New-York tribune., 1900-08-10

10 pieCIselS the condition IN this city, but pos
sioy there is a greater percentage Of German
Republicans in Milwaukee than in either Chi
cago or New-York
THE MAJORITY DEMOCRATIC.
In the rural districts of Wisconsin and in its
smaller towns the trend of German opinion is
overwhelmingly Democratic as a rule In
those localities the independent element of that
nationality almost wholly disappears and in its
stead is found a dogmatic partisanship which
is even intolerant, which seldom permits
party lines TO be relaxed, and then only
oy reason of some overshadowing special
development like the money issue in 1896
II is a Iamentable, but undeniable fact
that German Democrats largely outnum Der
German Republicans in all Wisconsin German
agricultural communities. This is susceptible
Of demonstration by statistics. With the ex-
ception of Milwaukee. all the heavy German
counties of the State are the Democratic strong
holds, and have been so for upward Of forty
years It is only recently indeed that Mil
waukee could be called a Republican ciEy; years
ago II was uniformly Democratic by laZge ma
Jorlttes. In 1880 Peck Democrat, carried it for
Governor by over 5000 plurality. and again in
1872 over Spooner. Cleveland carried the city
for President in 1892 by 364 plurality. Since
then, as before remarked, on the money issue 1t
has been Republican. Mckinley carried II in
1926. by 9.403 plurality. but in 1898 Sconeld,
the Republican candidate for Governor, had
only I49 plurality, although he carried the state
by 3S.I3I plurality And just here Is sig
nihcant item At this election. the German
Democratic counties Of Dodge Manitowoc. Cal
unet, Jefferson Laglade, OzauKee, Washington
and others. which had cast the huge majorltles
for Mckinley in 1896. all went pack INTO tne
Democratic column. And yet Scofleld won IN
the State by this large plurality
THOUSANDS WILL BOLT BRYAN
This is again proof that the rural Germans Of
Wisconsin largely Democrats, but, in addi-
tion, it is significant that even when they vote
the Democratic ticket the State is still nor
maIly Republican by large plurality. It was
not the German vote that gave Mckinley the
State. but it that vote which gave him such
an extraordinary majority here and elsewhere
On purely local issues they voted against SEQ
field, who had displeased them and for the
Democratic candidate. Many of them have
doubtless returned to the Democratic party TO
stay and will vote for Bryan this year. But
many thousands will again bolt him at the polls.
Throughout all the lake shore counties and in
the northern central portion Of the State there
are large settlements Of thrifty, we'll TO do Ger
farmers There are some counties almost
soHdly German, and many townships in others
are so. Almost without exception these German
communities return heavy Democratic major
tiles. II is noticeable that in such rOckribbed
Republican agricultural counties Waupaca.
Portage Winnebago etc, the heaviest Demo
cratic vote comes from these German villages
and townships These are well known and I'M
disputed facts. Many Of the smaller -itiss and
villages Of the State containing a large per-
centage OF German citizens are also Democratic.
The Catholic Germans. Of whom there are a
good many, are Democrats almost 70 a man.
Many OF the Lutheran Republicans were driven
~ VI tue parry d rev years ago Dy an nl-cOn-
sidered Republican school law with which they
were dissatisfied There are 100000 German
voters IN Wisconsin. Not more than 35. 900 OF
these are Republicans through thick and thin.
and possibly not so many. In 1896 not less
than 10000 Of the remaining 65 600 voted for
Mckinley. swelling the Republican majority to
abnormal proportions. Some Of these on local
issues went back in 1898 but not all of them.
And the same issues as in 1896 being up. it is
certain that the German recalcitrants OF 1895
will again vote for Mckinley this fall. Bryan
does not pretend to expect to carry Wisconsin.
| There are no Republican Germans for Bryan.
The only Germans who are openly for Bryan
are Democratic Germans, and there not
| enough Of them TO warrant any jubilation IN
/ the Bryan fold. Bryan is grasping at straws
| so far the Germans are concerned. What
| ever German bolting takes place either here or
| elsewhere, will be from Democracy 70 Mckinley
! They are sound on the Is 20 l issue and are
| not alarmed about Imperialism" such as they
| see in the United States viewed even through
| BRIAN lenses