Evening journal., 1900-09-25
DELAW ARD WILL
BID REPUBLICAN
HeraId'S Special COrreSpOn-
dent Gives 1000 Plurality
lie SAYS That Few Democrats Have
ANY Hopes Of Obtaining a
Victory

From Dover. the staff correspondent
Of the New York Herald gives the fol-
lowing estimate OF the political situa-
tion in Delaware:
Delawares three electoral votes are
for Mckinley and Roosevelt The poll
ties Of the little state are more mixed
than in any commonwealth have visit
ed but the presidential electors are
not involved, and it is therefore possi-
BILE TO judge that in a total Of $4,000 OF
10000 Mckinley will have a plurality
of 900 or thereabouts as against
plurality Of $500 i'm 1896
The total vote may be a little larger
chan the vote of four years ago, while
the Mckinley plurality will be smaller
Bat q margin OF d thousand ia so
small a vote is not easily wiped out.
In national politics the Democrats
are stronger than they were in 1896
Besides the Gold Democrats who voted
fer Mckinley and who were estimated
at from 200 to 1900, there were 600
straight-cut votes for Palmer and
Bucknsr. The latter We're mostly the
personal following cf Senator George
Gray, who found himself unable to sup
port Bryan. yet was not ready TO iden-
tify himself with the Republicans.
Assuming that so per cent. Of the
Gold Democrats support Bryan. and es-
timating their number in 1896 at $500
it might be assumed that their chang
ing back to their old position would
neutralize the Republican majority OF
1896. II this were. the only element
entering into the contest the outcome
would be quite uncertain and the presi-
iential electors might not have mar
gins Of more than 200 to 500.
POSITIVE REPUBLICAN GAINS.
But after making full allowance fdr
ell the sources Of increased strength
for Bryan these do not offset the posi-
tive Republican gains. The two lower
counties OF Kent and Sussex may give
very slight Democratic majorities. but
I New Castle county is Republican
Whatever growth Of population there
has been in the state is in that section.
and If the total vote is increased the
city is almost certain to give an in-
creased Republican majority.
The labor situation In that city Of
shops and factories seems to be salts
factory to the Republicans Two OF
three small strikes have occurred, but
they have been settled. There is no
marked unrest among the wage work
ers. and | found that the local Demo
cratic leaders in Wilmington were not
counting on a gain from this source
They expected to hold their share OF
the labor vote and that was all
REPUBLICAN ADVANTAGE IN
REGISTRATION.
In the registration the Republicans
Y 70 d r.Ir
Kent and Sussex counties and among
the farmers Of New Castle the Demo
Gratis profess 10 be satisfied, but in
/ Wilmington they have decidedly the
worst OF IT, Both parties look upon the
! registration as a fair test of strength.
/ One day in October remains. and the
claim Of the Democrats is that they
VIII be able to get their full voting
strength registered and fully offset the
/ Republicans.
This year the Democrats say they
/ will have some funds, enough at least
to keep up the organization and carry
on campaign among individual
voters, but they frankly admit that
! they cannot compete with Mr.. Addicks
In his campaign for the Legislature
The floating vote Is likely to be Repub-
{ AANnll III tnA iEiHiullNt lithtAt anu Ilhl
will make it Republican on the ma
tional ticket
Aside from its debauched politics. ]
have met few Democratic leaders who
in their confidential talk claim that
the state will give Bryan and Steven
son a majority. Two years ago, when
the Republican factions were united
on the representative in Congress, the
/ Republican plurality was 2.500. This
was a falling off from the presidential
plurality. and it is the opinion OF the
Democratic leaders that the falling on
tendency in the Republican majorities
/ is continuous
They feel that in spite of some fac
tional differences their party organiza-
tion is more harmonious. and they give
proper weight to the return Of the Gold
Democrats Yet in all this they do NOT
see a majority for Bryan. Most Of them
think the chances for governor are in
their favor, and that the Legislature
may be Democratic or anti-Addicks. but
in the presidential vote they do not
count on the same strength They
place McKinley's probable plurality at
between 500 and coo.