Evening star., 1900-10-02
BEYOND HIS HOPES
Postmaster General Smith Describes
Republican Conditions.
HIS VISIT TO OHIO AND INDIANA
Many Who Supported Bryan in '96
VIII Vote for Mckinley.
GOLD DEMOCRATS ATTITUDE

Postmaster General Charles Emory
Smith has returned after week spent in
Ohio and Indiana, during which time he
had exceptional opportunities to Judge of
the political situation in those states He
had felt confident before he left Washing
ton that Ohio would give Mckinley a con-
siderable majority. but. he was somewhat
doubtful about the outcome Of the election
in Indiana After a careful study Of the
situation in both of these states he con-
cluded that Indiana was perfectly safe Tor
the republicans, and that Ohio would give
a larger majority for the republican ticket
than he had previously believed could be
obtained there.
Mr. Smith spoke at Toledo Monday night,
at Cleveland Tuesday, at Elyria, the county
seat of Lorraine county, Wednesday, and
during the latter half of the last week ad-
dressed audiences in Indiana. He spoke at
Frankfort, Logansport and Huntington. AT
all of these places he found packed meet
ings and evidence of the keenest interest on
the part of the people.
Rousfng Meeting al Jones' Home.
Il found conditions in Ohio and Indiana
much better than I expected" said Mr..
Smith when seen by Star reporter today.
''Of course, 1 supposed Ohio was strongly
republican, and 1 was not surprised to find
that conditions there were very favorable.
but they were more favorable than l ex-
pected. At Toledo the meeting at which
spoke was the first of this campaign. The
republican leaders had feared there would
be considerable apathy, and had doubts
about the response the people would make
to the call for the meeting. Toledo Is the
home Of Jones, and Of course there has been
a good deal Of uncertainty in affairs there
But the meeting was a success beyond the
expectations Of the managers.
The hall was packed and there were
marked evidences of interest and activity
that surprised the local managers. They
were unanimous in their expressions that
the sentiment among the people was one IN
favor of uphofding the administration and
was against any change. They expressed
their qualification that Jones had declared
himself for Mr.. Bryan-had come or the
non-partisan fence which he has been
for two or three years. They felt that they
had a fixed target instead of movable
one. The general expression was that his
influence in the community would be very
small. The business and laboring people
there fully realize that 1t is vital to their
own interests to perpetuate the present
condition Of confidence and prosperity.
Unexpected Enthusiasm mt Cleveland.
Cleveland also has been the seat of q
great deal of doubt. Last year Jones had q
larger vote in Cleveland than both the re-
puDlcdH ana ueHlOCTdlIC IHep-
resentative Burton presided at the meeting
at which / spoke. Afterward he said he
would not have been surprised If the hall
had not been more than half full, inasmuch
as that was the first meeting of the cam
paign, and they had had no way of measur-
ing the public interest. AS a matter Of
fact the hall which held 4,5OO people, was
packed. and people were turned away The
managers in Cleveland expressed the great
est qualification at the indication Of inter-
est.
Indiana Republicans Confident.
"Of course there Is no doubt about the
result in Ohio. The real question was in
relation to Indiana In Indiana 1 found a
better situation than I expected. I went
to that state with considerable misgiving
about It, feeling that 1t was very hard
battlefield and that the state would be close
and uncertain. To my surprise, found the
republicans very confident. / had the priv
ileges of meeting many republicans from
different parts of the state. and their unan-
imous testimony was that the outlook was
very bright. The farming element is very
strongly In our fayOr-nuch more so than
1t was four years ago. A good many of
the farmers were then led off by the silver
issue. but the utter failure Of all the pre-
dtctions made by the advocates Of silver at
that time and the good times which have
since been enjoyed by the farmers, as we'll
as by the general business classes, have
scattered all the delusions which prevailed
on the silver question, and these men are
all back In the ranks of the republican
party. With them are a good many dem
ocrats who, after the experience of the last
three years. don't want a change back to
the times which previously prevailed.
More Uncertainty I'm the Cities.
There Ia a little more uncertainty about
the vote in the cities. but I could get no
evidence that there was any detection on
the part OF the working men. On the con-
trary the general expression was that they
were well satisfied with present conditions;
that they were fully employed at good
wages. and that they were not unmindful
Of the contrast between this condition and
that which existed before the election OF 90
The gold democrats OF Indiana are quite
active against Bryan. / met a number of
them and found them even stronger than
the republicans In their conviction that
the state would be against Bryan. One of
them, who was owner of property and
had a good deal of work going on on vari-
Gus pieces of property, told me Of fourteen
men who were employed on one job, of
whom all but one were for Bryan in '96
and all but one are against Bryan now. On
the whole. while Indiana Is a real battle
ground and the supporters of Mr.. Bryan
will make a strong effort to carry it.
came away with feeling that 1t is safely
republican. much stronger than had when
I went there"
What issues did you find the people Of
Ohio and Indiana chiefly interested in?' Mr..
Smith was asked.
The Administration Upheld.
tHa 10 nh, int etol