The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-08-14
IMPERIALISM is FEARED
All Foreigners and Thoughtful Ma
tives Oppose Colonialism.
THE GREAT INDIANAPOLIS MEETING
There were 10000 People to Greet Bryan
and Stevenson. Their Speeches Will
Convince Men Who Are Open
to Conviction.

Mr.. Josephus Daniels, member of the
National Democratic Executive Commit
tee, returned yesterday from indianapolis
and Chicago. After attending the noti
| tication meeting at Indianapolis, Mr.
Daniels went with Mr.. Bryan, Mr.. Stew
! enson and several members of the Ma
tional Committee to Chicago and spent
two days at National Headquarters.
Speaking Of his trip and the political
outlook in the Middle West, Mr.. Daniels
said:
Everything points to the election Of
Bryan and Stevenson. Except the hand
full of Colorado Republicans-and you
can count them before reaching one hun
dred-every man who voted the Demo-
cratic ticket in 1896 will vote it in 1900
There is not break in that phalanx Of
six and half million Americans any
where. l use the word Americans" here
| in the sense of natives because it is q fact
that in 1896 very few of the foreign born
Americans voted the Democratic ticket
, The Republican tactics of that year
| caused them almost solidly to vote the
Republican ticket. Most Of those who
lIsA't dIddSoeI plOpSTly were uldu6 10 De-
lieve that silver would destroy their ac-
| cumulations while those who were in
the employ of the great corporations
were told by their employers that vote
for Bryan would be followed by loss Of
| their positions. These threats had most
influence with the new comers who al
most in a body voted for Mckinley In
half a dozen states--Indana, Ohio, Illi-
nois Michigan, Minnesota and Wiscon-
sin-this vote accounts for McKinleys
majority.
How will they vote this year?
The influence that will operate this year
upon this foreign born element, and the
sons of men born in foreign countries is
one that is racial, fundamental, and
which is deemed vital to them. Many
of them left Europe to escape militarism.
There every laborer carries a soldier on
his back Here in this country the
wage learner has his own earnings, minus
small tax for small army. The spectre
of militarism is one that is full of mean
ing to foreign-born citizens. With them
Imperialism is "the paramount issue
because it threatens to establish here
the evils and burdens to escape which
they came to this country. 1t is the be-
lief of the best informed men in the
| West that fully seventy per cent of this
class will vote for Bryan and Stevenson.
In 1896 Bryan did not receive more than
fifteen per cent of it. If he receives fifty
per cent this year. Ohio Indiana, Illi-
nois, Michigan. Minnesota are certain,
with good chance of carrying Wiscon-
sin.
You hear most of the German-A -Ameri-
can vote because it is the largest and is
most opposed to militarism. At least
fifteen per cent of this vote is Repub-
lican, embracing the banking and office
holding class, though there are some Ger
man bankers who put the preservation
of liberty by the consent of the governed
above the dollar. This fifteen per cent
will be much in evidence in this cam
paign. They will be wined and dined and
have at their disposal as much money
as they want to organize German
American Republican clubs" Those who
will march will be transported from
place to place by Hanna and the attempt
will be made to show that the German
Americans are all for Mckinley. That's
the programme. But it will not proper
ly represent the truth. l met leading
Republican from Illinois and asked him
about the German vote. l had known
him'for years and enjoyed his friendship.
l helped to turn him out of office in
1898 and out of that untoward incident we
became good friends. He said: The
Germans wont talk That's particularly
true of the German farmers. Four years
ago this time they were outspoken; to-
DAY. as a rule, they are not saying a
word and we do not know where to
place them. We calculate we can lose
20 per cent. of their vote cast for Nc
Kinley in 1896 and still win. But I'll
give you the tip: They are keeping the
politicians guessing. We don't know
what the bulk of them are going to do,
though as most of them have generally
will do so again. A Democrat, who has
voted the Republican ticket we hope they
been frequently elected to high office in
Illinois, told me that it was too early to
figure on the per cent of the German
vote the Democrats would get, but he
added. We will get enough to win.
They will not talk to Republican poll
ticians, but they tell us they will vote
for Bryan because they are against impe
.rialism'
'In 1892, Cleveland and Stevenson car
ried Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Ohio
and part of Michigan. Why? This Ger
man vote was cast for them. 1t was
surprise to the Republican politicians
complete 'throW-doWn,' so to speak.