ana many OF
them seem to think the result or the COM
ing election will be the same as 1t was In
1896 II there were the slightest genuine
feeling that Bryan would be elected the
prairies would be on fire. There is more
or less changing over of individual voters
from one side TO the other, but nothing has
transpired to suggest a ground-swel or
tidal wave of political impulse in new direc-
lions. The little that has been done in
trading back and forth may possibly be
somewhat to Bryan's advantage in the
cities. but it is strongly against him In the
rural regions and on the Pacific coast
Chairman Jones is quoted as saying that
there should be no difficulty about Bryan
carrying Wisconsin, and that from what
he has been able to learn he is confident
the State will give the Democratic stand
ard bearer its electoral vote. Ii Is incred-
ible that Mr.. Jones should really believe
this, although it would appear he gave out
the statement I'm sober earnest. There Is
no more chance of Bryan carrying Wis
consin than there is of him carrying Yer
mont. Every indication points TO a Re
publican majority of not less than 5O,VVo,
and Ii may run as high as $4,000. There
are two congressional districts in the State
that will give an aggregate majority OF
so 900, and the outlook is for d solid Repub-
lican congressional delegation. There is
one district In the State which may elect
a Democrat by a narrow margin, but that
is extremely doubtful. If this Wisconsin
nugget is of piece with the other informa-
ton in the possession of Chairman Jones,
then he must be wild beyond measurement
in his general conclusions.
Mr. Jones is also quoted as expressing
confidence that Illinois will go Democratic.
No Democrat of intelligence in the State
believes this. and local Democratic man.
ayers long ago gave up hope, although they
will carry on brave fight TO the end for
local advantages. and in the chance of
carrying the Legislature. This hope is be-
coming more remote, however, as election
day approaches This State will come into
Cook county with Republican majority
for the national ticket Of 1900. Cook
county, in which is situated the city of
Chicago, is more likely to give 1900 Re-
cratic.
Mr.. Bryan has furnished ample proof of
the accuracy of my forecast that he would
make the trust question his paramount
issue during the last few weeks of the
campaign. He has already subordinated
Imperialism and everything else TO the
trusts, and is making special bid for
the workingmen's vote. His recent
speeches to tolers, in which he discussed
the .'full dinner pail issue, affording
Chairman Hanna considerable amusement
MI
workingman in the full dinner pail prop
osition suggests that Colonel Bryan is
rather hard pressed His effort to WOO the
workingman by arguments on tran
scenGental plane does not strike practical
politicians as likely to be fruitful of the
results he expects.
Chairman Hanna is giving daily and
hourly demonstrations of his sympathy
with the miners in their strike in the an
thracite coal regions. He talks to every
body who approaches him on the subject
and gives free rein to his opinion that the
operators make mistake I'm refusing TO
arbitrate with their workmen. The lead
ers of the miners did not need to be told
that Mr.. Hanna had exerted himself 70
the utmost to prevent the strike, and they
are also aware that he Is still striving tc
bring the trouble to an early conclusion
While the strike was being talked about
and before IL actually took place. the
view was generally held about Democratic
headquarters that the strike If Ii occurred
would greatly benefit the Bryan ticket and
their course of reasoning in arriving at this
conclusion was along plausible lines. Now
that the strike has actually taken place.
the reasoning seems less logical and il is
difficult to precisely locate the Democratic
advantage derived from the proceedings
The frank and open stand taken by Chair
man Hanna with the full knowledge and
acquiescence of the President has to A
considerable extent, disarmed resentment
in laboring circles and headed off unfavor-
able criticism. That Mr.. Hanna should
have failed in his efforts to prevent the
strike is so clearly not his fault that the
organizers and leaders of the movement
do not lift their voices against him, but
on the contrary. give him due and proper
credit for his work in their behalf and for
his good intentions.
James H. Eckels, ex-controller of the
currency, will deliver three or four speeches
before the close of the campaign under
the auspices of business mems associa-
tons sound money leagues. He has de-
ciined to speak for the Republican national
committee as he holds himself to be
Democrat and has nothing i'm common with
the Mckinley administration, except the
money issue. He will speak first at In
dianapolis and is scheduled also for Balti-
more soon after Mr.. Eckels has an article
In the North American Review for October
on the financial question and its relations
TO the present campaign. Mr.. Eckes will
take occasion to pay his respects to Carl
Schurz in the course of his campaigning.