Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-11-03

may not be so apparent this year as 1t was
IN 1896 1t Is factor which must not be
overlooked In considering the political drift.
This influence is all for the republican par
~ ana Is no less So this year than 1t was
four years ago.
The Industrial Vote.
1t is in the industrial vote that Mr.. Bryan
has made his greatest gain. In this vote
were found in 1896 many of the gold demo-
Gratis who aided in turning the scales in
that election. AS "a rule, the big gold
democrats are syIl opposed to Mr.. Bryan
and in favor of the reelection of President
Mckinley. 1t may be said with equal truth
that as a rule the, little gold democrats
have returned to their original political
affiliations and will vote the democratic
ticket this year! large number OF the
laboring men and wage earners OF the
country who had been democrats all their
lives voted the republican national ticket In
1896. Many of these will vote the democratic
ticket this year.
In few localities prosperity has not
been so marked as in Others and the wage
earners are not satisfied with the results
of republican administration. In some
places trusts have closed down large plants
ana thrown many people out OF employ
ment In Indiana. for instance. the opera
tons of the trust have resulted in the re-
moval of certain factories from that state
to places nearer fuel supply. Naturally,
considerable dissatisfaction exists In places
thereby.
Another influence must be taken into con-
sderation in the increased independence OIL
the wage-earner of 1900 over that of the
Wage-earner of 1896 The opening OF the
mills was strong argument with a people
living where the mills were closed ana
finding it difficult to obtain their daily
bread. This year labor is more or less
scarce In nearly every industrial center
Wages are comparatively good, and nearly
every working man of any thrift Is feel1ng
rather independent. Under these circum-
stances the man of natural democratic
Affiliations and ideas will find his inclina-
ton drawing him strongly toward the dem
ocratic ticket. If he argues with himself
to the effect that all danger of the free
coinage of silver and further commercial
position that he will vote the democratic
ticket this year because he can AFFORD the
luxury.
Predictions of Little Value.
Political predictions are of little value or
interest. All the political expert can do
is to note material conditions in the coun-
| try, define the issues and then study their
effects upon the individual voter. He may
be able to catch drift of popular senti-
ment which will afford some clue as to the
final outcome. Conditions throughout the
United States favor the success of the re-
publican party. The democrats have failed
to materialize single live issue. So true
is this that there seems hardly room for a
shadow Of a doubt to the result OF the
vote November 6. On the other hand, there
is unmiStakabe loss to the republicans
within the ranks Of the Industrial army
of the country, and he who is able to &C
curately gauge the extent OF this loss may
be able to estimate with more or less &C
curacy the final vote as it will be cast this
year In the electoral college for President
of the United States.
j. D. WHELPLEY.