Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-08
Present Campaign Lacks the Snap Of
That of 1896.
STATE Is SURE FOR M'KINLEY
Confidently Expected That His
Plurality VIII Reach $4,000.
THE YOUNGSTOWN MEETING
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.

special Dlspatch 10 Inc Evening star
COLUMBUS, Ohio. August S-Compared
with the campaign of four years ago. the
apathy of the present national campaign
Is the most notable feature of the political
situation here. At this stage of the con-
test four years ago groups of men could
be seen on every prominent street corner,
excitedly discussing the issues of the cam
paign. Immediately after the national con-
ventiOns this summer interest in the con-
test ceased and now one cannot tell from
any outward manifestation of political feel
ing here that campaign is in progress.
Four years ago the democrats established
in all the larger cities of Ohio their So
called free silver schools. There were sew
eral in Columbus, with sessions morning,
noon and night. The fact that there were
many idle working men then enabled the
schools to have crowded houses all the
time. That will, of course. be feature
OF this campaign. 1t will do the party no
harm TO abolish this feature of the cam
paign, for while many voters who honestly
wanted to learn came In, the frequenters
of the schools We're for the most part OF
the class that attends police courts. These
would tolerate no discussion of the silver
question that not squarely for free
coinage.
Guessing to McLean's Attitude.
Politicians here guessing as to what
is to be the course of John r. Mclean in
the campaign. He is still abroad, but it is
announced that when he returns he will
take charge of the campaign in this state
1t is no secret that Mclean is not in SYM
pathy with much that Bryan makes promi-
nent among the issues of the campaign.
The general opinion here is that Mclean
would be glad to see Bryan defeated. as he
expects him to be, and. but for one thing,
would not be sorry to see Ohio roll up
rNlII
than she did four years ago. Mclean Is,
OF course. candidate for the United States
senatorship to succeed Foraker, provided
the legislature to be chosen next year is
controlled by the democrats. 1t would not
add to his party prestige If under his man
agement the state should go republican by
a majority much larger than usual. For
this reason 1t is likely that Mclean will
put some effort and money into the cam
paign in Ohio to assist MIR. Bryan.
The republicans will be together" bet
ter this year than in the last dozen years.
Senator Hanna. who is now the factional
bone of contention. will not be in the con-
test personally. For President Mckinley
the party is practically a unit. The re-
publican state ticket is good one-the
only weak place in it being the nominee
for dairy and food commissioner, who is
a third-termer and unpopular with the
farmers. The same may be said of the
democratic state ticket, however 1t Is a
good one all through. Should Mckinleys
plurality in the state fall as low as 10000
Blackburn's chances for election will be
close.
Foraker to Take Active Part.
The approach of the time when he must
be candidate for return to the Senate
will bring Senator Foraker to the front
as one of the active campaigners. He
is one of the most successful campaign
has had in years, and his presence in the
campaign and his interested work in it
will be valuable to his party
The democrats are unfortunate in not
having their campaign chairman on the
ground and ready for action. When the
democratic state central committee met
here two weeks ago to select campaign
committee they fell into wrangle, re-
sulting in the defeat of both the men VINO
had been candidates for the state chair
manship and the selection of State Sena-
tor George S. Long of Troy. Long was in
Europe at the time, and it develops now
that he is not expected home until the
middle of September. That will leave him
but six weeks to organize the committee
and do the work Of the campaign.
Gen. c. W. Dick, state executive chair
man of the republicans has organized his
committee and for two weeks has been
proceeding with the work of the campaign.
Possibly the vice chairman Of the demo-
cratic state committee. T L. Crowley of
Pickaway. will undertake the campaign
work for the democrats until Chairman
Long returns from Europe.
The Youngstown Meeting.
The list of speakers for the opening
meeting of the republican speaking cam
paign at Youngstown on September has
not been announced yet. but 1t is practical
ly settled that Senators Foraker and
Hanna Will be among them. that Senator
Foraker will make the principal speech and
that Gov. Roosevelt will be there.
From all that one can see on the politi-
cal surface here there Is nothing to
indicate political revolution in the buck
eye state. The situation is remarkably
quiet and apathetic. The claim that there
is some doubt about the result in Ohio and
that Bryan has chance to carry it seems
to be wholly groundless. The republicans
may lose some votes by over-confidence
If matters drift on to the end as they are
now. but that is all. Some democrats who
voted for Mckinley in 1896 may vote for
BRYAN this year, but their places in the
Mckinley column are likely to be filed by
gold democrats who voted for Palmer and
Buckner four years ago and will vote for
Mckinley this time
On the whole. the prediction that Ohio
will give Mckinley not less than 10000
lN, IL