The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-09-27
RIDDLE PREDICTS.
Ex-P0puIist Chairman Talks of
the Election.
Says Fusionists Will Win by H.
600 Plurality.
TALKS ABOUT FLOPS.
Claims Populists Have Gained
as Many as Opponents.
Why He Thinks Stanley Will
Lose at Home.

Taylor Riddle, ex-chairman Of the
Populist committee, of Marion, stili
stands by the figures he gave out in July
that Kansas would go fusion by 1900
plurality.
Mr. Riddle says the claims of the Re-
publican managers are badly off, and
that even Sedgwick, Stanley's own coun-
ty, will give a majority to Breidenthal.
He says that Wichita went Republican
two years ago by $40 and that the coun-
ty not including the city went POpuliStic
by 524, which left Stanley a majority of
25. Riddle claims that Stanley will lose
the city and that the county and city
vote together will give Bryan and
Breidentha1 from 800 to 1000 majority.
Two years ago he claims was an off year
for the Populists and that 700 of those
votes were not polled in the county out
side the city. That those stay at homes
will be out this year as there is a preSi-
Dental ticket in the field and that with
those votes and the votes in Wichita
that will turn from Stanley to Breiden-
thai on account of the governors prohi-
bition policy will lose him the county.
Riddle cites another condition in his
own county Marion, which he says is
the condition all over the state. He
says that Ed Hoch has been publishing
from time to time in the Marion Record
a list of the "fops" from the POpuliSt
party to the Republican ranks. THE
PopulistS are making no cry about the
people VINO cnanR6 from the H0puD1can
party to Populism,'' said Mr.. Riddle.
THE Republicans are doing the talking.
Now in Marion county a list of 'hops'
has been published. When Webster
Davis spoke there on Tuesday there
We're 81 of those so-ca1led 'hops' at his
meeting. They had all been listed as
leaving the Populist party for the Re
publicans. I know that 20 Of those 81
left Marion reconverted. / have been
travelling over the state for the last go
days and from my observations think
the 'fiops' will not materially effect the
result. There have been about as many
fops from one party as from another
Il believe that a strange state of af-
fairs exists. The Populists are making
great gains in Republican territory and
the Republicans are claiming great
gains in Populist stronghOlds.
Il believe that Breidenthal will poll
something like 4500 of Republican
votes; many of these votes may extend
to the entire fusion ticket. do not wish
it understood that I mean Breidenthal
will run ahead of Bryan, but that pro-
badly Mckinley will run ahead of Stan
ley.
from the Republicans. If the loss to the
Republicans from that element of voters
continues as it has been going on for
the last 80 days it will probably end in
a landslide to Fusion of the German
vote. The dissatisfaction among the
Germans is brought about by the inn
peria1 tendencies of the Republican par
ty and the refusal of Mckinley to out
line his policy toward the Philippines.
There is a decided Improvement in
the interest taken at Fusion meetings
than earlier in the campaign and a
much more confidential tone among the
Populist voters. One thing that will
contribute to our success more than any
other is that the Republicans in elect
ing members of the legislature the
political issues have been subordinated
to that of exacting a pledge from the
candidates to vote for one of two men
for United States senator. They are
making an issue of the important state
matters to come before the Legislature.
The farmers and stock raisers are much
more interested in other things the leg
islature has power to do than e1ecting
United States senators. On the other
hand the Fusionists in every instance
have pledged legislative candidates to
the support of many important meas
ures, particularly railroad legislation
and in but a few instances required
them to pledge their votes for United
States senator. Many Independent
voters have made a note of this differ
ence between the two parties and have
decided that the easiest way to settle
the Baker Burton squabble is to elect a
Fusion legislature.
Taken as a whole, I have no reason
to change my figures given out in July
that Kansas will go for Fusion by H.
00O"