The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-07-14
THE BATTLE GROUND.

According to a recent associated dis
patch the Democratic campaign man
ayers have decided to make their fight
for the election of Mr.. Bryan in five
states of the middle west, viz: Illinois,
Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin and Min
nesota, comprising in all, "A electoral
votes
In 1896 President Mckinley carried
every one of these states by handsome
majorities. So to a casual observer
this move of the Democrats would seem
not only i'll advised but suicidal How
ever. well posted politicians assert that
it is the brightest action the party has
taken in years.
The campaign managers advance the
following reasons for storming the mid
die west: They declare that the voters
of this section are particularly weary
of imperialism, Porto Rican tariff
laws and mismanaged Cuban affairs.
They claim further that the gold Dem
ocrats of this section have become more
reconciled to the platform than those
of New York and will stand by the
ticket almost to a man. This is partic-
ularly SO in Illinois and Indiana, they
assert.
Some figures in this connection show
ing how these states have voted in the
Indiana is always a close and doubt
full state and hasn't for years cast it's
vote twice in succession for the same
presidential party candidate. In 1880
Garfield's vote was 232, 1854 and Han
cocks 225, 5S2; in "a Cleveland was given
244, 299 and Blaine 23S, $50; in '88 Harrison
carried the state, having 263, 361 votes
to Cleveland's PSI, 013; in '92 Cleveland
received 262, 740 and Harrison 255, SIS; in
SO Mckinley carried the state, having
1923, 754 votes to Bryans 305, 573. Demo-
Gratis claim that the Hoosier state will
give Mr.. Bryan the fifteen electoral
votes this time.
Illinois gave its "a electoral votes to
President Mckinley in $50. In 1892
Cleveland carried the state over Har-
rison by $1,000 votes. Bryan had $4,000
votes less than Mckinley in Illinois in
1896. The Republican majority in '9S
was 49, 45O.
According to the past vote of Michi-
gan there would seem TO be little hope
for Bryan in that state. In 1890 De-
mocracy was successful in Michigan.
Since then the Republicans have fnvar-
fably carried the state with stiff ma
jorities McKinley's majority was S.,
900 in 1896.
The Democrats would seem to have
much better chance in Minnesota than
Michigan. The former state has not
been giving such large majorities
against them and in 1898 the Demo-
cratic candidate for governor was sue
cessful by 10000. Republicans carried
the state in SO by 2,267; in 'SS by IS, 900;
in so by 2,267; in '92 by 1887; in "a
by $4,000; in SO by $4,000. The Demo-
Gratis insist that Peter Lind who has
made a splendid governor, will carry
the Swedish vote to Bryan and pull
both tickets through. So much for the
prospects of the Democrats in Mime
sofa.
Wisconsin with twelve electoral votes
has $4,000 Holland Dutch within her
borders. Every man of them is a violent
Boer sympathizer Webster Davis will
be kept much in this country.
In 1884 Wisconsin went Republican
by 1900; in SO by 49, 71S; in IS by q, 321;
in 80 Democratic by 1920; in '92 Demo-
cratic by 6,544; in "a Republican by 3d.
900; in '95 Democratic by 9,0S9; in SO
Republican by 1O2,612. and in '9s Re
publican by 37,7S4. This spring the
larger Democratic towns including Mil
waukee elected Democratic mayors
As stated above Mr.. Bryan's man
ayers will not make a vigorous fight
for the eastern nor the extreme west
ern states of California and Oregon.
Where then will he get his electoral
votes? 1t is conceded that the solid
south, save perhaps Maryland, will
give the Democrats 142 votes to start
with. They can reasonably, at this dis
lance, claim Nevada, Utah, Colorado,
Idaho, Montana, Washington and Ne
braska with a total of % votes. This
makes 40 votes which subtracted from
224, necessary to elect, leaves the Demo-
cratic party short 81 votes.
South Dakota. Wyoming, KANSAS, In
diana, Maryland, West Virginia and
Wisconsin are doubtful states that
would more than make the required
number. But that's another story.