Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-10-06
HOW CAN BRYAN MlN2

| The Kansas City Journal, reviewing
the results of elections since 1896, and
the conditions this year, gives figures
to show how unfounded is the hope
among Democrats that Bryan has a
fighting chance to win this wear The
Journal says:
Mr.. Bryan was not as strong in
1900 as he was in 1896, for he polled
6,509,059 votes the first time he ran
and 149,043 fewer in 1900. In 1896 he
was the choice of three national po-
litlcal organizations and in 1900 he
was the candidate of four the Demo
Gratis, silver republicans, populists and
anti-imperialists. Judge Parker four
years ago polled 5,079,041 votes. run
ming as the candidate of the Demo
Gratis alone and bitterly opposed by
the other three parties which were for
BRYAN. In other words, the two extra
parties for Bryan in 1896, represent
a difference of 1,430,01S as compared
with Parker, while three extra parties
represent a difference of only 1880.
975. But Bryan received in round
numbers 10000 fewer votes when he
was backed by four parties than when
he was the choice of three.
When Parker ran, the minor parties.
most OF them, were resolved into their
original elements, and those which
nave survived have put up tickets on
winch Bryan's name does not appear.
In addition the Hearst party is doing
substantial damage to BRYAN. The
socialists are casting an increasing
number of votes and they draw far
more from the Democrats than from
the Republicans. There is no populist
party to speak of, though Mr.. Watson
is nomlnally running. The New York
democracy Is VIGOROUSLY opposed to
Bryan. Mr.. Bryan may rush to the
depot TO make obeisance to Boss Muir
ply, but Tammany is not for BRYAN.
Croker is abroad. David R. Francis,
the leader of the old Cleveland follow
ing, is touring Ireland. The power
ful Hearst influence in New York is,
OF course against the Nebraskan,
and it Is difficult to see how anybody
can reasonably look for New York to
be won from the Republicans.
With New York lost to him. Mr..
Bryan's case apparently is hopeless.
10 be elected he must carry New
York, the solid south, New Jersey and
Connecticut. or other states with an
equivalent electoral vote, and then
on top of all this he must carry Okla
homa, and this would leave him
eighteen electoral votes short He
must 8carry one of the big middle
west, states Ohio, Illinois or Indi-
ana. He has not carried his own state
since 1886. Illinois has not gone Demo,
cratic since 1892. when Cleveland
carried it. Ohio is certain for Taft,
and the Democrats have only Indiana
to hone for
As matter Of fact. the solid south
is becoming less and less deciding
factor Not many years ago New
York Indiana, and the solid
south settled the contest. but
the apportionment of 1900 ad-
ded only II votes to the south and
2G to the north. Now it takes the solid
south and four large northern states
for the Democrats to win. Four years
from now when new apportionment
is made, ii will require five northern
states.
The Journal also points out that the
solid south itself is disntegrating
This year it says tho south is really
hostile to Bryan and it predicts that
in 1912 the solid south may be but
political relic of the past.