The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-10-17

lDeN cOIlIluenllN rely UPON Il sweeping
| ajority in Cook county.
In the State outside of Chicago. there
come statements of Democratic gains
that are most gratifying. Some Dem
ocratic campai9ners and leaders say
that Mckinley Will not get 10000 ma
iority outside of Cook county and NAV
not get any at all. Most Democrats.
however. figure that the majority
against Bryan outside of Cook county
will be in the neighborhood of $4,000.
The Republicans say it will not be
less than $4,000 and they talk about it
going as high as $4,000. 1t is safe to
say, however, that if Bryan gets 3d.
600 majority in Cook county. he will
get the electoral vote of Illinois. | had
a talk with Judge Hunter. formerly
Congressman at large from Illinois.
who has taken an active part i'm the
campaign. He says that there are
many influences operating in favor of
the Democrats in all parts of Illinois
and that if the majority in Cook coun-
ty is as large as Chicago leaders say
it will be, Bryan and Stevenson
will certainly carry the State.
1--WE hope, he said. ito carry
the State outside of Cook county. but
it is not safe to calculate upon MAX
ing so great a gain" From others |
learned that in East st. Louis. which
is in Illinois, the change from Mckin-
ley to Bryan is quite as pronounced
among the Germans and the organized
labor vote as in Chicago. and that in
Peoria and other large towns the Dem
ocratic gains will be very great. 4
Republican who was at Peoria when
Bryan spoke there, told me that he
had never seen such meeting in all
his life-that he had seen greater
crowds in a city of million inhabi-
tants, but he had never seen such a
crowd in town of PeOria's popuIa-
ton But" he added, Il was not so
impressed with the size of the crowd
as | was with its demeanor. 1t was
the most enthusiastic | have ever seen
anywhere and | was told that many of
the men most enthusiastic had never
before voted a Democratic ticket"
The difference between the Demo-
cratic estimates and the Republican
estimates is this: If you meet a Re-
publican, he says with an air of con-
fidence, 'There is no doubt that Me-
Kinley will carry Illinois, but he
stops there. Ask him about Chicagos
vote and he will admit a big Republic
can loss and he will not give you spe-
cific figures. The Democrat on the
other hand, will tell you of gain of
500 in this county, $50 in that county.
and so on, showing that they have "a
reason for the faith that is in them"
even if it should turn out not to be a
saving faith. Take Chicago for exam
pie. The Democrats say we lost it in
1896 by $1,000. This year they expect
to carry it by not less than 10000 and
some say it will go to 10000. Think
of the sweeping change involvedd in
this reversal Such change cannot
take place unless it affects also the
surrounding country. and if there is
a large gain in Chicago's chief city it
will spread over the borders of Cook
county and even over the border of
the State of Illinois.
There are no people in America who
are more loyal to their convictions
than the Lutherans. AS rule in this
country they have been Republicans
In 1892 they voted for Cleveland and
Altgeld. The preachers exert large
political influence, not so much be-
cause they are politicians as because
for leadership. This year many Luth-
eran preachers, lifelong Republicans.
are said to be for Bryan and the Dem
ocratic candidate for Governor. Their
position will influence thousands Of
their members and it is believed that
this will be a potent factor in making
Illinois Democratic.
The prohibition strength is also eX-
IN ho1, h.,
way: The frohibitionists in 1896 vot-
eel for Mckinley. This year they not
only will not vote for him but are
fighting him with might and main
Congress passed law abolishing the
canteen. Mckinley without warrant of
law nullified the act Everywhere Pro
denounce him for such
despotic sway. In 1892 there were 25,- |
900 votes cast for the Prohibitionist |
for President. In 1896 all |
except 10000 voted for Mckinley. This |
year the vote will be larger than in
1892 and it will be almost wholly |
drawn from Mckinley. The Rephbli-
can candidate for Governor, Richard
Yates. has been writing letters to the |
Prohibitionist, asking their support on |
the ground that he is a temperance |
man." One Prohibitionist got the let
ter and wrote and asked him this ques-
ton: ''What will you do to cary out !
your temperance views if elected?"
Yates declined to answer specifically |
and the Prohibitionists are using the |
letter and the straddle reply with tell |
ing effect.
There is another influence that is |
telling for the ticket-the nomination |
Of Adlai Stevenson. He is not man |
to obtain many hurrahs or envole |
great enthusiasm. He is an old fash |
toned Democrat, whose honesty, abii- |
ty and conservative manner of speak |
ing and acting mas won for him the |
confidence of the whole State. He has
been going about speaking and meet
ing the people, giving wise counsel |
and assisting in organization, and his
work and position will win votes for |
the ticket
These are some of the reasons why |
we'll informed Democrats believe Hi |
r. 4