The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-10-17
Major Carson, n Polit-
zeal Writer. After "a Canvass of
state, Gives His Views.
PROTEST AGAINST AN EMBLEM
1T is FILED WITH THE STATE ELEC-
TION COMMISSIONERS.
epublfcan Meetings Held I'm Marion
COunty-POlitfcal Gossip
of Interest.

diana Trust building, made the assertion,
when he arrived here a few weeks ago to
take charge of the headquarters. that 81
per cent. of the Gold Democrats of In
diana, and of the whole country in fact,
would vote against Bryan. Yesterday Col.
Martin was pointing to an interview in
the Chicago Times-Herald with Major John
NJ. Carson, Washington correspondent OF
the Philadelphia Ledger, who has peen
making some expert Investigation OF the
political situation in Indiana.
Major Carson's assertions are looked
upon as being pretty accurate. and Col.
Martin called attention to the fact that
what Major Carson said about the Gold
Democrats only corroborates what ne CCoi.
Martin) had said some time before. AS to
the Gold Democrats of Indiana, Major Car
son says that instead of so per cent. or
90 per cent. abandoning Mckinley, l found
the contrary to be the fact, and / do not
believe that Mr.. Bryan will get more than
20 per cent. or % per cent. of the Gold
Democrats who voted for Mckinley In 1896.
1t is much easier to find Democrats who
voted for Bryan in 1896 who declare a pur-
pose to vote for Mckinley this year than
to find Gold Democrats who will vote for
Bryan"
Major Carson says further that in all
his Investigations in Indiana he has tried
hard to find ground for the claims made
by the Democrats, lest he might not get at
the bottom of the true situation. II am
thoroughly convinced now" he says, that
Mckinley will carry the State of Indiana.
But while 1 have no doubt that Mckinley
will get the Indiana electoral vote. l do
not think there will be so great a plurality
as the Republican managers claim. l
doubt If it will exceed that Of four years
ago, when it gave the State to Mckinley
by about Is, O00."
For nearly twenty years Major carson
has been making political canvasses IN
doubtful States. Since 1884 he has ira
versed Indiana in every presidential cam
paign, and he declares that If he has mis-
election 1t will be for the first time. In
1892" he says in his interview, when.
after visiting the supposedly doubtful sec
lions of the country, l predicted the cleo
ton of Cleveland, l was met with general
disbelief. Four years ago L forecasted a
Republican victory in Kentucky, and my
friends doubted my sanity. But my pre-
dictions were based on the same careiu'
and l am confident that l have not been
misled this year."
CONDITIONS ANALYZED.
Analysing the basis upon which he makes
his forecast of McKinley's carrying In
diana's electoral vote. Major Carson said:
IL spent two weeks in Indiana, visiting
every section Of the State, having previous
ly spent several days at Indianapolis con-
ferring with the leaders of both political
parties and making inquiries from people
.r$- 49, 49,
L entered the State in the belief that it
would give its vote to Mr.. Bryan. This was
based upon some knowledge of the State
acquired In Investigations during each of
the presidential campaigns since 1884. and
upon general reports current in the East
tency i'm alternating its electoral vote.
Since 1872 Indiana has ~alternated from
Democratic to Republican every four years.
In 1896 it voted for Mckinley. and reason
ing from analogy many people who follow
the course of political events believe that
this year the State will go for Bryan.
However, while this historical fact was
not entirely without influence with me, 1t
would lave no influence whatever in max
ing up a judgment against the facts that
might be developed in the course of per-
sOnal investigation.
Il found that the claims of the Demo
Gratis were based on several factors, among
them being:
"a return of so or 80 per cent. of the
Gold Democrats.
Secession among the m on &C.
count of the Boer war and Imperialism.
discomfort among the workingmen in
some sections. notably the gas belt, be-
cause of enforced idleness attributed to
the operation of trusts.
Gains from the Republicans In agricul-
tural districts.
81 made diligent inquiry of all these
points and was unable to find any substan-
tial basis for them. With regard to the
Germans, l was placed in communication
with many representative men of this class
not identified with the activities of the cam
feet that while there were some isolated
cases where Germans would vote for Bry-
an for the cases stated, on the whole the
Germans will vote this year substantially
as they did four years ago.
"As to the Gold Democrats, instead of so
per cent. or 80 per cent. of that class
abandoning Mckinley, 1 found the contrary
to. be the fact, and I do not believe that
Mr.. Bryan will get more than 20 per cent.
or % per cent. of the Gold Democrats who
voted for Mckinley in 1896. 1t is much
easier to find Democrats who voted for
Bryan in 1896 who declare a purpose to
vote for Mckinley this year than to find
Gold Democrats who will vote for Bryan.
I'm the case of the ~workingmen, while
the evidences are not so positive as to what
they will do, there are no indications that
they are going in any considerable numbers
to Bryan. There are certainly no indica-
tons of anything like a revolutionary
movement among THIS class. Inere Is QlS-
content in some sections. notably in the
natural gas belt, growing out of strikes and
the shutting down of mills, I'm some cases
this shutting down being caused by the
trusts. Blu / do not think that beyond the
men who may still be out of employment
this matter will seriously enter into the
campaign
IN THE GAS BELT.
I'm the gas belt it is the custom annually
to close the mills for repairs, and during
this stoppage the question of wages for the
coming year is discussed and fixed. This
year the contention over the wage rate was
more protracted than in previous years, in
some instances the adjustment having been
made only quite recently. But in the gas
belt all of the mills. with few exceptions.
have resumed operations and there is ap-
parently a feeling of contentment. / have
no doubt that in Madison and perhaps one
or two other counties In the gas region the
Republicans will suffer some loss, but, as /
said before, 1 do not think these losses will
materially affect the aggregate vote Of the
section, which Is strongly Republican. but
that this loss will be nearly. IL not entirely,
made UP by the gains in the agricultural
districts.
Indiana is an agricultural State, and its
vote Is largely in favor OF the party which
secures the greatest accessions from the
farming class. There Is no doubt whatever
that the Republicans will make gains in
most of the towns, but. assuming that the
vote OF the towns will be no greater than
four years ago. the accessions which Me-
tricts will. In my judgment, insure him the
electoral vote In Indiana.