Washington sentinel., 1900-10-13
In Octo-
NSPnDIl(ah DIae Der, 1899,
ano BIuster. a e X c

| PUN - y
leaders professed to be con
fident Of the re election OF Presi
dent Harrison. They boasted o
the prosperity OF the country under
his Administration, Haunted the
"fuIl dinner pail" in the face of the
people and made ante election pre-
dictions which proved to their sat
isfaction that Mr.. Cleveland did
not have a ghost OF chance.
When theVotes were counted il was
dem onstrated conclusively that the
average political campaigner's
foresight is not as good as his
"hindsight." Notwithstanding the
alleged prosperity Of the country
and the array of figures cleverly
juggled to show that the great
majority Of the people would vote
for Mr.. Harrison, Mr.. Cleveland
was triumphantly elected, and the
Republican campaign managers
we're discounted and discredited.
The defeat OF the party in that
election was not due to the scarcity
of APATHY cure" for there were
favored interests then, as now,
which contributed generously to
the campaign fund. One firm
alone, according to the charges
made by a United States Senator
at the last session of Congress,
gave sum estimated at a quarter
OF a million dollars. The work
ingmen were told that the factories
would be closed and their wages
reduced if they voted against Pres
ident Harrison, But, despite these
tactics and despite a campaign |
barre" "overAowing with Sugar"
the voters rejected Mr.. Harrison. |
In the present contest the condi-
tionS are not unlike those OF 1899.
The favored interests are respond
ing literally to Mr.. Hanna's inVi-
tation to them to give of their
wealth in order to assure the re-
election Of Mr.. Mckinley. The
prosperity Of the country is being
exaggerated for campaign pur-
poses with the object Of deceiving
the amiable and untkinking voter.
The workiDgman is being coddled
before election and promised an
overfowing dinner pail il he will
subordinate his reason and sense
Of patriotism to his appetite.
The usual array offigures has been
produced to convince the wavering
voter that Mr.. Mckinley is sure
to receive an overwhelming major
ity of the electoral votes and that
Mr.. Bryan is already defeated.
Betting odds are manipulated in
favor of the Republican candidate,
and, as far as the result OF a No.
yember election can be determined
n October, the Republicans pro-
ess to believe that "all is over but
he shouting" Such tactics may
influence a few thoughtless per-
sons, but they will not deceive
hose who are familiar with the
jtereotyped methods OF political
campaigning.
Probably IS 900, 900 voters will :
AXE part in the Presidential cleo
ION this year, and OF this number
about one-half are Democratic in
heir sympathies. p change of
ess than 4 per cent, in the total
vote would reverse the result of
1896 and give Mr.. Bryan the Pres
dency by the same majority which
Mr.. Mckinley received four years
lgo. No candidate for the Office
IF President can be certain Of
erm in the White House until the
,otes are counted. No Democrat
will be discouraged by Republican
claims and predictions. The same
actics were pursued in the case Of
Mr.. Blaine in 1884 and Gsneral
Harrison in 1899. Both were elec-
ed by their campaign managers
n the month preceding the No
election, but the people re-
ouk.d the arrogance of the domi.
iant party when their turn came
o pass judgment upon it.