Evening star., 1900-10-12
SITUATION IN OHIO
Republicans Appear to Be Steadily
Gaining Ground.
FARMERS TURNING TO M'KINLEY
Only Danger Lies in Dissensions
Within the Party.
GA MD T(N NJ A CKC 1NfrEP EST
CAMPAIGN LACKS INTEREST


Judged by surface indications the repub-
licans seem still to be forging ahead Of
their opponents in the campaign in Ohio.
Both in the work on the stump and in the
distribution of campaign literature they
seem to be by far the more active. A casual
visitor to the two state committee head
quarters here could not fail to notice the
difference in methods of the two organiza-
tions 1t is but fair to Chairman Long of
the democratic committee to state that he
has not the ''sinews of war; at his COM
mand which enable Chairman Dick to un-
dertake and accomplish anything known
to the art of political management.
But even on the republican side nothing
like the activity of the campaign Of four
years ago has been reached. Public interest
cannot be aroused. The democratic cry of
Imperialism and the republican cry of cheap
money fall alike upon careless ears. 1t is
noticeable here and the same report comes
from many other parts of the state, that
the voters are more interested in their
local elections than they are in the choice
of the President.
Lively campaigning is proposed by both
parties during the final month of the con-
test. and in the centers Of population some
degree of enthusiasm may be aroused but
the rural districts cannot be reached. 1t
is not expected that the full vote of the
state will be out by fully 100000 That
means a total vote in the state OF not more
than G5oon0. Other things being equal this
would mean a decrease in the republican
plurality and many shrewd politicians make
just that prediction. But there are some
good reasons for believing that there will
be accessions to the republican strength in
Ohio.
Farmers Coming Back to Mckinley.
Four years ago the rural districts did not
strongly support Mckinley. The Ohio
farmers were pretty well taken with the
free silver doctrine. Many of them were
in debt, and thought they saw relief in the
precepts of Mr.. Bryan That they have
thought differently of this proposition since
then is pretty clearly indicated in the cleo
tions of last year, when these same dis
tricts gave TO Governor Nash plurality of
over 2S,eoo-more than half of his total plu-
ralty in the state. The eXpIa nation of 1t
is that the farmers have felt the better
times which have come with the admins
tration of President Mckinley, and are
willing to support his party. at least
long as these conditions continue.
1t is upon these election statistics and the
deduction he makes from 1t that Chairman
Dick Is making his estimate of at least
I3.Go plurality for President Mckinley in
Ohio.
The republicans Were disappointed in the
speeches former Governor John P. Altgeld
o. Illinois made here last week. They were
rather pleased to hear he was coming to
speak in this state and expected he would
give his hearers radical argument, such as
would be likely to scare away some of the
conservative anti-Bryan democrats who
were inclined to return to the party ticket
this year. But he made most conservative
addresses. Many republicans who heard
him in this city admitted that his address
was able and probably very effective. Ger
tainly 1T was calculated to win back any
democrat who was wavering.
Danger Within the Party.
The greatest danger to the republican
cause in this state. as usual, lies within
the party. Successive victories induce the
formation of factions for the control of
the nominations, and SO hard are the fights
of this kind made that while one cam
paign Is being fought cliques are formed
for the control of the state convention Of
the following year. Such a thing is going
on now, and 1t is with difficulty that 1t is
being kept under cover. Chairman Dick Is
being pushed forward as the candidate of
the party for governor next year.
Whether this is being done with his con-
sent is not definitely known. Only this
week large number of buttons were sent
out from the state committee rooms, bear
Ing the chairman's picture, with the in
junction to those to whom they were sent:
Keep. but not wear until after the cleo
ton"
Gov. Nash is serving his first term and it
is pretty we'll known that he would like
and expects a second-term nomination. But
out effort on his part or that of his
friends. With the state patronage in his
hands. 1t would not seem possible for Dick
to prevent the nomination Of the governor
next year If he wanted it. But Dick is
all powerful I'm Ohio politics now. A friend
of his remarked the other day, He feels
his strength now, and he knows that he
does not have to play second part to any
of them-not even to Senator Hanna"
All this pOrtends trouble for the republi-
of Ohio next year, when a legislature
is to be elected that will choose the sue
cessor of Senator ]. B. Foraker. But it
may do some damage to their organization
in the present campaign If the factional
contest over the gubernatorial nomination
of next year should break out now, as 1t
threatens.
Trouble I'm Twentieth District.
Trouble has broken out in the twentieth
congressional district that may result In
losing it for the republicans. D. Q. Phil
lips, the present representative, who was
defeated for the republican nomination by
] A. Beidler of Cleveland. has come out
as Independent republican candidate. He
is serving his first term, and felt that a
second term at least was due him. How
ever. both Beidler and James r. Garfield
became candidates for the nomination
against him. The contest became sharp
and Beidler and Garfield entered into an
agreement to Withdraw in the interest of a
nomination of Phillips by acclamation But
somehow the convention was stampeded
to Beidler, and Phillips charges that Bel
dler was guilty of treachery. Mr.. Garfield
was of the same opinion. The efforts of the
state committee have been used in vain
to have Mr.. Phillips withdraw. Garfield
was called in and induced TO withdraw his
support of Phillips But there is danger
that Phillips will draw enough votes from
Beidler to let the democratic candidate be
elected In that strong republican district.
The republicans are almost sure to capture
the third district, now represented by a
democrat. that the net result will be
the same. john J. Lentz, democrat is
likely TO be elected in this district by 1000
plurality.
DANISH WEST INDIES.