The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-11-02
BRYAN AND KERN
 ARE THE WINNERS
Democratic National Commit
 tee Makes a Forecast
GAINS IN THE WEST
Iowa and California Are Said To Be the States in Which the Repub- llcans Will Be Surprised on
 Election Day.

Chicago, November 1.-tSpeclal.)-De ocratic success is assured and the election of Bryan and Kern seems as certain as anything can be in American politics. The reports which within the past few days have come to the democratic national headquarters from all sections of the country are so optimistic and show such a preponderance of sentiment for Bryan that the democratic managers hesitate to announce them, fearing that to do so would lead to over-confidence on the part Of the workers. It has been necessary to discount them in some instances 50 per cent in order to reach a conservative esti- mate. and at that the indications point to a democratic landslide-a Bryan sweep from New England to the Pacific.
 For three weeks Ohio, Indiana. Mary land and Nebraska have been out of the doubtful column and safe for Bryan. Still the situation in these states continues to improve, and each day adds to the size of the democratic majority. The Bryan week in New York has placed that state In the democratic column along with Ohio and Indiana Ten days ago Bryan might have had only a bare majority in New York, but today he is assured of 5o,OoO majority, and perhaps more. Well in- formed men place the figure as high as 100000 but one-half that amount is re- garded as safe and conservative.
 A careful canvass of the situation in West Virginia during the last six days of the campaign shows that state also in line by a majority of not less than 10000 while Kansas has been shaping itself for the past two weeks and a comfortable dem- ocratic lead is confidently expected
 The surprises come from Iowa and Cal ifornia. At the outset of the campaign the democrats had little, if any, expecta- ton of winning in these two states and despite the most 1attering reports indicat- ing victory the democratic managers are reluctant to do more than place them in the doubtful column with strong Bryan Jennings The change in Iowa, which has never heretofore gone democratic in na- tional election, amounts to nothing short of political revolution: yet the leaders in that state are absolutely confident that Bryan will have a majority of the votes there.
 A gallant fight has been conducted in California The showing is that the ma iorities in the northern half of the state, including San Francisco, which with the union labor vote so strongly for Bryan, will return a big democratic vote, will more than overcome the republican lead in southern California. Despite assurances the state is placed in the doubtful col- umn.
 Democratic chances are regarded as best fin New Jersey, Delaware, Wisconsin and Rhode Island, while there is a strong fighting chance for democracy in Illinois, Oregon. Washington and Connecticut. The fact is that democratic reports and polls show these states for Bryan, but for the purpose of conservatism they are placed in the doubtful column.
 Every day since the opening of the cam- paign has seen democratic prospects brighten, and its cause advanced by leaps and bounds Doubtless Bryan could have been elected three months ago, but since the people have come to understand the issues they have fiocked to the democratic standard in such numbers as to make his election on Tuesday a grand triumph in which all sections of the country will play a part, even hide-bound republican New England.
 The following states are regarded as safe for Bryan: