The Topeka state journal., 1908-07-20
up To FORAKER.
Whether or. Not the Democrats
Can Secure
The Negro Vote of Ohio for
Bryan aud Kern.
STRAW VOTE TAKEN
STRAW VOTE TAKEN
On Transc0ntinental Trains
and Reported to Fairyiew.
Southern Men Are Barred From
the Chairmanship.

Fairview, Lincoln, Neb., July 20.-Ac-
cording to Democratic leaders who have
been to Fairview and conferred with
Mr.. Bryan, the ability of the Demo-
cratic party to secure the negro vote in
Ohio. will depend largely upon the at
titude of Senator Foraker. So long as
he remains outside the Republican
breastworks. at least as regards Judge
Taft. the Democrats feel assured of
large negro support in that state. Hold
ing as they do the balance of political
power, there being some 10000 of them,
the negroes in the Ohio campaign viii
be a most important factor. Should,
however, Senator Foraker become rec
onciled and lend his support to Taft,
1t is conceded that there is little pro-
bability of enrolling a sufficient num-
her of negro voters in the cause of
Democracy to materially affect the re-
suit.
Former Attorney General Frank S.
Monnett of Columbus, and E. H. Moore
of Youngstown, who was chairman OF
the last Democratic state convention
in Ohio, are today speeding home after
a conference with Mr.. Bryan last night
. with instructions to size up the situa-
ton and take every advantage of the
ForakerTaft feud-
regard to Illinois is not gaining
ground. and while that state will be
carefully looked after. 1t has been prac-
tically determined that the main efforts
In the middle west will be directed tow
ards Indiana and Ohio, where the Dem
ocratic leaders are counting on wrest-
ing the majority vote from the Repub-
lican column.
novel method of ascertaining the
sentiment of the country toward the
two candidates is being adopted by a
number of Democrats travelling on the
transcontinental trains through Lin
coin. For the past several days visi-
tors to Fairview have kept Mr. Bryan
Informed of the result of polls made
by them of passengers aboard their
trains. 1t is said that the figures pre-
sented were highly gratifying to Mr..
Bryan.
One thing is definitely settled and
that Is that the Craftsmanship of the
national committee will not go to a
southern man because of the attitude
Of the southerns to the negro. Although
Mr.. Bryan thinks highly of Mr.. Ollie
James, of Kentucky and his name was
prominently considered for the place
the position taken by Mr.. James some
time ago in favoring the disfranchise-
ment of the negro. made his appoint
ment out of the question.
Mr.. Bryan today again occupied
himself with the subject of campaign
contributions and issued a statement
appealing to the Democratic newspa-
pers of the country to begin the col
lection of a fund from their subscrib-
ers. He believes that this year the
Democrats will receive a larger cam
paign fund than ever before and the
money necessary will come from the
masses.
The statement was called forth by
the receipt of kilograms from the Ok
News Scimitar of Memphis, announc-
ing that they had started dollar sub
scriptions. Mr.. Bryan expressed him
self as very much gratified at this evil
dence of support. His statement fol-
lows:
'I wish every Democratic paper
would begin the collection of a fund
from its subscribers. There are very
few Democrats would not afford to
make a small contribution and the
people will never be able to control
the government until they take on
themselves the burden of supplying
campaign funds. As long as a few
campaign the men will exert an un-
due influence on the government. 1t
seems that we have reached the end
of corporate contributions and this is
a step in advance, but the individuals
who control these favor-seekiny cor
pOrations may still dominate politics
by furnishing the sinews of war. The
Democratic party has started a blow
at this system. by limiting contribu-
tions to $4,000 and providing for
publicity before election. The Repub-
lican party has refused to join with
us on this proposition. but public
sentiment may yet compel it to do so.
/ have no doubt that the Democratic
party will receive contributions from
more individuals than ever before con-
tributed to any campaign and there
is no reason why the entire sum nee
essary should not be supplied by con-
tributions from the masses. If every
Democratic paper will take up the
matter and lend a helping hand we
will soon have money enough in the
treasury to provide for legitimate
campaign work and that is all we
want"