Bryan And Victory

Bryan's prospecta in Michigan are exceedingly bright. The great gain for free silver in the past ten days has heen especially notíceable in all quarters of the state. Every day sees accessions to the free silver ranks from life-long Republicans who have made up thelr minds that now is the time to striks for freedom from England in monetary matters as their forefathers struck for freedom from England in 1776. Bryan's trip through the state left what the Republicans have been calling an ugly trail. Everywhere he gained votes. To hear him was ampie refutation of the cry of "anarchist" the Hanna-crats had raised. His speeches proved how true was the remark that the corporations and trusts were pouring forth their millions to defeat him, not because they believed he would not enforce the laws, but because they believed he would enforce the law against the rich as well as the poor, against the corporations and the trusts as well as against the individual. Such an impression did Mr. Bryan make by his trip through western Michigan that the Republican managers were thoroughly scared, and C. "W. Watkins, the Republican leader of Grand Rapids, sent the following telegram to the Republican state committee: "Grand Rapids, ,iich., Oct. 15, '96. "To Hon. D. M. Ferry, Detroit, Miel.: "Good cause for anxiety here. "This man's presence inspires the weak members of his party to renewed actfvity. "Think something should be done immediately to counteract the effects of his incendiary speeches here. "Meetings were record breakers. "Think Durbin ought to be notified to have press reports cut down. "C. W. WATKINS." Bryan's magnificent speech at the Detroit Auditorium made him hundreds of votes. One gold Republican who heard him admitted that he believed Bryan had made 5,000 votes by his Detroit speech. Traveling men report that npver in their experience had they seen such a political upheaval in the state and that everywhere the tide is setting strongly towards Bryan. Even Governor Rich, stalwart Republican that he is, does not claim Michigan for MeKinley, but says that a large percentage of the voters are undeeided. These undecided voters which the governor has met are free silver men from convictions but have hesitated about leaving the Republican party, tied to it as iühey are by oldtime love. They recognize more clearly every day that the corporations and the trusts have this year obtained trol of it, and most 01 tnese men are coming out for Bryan. The undertow is for him. . As an indication of the feeling in the state a few samples of reports on the political condition from the free silver editors of the state, men who are peculiarly fitted to judge of the prospects in their immediate locality, may be given: Allegan county: "This county has always given a large Republican majority, but with the united forces of the three parties and a large following of silver Republicans, we are confident of giving Bryan and Sligle a good majority." This county gave x-iarrison 1,076 plurality four years ago. " Berrien: "It looks like victory in this county." Clinton: "New and valuable accessions to silver are coming from the gold side every day. They are putting watch dogs at the gaps with the fear that the whole flock will Dreak away. Clinton county is sure to give from 200 to 500 majority for Bryan and silver." Genessee: "We have got to carry it." Jackson:"Jackson county is sure to give Bryan from 300 to 600 plurality. The change is most prominent in the townships, where from 20 to 30 per cent, oí all Republicans will vote for silver. Information from Calhoun, Hillsdale and Lenawee couni.es also indícate a landslide for silver." Kent: "If the other portions of Michigan give as good results as this, the state will surely go overwhelmingly for Bryan. In Lowell village alone are thirty-nine old line Republicans who will vote for Bryan, and the proportion of converts in surrounding towns is not less. Wherever I have been I found the same conditions existing. In Walker township, this county, Almont, Lapeer county, and Mayville, Tuscola county." "Ma son: "We estímate the majority in this county for Bryan at 350. Over 200 Republican farmers will come over to us." Oceana: "Here in Shelby the silver cause will poll two-thirds of all the votes cast. We will have a handsome majority in Oceana county." Shiawassee: "Bryan will have at ; least 200 plurality in the county. SilTer sentiment is growing every day." Van Buren: "The county has been known for years as the banner Republican county of the state. A majority of the townships have been canvassed and show a clean majority for silver, and if they keep falling lllto I line in the next two weeks at the same rate, Van Buren s sure f ar from 400 I to 800 majority for Bryan.' Van en county gave Harrison 1.G06 plurality four yeara ago. Not an unfavorabte report was rceived from any county. Combining all the reports and the percentage of Ervan gain shown would give him the I tttate by 36,708 plurality. The state committee predict a good majority for Bryan in the state. Their reports are from their county chairmen, a different source from which the above were gathered, yet the results are practically the same. The state committee's predictions are found in ths following interview in the Detroit Tribune: "We are going to carry the state of Michigan," said Chairman Fred A. Baker of the Democratie committee. "The silver ticket will be elected by a plurality of 21,250 or more, but more rather than less. "I base that assertion on the fact that the vote of the People's party is absolutely solid for Bryan. In 1892 that vote was 20,000, which brings the Democratie vote to an equality wit, the Republican vote. The silver electors will get at least one-half of the Prohibition vote, which was 1,000 in 1892. This will offset any possible gold Democratie vote that may be cast for McKinley or taken from Bryan. "The Democratie silver majority in the state will be just as great as the number of silver Republicans in the state. On an average there will be 500 silver Republicans in each of the eighty-five counties of Michigan, and that claim is a very conservative one. That will give us 42,500 majority. Cut that down one-half to cover overestimates and miscalculations and you have the minimum plurality for silver in Michigan. "This estímate is corroborated by the statements of Professor Bradley M. Thompson. He has been canvassing the state and, in my opinión, can give a more conservative opinión as to the situation than either of the two parties. We have made no regular poli of votes in the state because we could not afford it, but we have received scattering polis which more than support the estímate I have given as to the number of silver Republicans. I received the poll from one township where the Republican majority has been 130, now showing a silver majority of 195."