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The Press and Banner. BY HUGH WILSON. A mi KYI 1,1,1:. V". BRYAN IS A WINNER HON.GEORGE T. BARNES COMES FROM WASHINGTON WITH CONFIDENCE. Popular SentInienl In tlio N.it ioiml C?nplt Ml U for Itrviin. All KsllliiHto liy Hie Washington Cost Attract* Attention. Augusta, Oct. The Chronicle, a f?w days ago, published the following: Hon. (Jeorge T. Barnes returned yesterday morning from a business trip to Washington City, and was seen soon after his arrival byaChroniele reporter. In answer to the ques tion what he thought of the Presidential situation after his slay at the na tioual capital ho replied: "I am greatly encouraged, and my faith in Brian's election has been considerably strengthened. The Congressional campaign committee is doinggcod work, and they are conlident Bryan is a winner. Of course there are .Republicans who claim McKinley's election, just as confidently, but the predominant sentiment is for Bryan. _ f I nn/l <V,o tilt) owners ui iar{cc huv. heads of big concerns are for AIcKinley, but their clerks and employes are for Bryan. I was told by a clear headed neswspaper man of experience in Washington that this is true-all through the city. Having had occasion to spend some little time in a large bookstore where I was acquainted, I tested the matter, and found the proprietor for McKinley and the clerks for Bryan. I am informed that in the Public Departments the government clerks are confident of Bryan's election, and this isalwajs re garded in wasmngion as a prcnj m liable public pulse." What is thought of Bryan's campaign? 'It is the worder of the dav. The politicians no longer talk of directing his movements or cautioning him about what to say, or what to leave unsaid. He has proven himself a marvel of political sagacity. He always says just the right thing at the right place, and never speaks anywhere without making Bryan voters. He is his own campaign manager, and sajs just what he pleases, and always says it well. As a rule, t he controlling newspapers are unfriendly, and instead of the best possible presentation of his meetings being made, - - ! 1 they are minimized as lar as possioie. A congressman who was with him in Virginia sajs the newspaper accounts gave no fair conception of the marvelous outpouring and the tremendous impression he made." Don't you think, Major, that Bryan should stay in the doubtful Middle Western States for the rest of the campaign? "Yes; and he will do so. for the most part. He will put a whole week in Illinois, and will speak all over the State. The Democrats mean to carry Illinois, and I saw men of conserva live opinion to speak intelligently on the subject, who declare that Bryan has an admirable chance of carrying Ohio." What is the Democratic estimate of Bryan's electoral vote? "Intimates are likely to be colored by the wishes of the partisans who make them, but one that has just been published by the Washington Post has attracted much attention and dis cussion. The Post is independent, and publishes the facls of the campaign as it sees it, regardless of partisan bias. The Post's estimate to which I refer is as follow: The Post favs: Nobody seriously expects Bryan to carry any of the New England states, or New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, or Ohio. We may, therefore concede to McKinley the votes o' those States, as follows: Connecticut 0 Maine 0 Massachusetts in New Hampshire. 1 New Jersey . 10 New York HO Ohio W Pennsylvania >? Vermont 4 Rhode Island. 4 Total 110 Nobody seriously expects McKinley to carry any of the Southern State?, with the possible exception of West Virginia, Maryland, Kentucky and North Carolina. We may therefoie concede them to P?ryan, as follows: Alabama 11 Arkansas 8 Florida.... 1 . Georgia IS Ijouisiana 8 Mississippi Missouri 17 ^ '* A bourn v,arojina ? Tennessee Yi Texas ir> Virginia 12 Tola] US To these we may with safety add? i Col.rado 4 Idaho 3 Montana * 3 Nevada 3 North Dakota 3 South Dakota.. 1 Utah 3 Washington ;1 Wyoming 3 H Total 30 ??' ?making for Bryan a grand total of H We thus dispose of 288 out of the 117 fl votes which now constitute the elccto jpl ral college. To carry the day a can9 didate must have 224 voies, and thus flj McKinlev has yet to gain 81, and Bry an has yet to gain 70 votes out of the 9H States which are in doubt, and chielly so because of the uncertainty as to the M consummation therein of a genuine H fusion between the Democrats and Jhe EH Populists. Should that fusion be efgn ftcted Mr. Bryan will be very likely B to carry? Kentucky... 13 Sgjl Kansas.... 10 H Nebraska 8 m Indiana 15 ??| North Carolina 11 """""rMs will bring up his voie to 20f?~ leaving the battle-ground in the ten H Qtotps not vet accounted for: I Illinois.. 21 Oregon 4 California ' * Maryland $ Delaware.... West Virginia 0 Minnesota Michigan 1 Wisconsin 1' Iowa.. K Total 105 Thus we have -Bryan votes. 20; Mclvinley votes I K l>oubtful 105 Total 11/ < >f course there may be dill'erences as'to the doubtfulness of the States w( have put in the column or tbe battle ground. They are conlidcntly claimed by both sides, and it follows that wr must displease both by this estimate. The fart remains, however, that most, if not all, of thetn are doubtful?quitt enough so lo furnish Mr. Bryan willi the nineteen votes he needs, supposing our figures given above to be correct. And another fnct remains at IpasI from our point of view, which is that, without fusion betjveen the Democrats and Populists, Bryan cannot get those nineteen votes. "The view of The Tost is, that with fusion, Bryan can safely count on 2<);' votes, but that withoutcompleie fusion it will be out or the question ior mm to get the needed nineteen. With fu sion it concedes that be may. Now, T have no doubt that fusion will bs effected. You saw the opposition of Watson to fusion in Indiana, and that fusion was effected any anyhow, in spite of his opposition. So it will bs everywhere. I have satisfactory rea sons for beliesving this. The estimate of The Post called forth quite a storm of protest from the Republicans, but it did not recede from it position at all. It replied to its critics as follows: Those correspondents who are now deluging us with criticism of the elec tion figures given out by the Post on Wednesday morniDg are reminded that the most important of the estimates in question were predicted upon the consummation of a genuine, cor dial, enthusiastic afcd thoroughly organized fusion between the Democrats and Populists throughout the country. * * r * * Then, as to the States which we put to Bryan's credit in the event of a fusion on the lines already indicated, what reasonable fault can be found with them? Kentucky... IS Kansas..... 1C Nebraska.........*..... 6 Indiana. North Carolina *11 Total 57 Of course we understand that these 57 votes, added to the 1-18 above calculated, will run Bryan's strength up to 205?within 19 of election. Of course we understand that seeing these figures in cold type is not nearly so encouraging as whooping and throwing hats into the air and braying McKinley into the White House by mere force of clamor. But really this is not our fault. The contcst has to be decided on November 3 next, not by stupid vociferation, but by the ballots of an intelligent and patriotic people, and we mast, in forecasting that decision, consider facts, reason, probaI hilitv?nnt our nersonal Dreiudices and desires. We cannot elect McKinley by iretting together under an umbrella and resolving that Bryan is as good as defeated at the present mo ment. It is foolish to to blind ourselves to the existence of the earnest millions who dwell beyond the Potomac and the Alleghanies. These mil lions are there and they must be taken into account. We cannot dispose of them by making a great hullabaloo here on the Atlantic coast. We still maintain that in the event ! of a fusion between the Populists and the Democrats everywhere, Bryan may safely count upon 205 votes to begin with, and we will stand to the list of doubtful States from among which McKinley must get 81 votes, while Bryan needs to gel only 19, in order to be elected. It will not change anything to poohpooh, and splutter and get red in the face, and heap savage and occasionally idiotic epithets on Bryan. If this youthful person from Nebraska is to be beaten at all, it must be done by sensible, fair minded, and rational appeals to the judgment and conscience of the American people. "It is easy to see,"said Major Barnes, uhow an estimate of this kind put forth and adhered to by an independent paper like the Washington Post, is calculated to disturb Republican tranquility ; especially when it leaves Bryan only nineteen votes from the goal, and with the strong chances he has of carrying Illinois. Iowa. Califor nia, Maryland anu wesi Virginia. No wonder the Republicans are protesting against the ligures put out by The Post, but," significantly added Major Barnes, "who gainsay them." Don't L'nderatanri It. Union, S. C., Oct. 0.?The sessions of the court of general sersions lasl week was full of surprises, even to the natives. There were three men tried for their lives, charged with the fearful crime of murder. Two white men had killed two other white men and one negro had killed his brother. In each case the verdict rondered by the petit jury was "not guilty." To say that these verdicts surprised every per son who heard these ca^es is to express it mildly. The editor of this paper is personally acquainted with all three oJ the men tried for murder, and has nothing in the world against eithei one of them but we are compelled tc say to them that they were exceeding ]y fortunate men in the selection ol the juries that sat upon their cases. We never heard the solicitor make more able arguments than he made ir the cases, and the judge did his duty consequently these men are turnei loose in Union county again, by tlu will, or judgment, of twelve jurymen ?Union Times. McKlnley'sCoumIu lioltH. Syracuse, N.Y., Oct. G.?One o; Major McKinley's near relatives, Wil liam B. Albro, a prosperous farmer, who resides near the little hamlet ol Cincinnatus, Cortland County, ha: come out strongly for Bryan and fret silver. He does not propose to allow family ties to interfere with his politi cal beliefs and will not vote for his Ohio relative. Mr. Albro is Majoi McKinley's cousin, and lived for forai I. _ vc:111 1,, ru. Jrv years ILL me IUWU ui luuiuiuua, vuiv In an interview yesterday Mr. Albrc said: "I am sorry to say tbat I cannol vote or work for McKinley's election I have just returned from Nebraska where I Jived for the past fifteen year; and where I had the pleasure of th( acquaintance of Mr. Bryan. I believe that he is perfectly honest in his worl and I know that he is a gentleman ant! a Christian. It is for the interest ol the farmer and all people who till th< soil to vote for Bryan and Bewail." | CAPITAL FOR LABOR. . arthur sewall formally ac} cepts nomination. i strong; and cli-nr cut dclinf meiit of ana{ tloit'n troiililr-k. ilio valine ami keineriy. ! a millionaire who kerlh for llio 5 toller*. Bath, Me., Oct. 0.?The following is the letter of acceptance of Hon. Ar1 Ihur Sewall. Democratic nominee for : Vice President of Ihe United States: l>ath, Me., Oct. G i Hon. Stephen II. White, chairman, ! and membersof notification commit' tee. Gentlemen: I have the honor to accept in writing, as I have already < verbally done, the nomination tendered by you on behalf of the Democsatic party as its candidate for Vice 1 1 'resident or the uniieu oiaies. auu in doing so I am glad first, to express m.y satisfaction that the platform of ' our party "which has commanded my life-lona: allegiance, is honestly and fully declartory of all its principles and especially of the absorbing financial issue upon which, as you say, I took my stand " when the hours of triumph seemed remote and when arro> g?nt money changers throughout the world boasted that the conquest of the 1 American masses was complete." These principles have been of late in 1 abeyance only because those whom we trusted to maintain them have failed to do so?these principles never can die. We have rescued our party from thase who under the influence of the money power have controlled and debased it. Our mission is to now res cue from this same power and its foreign alliances, our own beloved country. This is the first and highest duty imposed by our party's platform; upon the performance of this duty all other reforms must wait. The test of party ' -11 - principles is uie government, me,/ aaassure; the proof of good government is a contented and happy people, and - the supreme test of both of the ability to guide the country through a crisis as well as tc administer the government in ordinary times. Our people now face a crisis ; a crisis I more serious than any tince the war. i To what party shsll they turnin their ! dire emergency. It is true that the ; present crisis may not involve all equally; that there are those who do not sutler now and who may not suf' fer should the crisis threatened by the gold standard come on in all its fury. Human selfishness makes those deaf ( to all appeals, but to these, fortunate, ly, the Democratic party has never noorlor) tnannpal to win lis battles. nOr does it now, save as there are some among them who can rise superior to self, in the sacrifice which such a cris is demands of every patriot. We are told that the country has prospered under the present monetary standard; that its wealth has enormously increased. Granted. But in whose hands? In the hands of the toilers, the producers, the farmers, theminera, the fabricators in the factories, the creators of the nation's wealth in peacs, its defenders in war' Have they prosperity which was their's so late as even two years ago. I deny it. They deny it. None alllrm it save those whose interest it is to do so, whose profits would diminish as prosperity returns to those on whose distress they thrive. All is indeed not right between capital and labor. The best money in the world is none too good for those who have got it, but how is it with the 90 : m vtnnrtla nrltA ViQ TTQ JJCr UCUl. Ul UUl jicuj/au nav uutv "got it to get?" How is it with those ! who must buy this "best money in the : world" with the products of their own ; iabor? These are the people for whom 1 the Democratic party would legislate. ; What is the best money for these, is ! the question for all to ask who really love this land. How, also, can you increase labor's purchasing power but by increasing the price of labor's products? Is it a fair measure of value that in our great producing sections, ten bushels of potatoes must be paid for a dollar, ten bushels of oats for a dolla.-, six bushels of corn for a dollar, three bushels of wheat and all other products of the soil and mines and the labor of all wage earners at the same ratio? Does any fair minded man say this is honest money that forces such 1 an exchange, and if it is not a fair ex- ' change is it honest? Is il less than robbery. This is the condition to which the siugle gold standard has brought us. 1 Under it the appreciation of the "best money in the world" has increased the wealth of the rich, and for the same reason has increase the debt of the debtor. So under the present standard it must continue to be. Witli these object lessons about us little need have we for history and statistics and the studies of scholars. Little , satisfaction it is to us that they have i warned us long since of the deadly evil of the gold standard. It has . brought us at last to the parting of the ways. Whither shall the people go? In the way that has led to their i enslavement or into that which oilers i them their only chance to regain individual liberty, lasting, prosperity . and happiness? Let not our opponents charge us with creating class disi tinctions. Alas for the Republicans! f Their urn nlrt?nHT7 rr-Aatpfl Vw t.hf? j Republican poiicy for the last 30 years - created by the very system we i would now overthrow and destroy. . Nor do we raise a sectional issue. The f nomination you tender repels the charge. None know better than I ! that this nomination is meant as no i personal tribute, but as an assurance , that our party is a non-sectional parl ty. Not by our policy, but only by j the continuance of the gold standard, . can sectionalism be revived. Neither shall our opponents be permitted to terrify the people by predictions that temporarv disturbance or panic will f come from the policy we propose. - The American people will be loyal to , the nation's money - will stand b3f hind it and maintain it at whatever 3 value they themselves may put upon 3 it. Once before in the present generaj tion have our people been called upon - to face a momentous crisis. What i then said Mr. Lincoln, the chosen leader of the plain people of the land? ; Was he awed by threats or weakened . by the wily persuasion of the false > friends who, as today, pleaded for t compromise with wrong? His answer . is, "If our sense of duty forbids this, , then let us stand by our duly fearless3 ly and effectively." 5 Let us be diverted by none of these s sophistical contrivances wherewith we : are so industriously plied and belabor1 ed, contrivances such as groping for f some middle ground between tho 5 right and the wrong, reversing tho divine rule and calling not the sin ner3 but the righteous to repentance, such as invocation to Washington imploring men to say what Washington said and do what Washington did. Neither let us be slandered from our duty bv false accusations agaiDst us. Let us have faith that right makes might, and in that faith to the end dure to do our duty a3 we understand it. We know what the nature of the struggle in which we are engaged, we are anxious only that the ueople of the land shall understand if onfl Uion nn*> halllft is won. Behind | the strong entrenchment of the gold standard are gathered all those favored classes it has fostered tho only dangerous classes of the land. Avarice and unholy greed are there, every trust a<:d combination is there, every monopoly is there, led by the greatest monopoly of the power of gold. With us, in our assault upon these entrenchments, are all thoso unseifish men who not now suffering themselves cannot rest content with conditions so full of suffering for others, and that vaster number of our people who have been sacrificed to tho small and selfish class who now resist their attempts to regain their ancient rights and liberties. There are the patriots of 18%; the foes of u dishonest dollar which en riclies 1U per cenr. or our peopie 10 rob the rest; the defenders of the homes of the land, of public morals and public faith, both of which alike forbid the payment of government obligations in a coin costlier to those who have to pay than that the contracts call for, the defender of the honor of the nation, whose most sacred charge is to care for the welfare of all its citizens. The free and unlimited coinage of silver is the sole remedy with which to check the wrongs of today, to undo the ruin of the past, and for our inspiration we have the justice of our cause and those cherished principles of Jefferson and Jackson which shall be our guide on our return to to power: "Equal and effect justic to all men; absolute acquiescence in decisions of the majority; the vital principles of the republic; the honest pavment of our debts and sacred preservation of the public faith." Profoundly sensible of the high honor of the nomination you tender, I am Truly yours, Arthur Sew all. The Registration Figures. Columbia, Oct. 9.?The official reports giving the registration figures for the several counties in the State are still being received by the Secretary of State. So far all the counties save ten have sent in their reports. The aggregate number of white voters registered in the 26 counties that have reported is 64,892, while the negroes have registered only 9,060. It is not thought that the registered negro vole in the State will exceed 12,000 as most of the largest negro counties are in eluded in the list. Below is given the registration figures so far as they have been received: White. Colored. Barnwell.......... 3,800 250 Beaufort....* 674 503 Berkeley 1,040 245 Charleston 4,867 1,200 Chester 1,907 101 Chesterfield 2,343 340 Clarendon 1,700 250 Edgefield 2,160 425 Fairfield 1,623 82 Florence 2,486 321 Georgetown 814 861 HamDton 1.625 82 Horry 2,828 3815 Lexington 2,899 333 Marion 3,253 450 Newberry.......... 1,938 79 Oconee 2,09-4 276 L'ickens 2,223 185 ttichland 1,711 491 Saluda 1,589 126 Spartanburg 7,451 351 3umter 2,689 422 Union 2,181 197 Williamsburg 2,299 587 York 3,282 125 Marlboro 1,800 379 61,892 9,060 Attempted Assassination. AI31JRVILLK, S. C., Oct. 7.?All of yesterday was taken up in the trial of three colored persons charged with arson in having burnt the house of Mr. Milliner, near New Market. The case was given to the jury aooui a o'clock in the afternoon. The jury remained out until this morning when they were unable to agree upon the verdict and Jndge Witherspoon ordered a new trial. The prisoners were defended by Gray (I on & Graydon. About dark last night W. N. Graydon, Esq., drove out to his home, which is about a mile from the city limits. lie stopped at the house of a neighbor and took his little son, about :i years old, in the buggy with him. Just as he resumed his drive a buggy containing two men passed by, and one was heard to say: "Ther's Graydon, you must shoot now." One of the men turned and fired at Graydon three times with his pistol at a distance of about twenty yards; one of the bullets barely missed his head and the others came uncomfortably near. There was light enough for Mr. Graydon to recognize the men. While they were not witnesses or directly interested in the arson case, they were * ? ??i 1 irom mai neigjQooruuuu auu uuuug the day had taken great interest in the trial. Mr. Graydon will proceed against them according to law. Our citizens who have heard of the attempt on Mr. Graydon's life are very indignant. A Domocnitic Walk Over. Jacksonville, Oct. 7. The election in Florida Tuesday passed oil' quietly. Blackham, Democrat, for Governor, will have a majority of about 15,000 over his Republic an and l'opulist opponents. Of the sixty eight members of the House of Representatives, the Democrats have at least sixty, and the thirty two members of the next Senate, including sixteen holdovers, will all be Democrats. The new Legislature will elect a United States Sen' ? Tn aior 10 succeeu vviniiuauii v^an. *u joint session 99 votes will be cast, a hold over Senator having recently died. As closely as can be estimated, 20 members favor Call's reelection, 08 are against him, 2 are doubtful and 3 are not reported. Captain and Crew t)ro\vne<l. Jnuoxish, N. S., Oct. 8.?The Norwegian bark Ariadone, Captain Paulsen, in ballast for Bay Vorte, ran ashore below Green Cove, five miles cast of here yesterday morning during an easterly gale and went to pieces immediately. The captain and nine of the crew were drowned. Christian Johnsen, the second mate, and a, youth named Johanus Jievenburg, are the only survivors of the crew of 12. The first male's body was found today. % WILL LOSE HIS STATE. HENRY GEORGE SAYS M'KINLEY WILL BE BEATEN IN OHIO. He IIbs Coino In Tliln Conclusion After Spending Two Weekn In tlie State hikI Making an Impartial Invent igatlon of the Situation. Cleveland, October 5.?After such an examination as one may moke in a little over two weeks, it is my conclusion that Bryan will carry Ohio on the third of November, and that the electoral vote of his own State will be cast against McKinley. This is not a preconceived opinion. On the contrary, when I entered the State my first impression, though not decided, tended the other way. Nor is it an opinion in which the wish has been the father to the thought, j know how subtle is the disposition to see the things through the medium of one's own desires, yet I have not only tried to dispassionately discover and coolly estimate political conditions and tendencies, but think that I have so far succeeded in trying to be fair as to under, rather than to over, estimate what has accorded with my wish. Nor have I any such intense desire as to the result of this election to warp my judgment. I resolved from the first to vote for Bryan, for, although I might dissent from him on some things he clearly came nearest to expressing what I think just and right in national policy. But I would cast my suffrage for him as readily if I knew he would not get a single electoral vote as if I knew he would gain the whole college. And I have learned not to count too much upon elections. I tried to aid the election of Tilden with all my strength, because I thought him a believer in that Jeffersonian philosophy of an adherance to which I believe the perpetuity of Democratic Republican institutions depends, I again worked earnestly for the election of Cleveland.only subsequently to feel that it would have been better for the immediate success of all I thought him-to stand for if the election had gone the other way. I was ready to vote for McKinley, although he stands for everything ] oppose, in case Cleveland or such a Democrat as he proved himself to be had been chosen at Chicago, for, free trader as I am, I thought it better to have a thorough going protectionist in the Presidential chair than such a revenue reformer as Mr. Cleveland proved to be. Nor would I now despair were McKinley to be elected, for under him I think there would be such a saturnaI-" MMitrila/va oe mnnlrl KrinCt ilA Ui apcuim piiviic^o ag nvuiu strong and quick reaction. In this cool temper I have gone over so much of the State of Ohio as makes me think I can judge of the rest, forming my opinions from those whom I could think dispassionate, and it now seems to me that Bryan is gaining a greater strength in McKinley's own State than even the local Democratic politicians dare to figure on. Both the hope and the fear that McKinley will carry Ohio are based upon the- perfection of the Republican organization, the special interests at its back and the great amount of money at its disposal. But to my mind, there are forces on tne other side that more than offset these. Take the matter of organization, a matter of which every Democratic practical politician laments the lack, and it seems to me that the Bryan people have the advantage. Their organization is of a different kind, but it will prove, I think, the more effective as the short sword and more open order of the Roman legion proved more effective than the long spears and serried ranks of the Grecian phalanx. In every city in which I have been, and in every town of which I have heard, is the proof that the political discussion that is going on is hand-tohand work, and what counts the hanging up of banners, the hiring of great halls, the bringing of speakers from abroad, the getting up of monstrous excursions, to tne talk of neighbor with neighbor that is honeycombing the entire State with free silver clubs and Bryan leagues. Take the power of the bands and railroads and all they control. Time and time it has been proved that their power at the polls is as nothing when a clear issue is made against them. Take the matter of money. It seems to me that the monstrous size of the funds at Republican disposal will prore an injury, nota benefit, on election day. Over all the States and from the lips of every speaker, Democrat and Populist alike, the word has gone forth to spoil the Egyptians. "Take all they olFer you and then ask for more, but when you get in the voting booth vote as your conscience dictates. " I think the very knowledge of the fact that this on the Republican side is a money campaign will destroy the ellectiveness of money. Now in the last Presidential election llarison is credited with having carried Ohio by only something like a thousand votes, but in reality the contest was even closer than these figures show. One electoral vote was given to Cleveland. The reason of this was that in a number of cases both Republicans and Democrats were under the impression that by marking the first name on the list of electors they would cast their votes for all the rest. By 4V?/-k HomnnM 1 cs 1/Vfct. mnrA tLlia lIUObaiVQ bUVJ iyuaiwi mi>m ax/wo <uw. w than the Republicans. So much so that the vote for the first elector was declared chosen, while the rest of the Cleveland electors were defeated. Thus by the real intent of all the voters participating, Cleveland, not Harrison, should have carried the Stale. Now the consensus of all that I have heard is that there will be in November next a full Democratic vote, and that its loss on the money question will be little, if any, more than its loss by Cleveland's position on the tariff question; that Bryan will have the full vote, as he is certainly getting everywhere in Ohio the enthusiastic work of the Populists; that he will get at least two-thirds of the Prohibitionists, though they may vote for a local candidate of their own; that there is a stronger dertermination among workingmen to vote for Bryan than there ever yet has been to vote for any candidate, and that in the strongest Republican counties throughout the State there is a very large oody of former Republicans who will this year vote for the Democratic Presidential candidate. The specific statements as 1 A- 1 thof I hnUft io counties aim tunuwip^ - -? had as to this from men on whom I can rely would indicate that Bryan will carry this State in November by a perfect landslide. And now, when only four weeks of the campaign remains, there can be no question as to which side is gaining. Free silver is everywhere making its way, and everywhere the Republican candidates are losing ground, i find this in Cleveland as I return to it, after a week's absence, and it is the thing upon which all of those I have talked with elsewhere are agreed. And to to those elements of success is being added that most potent element which Bryan's personal touch with the people is producing and intensifying?a belief in the honesty of the man. From my views of the situation, I cannot think that Bryan will fail to carry Ohio by a large majority, and the same influences that give him Ohio snouiu give mm an wie v,enirai western States that have been considered doubtful.?Henry George in Now York Journal. BYNUM TAKES A GLOOMY VIEW Say? MoKlnI?y Will Hav? to Hiih!1a to Win. New York, Oct. 5.? Congressman W. D. Bj>num, who recently resigned as chairman of the National (Gold) Democratic Committee, arrived intne city last night. Mr. By num's business is to raise money for the campaign, that Indiana, Illinois and other Suites may be oarried for McKinley. Don M. Dickinson, of'Michigan, also ar?% ? iU A Allw T?APilAM/l r* T? AM/1 1 f 1 a nvcu in iiio uujr jcatuiuaj} auu xb xo expected that Mr. Dickinson and Mr. Bynum will have a conference with the Republican leaders today. The ex chairman of the Hannacratic Committee is not as certain of the outcome of the election as he was two weeks' ago. Speaking of the situation in Illinois and Indiana, Mr. Bynum said: "Anybody who talks about what Indiana or Illinois will do does not know what he is talking about. In the southern part of Illinois I know that the whole country is for free silver. I know from gold Democrats that men wearing McKinley buttons visiting Democratic National headquar ters in Chicago every day and securing free silver literature which they are distributing to their fellow-workmen. The Republicans have a per icut urgauiLaiiuu. xuuv axe? ocumu^ out about three carloads of literature every day. "In Indiana many Democrats will vote for McKinley, but many Republi cans who are going to vote for Bryan. Of course the Democrats lack organization, but anybody who thinks they have no votes is badly mistaken. Nobedy knows just how the farmer vo e and the workingmen's vote is going. "A friend of mine, a gold Democrat, but who has stayed in the organization, talking to me the other day, said that he addressed a meeting of 300 men. The meeting was a secret one of railroad men. The 300 were for Bryan. Of that number more than half wore McKinley and Hobart buttons. "I met a mail whoso brother is running for Congress in one of the districts. He himself is a sold man, but, naturally, wants to help his brother, who is running on the silver platform. I asked him how things were going and where he had been, and he told me he had been around in three counties and he had never had such an experience in his life. He said that nearly every other man he had met had changed his politics one way or the other, but from what he had heard he thought the silver men had the best of it. The situation all over the West is just the same, so far as I can learn." Fear of Thunder. Electric storms are far less dangerous than the majority of people imagine. That a severe lightning storm is terrifying admits of no question, and will sometimes briner creat uneasiness to the heart of the strongest man. But the real danger is slight. The chance of ligbtntng striking a house, for example, is not one in a million. Par ticularly is this true in cities, strung, as most of them are, with electric wires. The great danger from electric storms is in the country, and even there the danger may be lessened if the simplest and most common-sense of precautions are exercised. The surest electric conductor is a draught, and if, when a thunder storm approaches, it is seen that all windows and doors liable to occasion a dranght are ke t closed, the danger is at once reduced to a minimum. If a woman is caught out in a fhunder storm lithe safest shelter is a house; the most dangerous a tree, particularly an oak tree. It is peculiar, but nevertheless a proven fact, that, the oak is the most susceptible of all trees to a current of electricity. Over 50 per cent of trees struck by lightning storms during the summer, the government statistician tells us, were oaks, while the beeech tree was the least harmed. Therefore, the worst possible place of shelter in an electrical storm is under an oak tree, while by all odds the safest place is in a house and out of the draught. The actual danger from an electric storm is, in truth, not from the lightning nor the thunder, but from the nervous condition into which nAftnna .allow t.hftmSP.lVPS tO fall. Another Democratic Sweep. Atlanta, Oct. 8.-The following is from A. S. Clay, chairman Democratic executive committee: Georgia has gone Democratic by 10,000 majority. Governor Atkinson is reelected by at least 40,000 majority over the combined opposition. The rest of the State ticket is elected by over 45,000 mojority. The General Assembly is composed of 175 members of the House and 41 Senators. The Populists have elected 22 members of the House and four Senators and tho Republicans have elected two members of the House and one Senator. The Demccrats have elected .">9 Senators and 151 Rep resentatives. This is approximately correct. Georgia will giveBr^an and Sewall a majority over the combined opposition and will elect all the Democratic nominees for Congress. Governor Matthews Confident. Uintrnnvn Va CVt, 7.?Governor * MIJ w. .. , Matthews of Indiana has written the llichmond State as follows regarding the political situation in this State: "In reply to yours of .'Wth ultimo, which I have just received, I am glad to sav that after quite an extended canvass of the State, I have no doubt of the result. Bryan will carry Indiana by a tremendous majority. Our people, especially iu the country dis tricts, are thoroughly aroused to the importance of the issue. My advices lead me to believe that Illinois will be for Bryan, and Ohio may be put in the doubtful list. Well informed gentlemen from Kentucky feel satislied that Kentucky will return to the 1 1 ? l- 1 IK. 1 01(1 lUlUl UUU uv. Ill LUU 1/OIUUtTilUC column again MIXSON HAS RESIGNED. THE BOARD OF CONTROL ACCEPTS THE RESIGNATION. The State Hoard Then Takes Up and Considers Other Natters of Importance to the State. Columbia, Oct. 9.?After all there have been two very surprising things to develop from the recent dispensary investigation, and the action of the State board of control as published .vesterday morning. In the first place State Commissioner Mixson has resigned his position and his duties will cease with tomorrow. This is a com* plete surprise to even Col. Mixson's friends. The other matter is the determination of the State board of con I irui 10 leave me mm ureeK auu 1'eeJ bles concerns out of it when it comes to purchasing liquors for the dispensary. It was noised around yesterday morning that Commissioner Mixson had determined to hand in his resignation, inasmuch as the board's resolution had cleared him of all wrongdoing. No amount of questioning could bring any light to bear on the matter. Several members of the board, when question, denied llatljr that the board had requested the resignation, and Col. Mixson himself, when asked if this were true, denied it almost emphatically. He declined to say whether he would resign or not. Things rocked along through the day, newspaper men being constantly on the lookout for some development, but no resignation was forthcoming. During the morning Col. Mixson was summoned . . w -'.-3 before the board of control and found Governor Evans alieady present. From what can be ascertained this was due to the consideration by the board of the matter of getting Governor Evans to stop the seizures of imported liquors by the constabulary. Mixson, it seems, was called in to make a statement as to the extent of such seizures by the constables. What the upshot of the matter was is of course unknown. It was about 6:30 o'clock yesterday afternoon when CoL Mixson sent to the board his resignation in the shape of the following letter, which gives his reasons for his action: Columbia, S. C-, Oct. 8,1896. To the State Board of Control: It has been my desire for some months to resign my position as State commissioner, but on account of the many rumors and slanderous reports in cii culation I could not afford to do so, preferring to wait an investigation by your honorable board. .You have conducted this investigation and have exonerated me fully from any wrongdoing, and I now tender you this my resignation, to take effect as soon as you gentlemen can name my successor, or in any other manner relieve me of the duties. I would be glad to have y ou act at as early a time as you possibly can, but I do not wish to embarrass you nor the business in causing you to act hastily. Very respectfully, (Signed) F. M. Mixson. Shortly afterwards the State board of control took a recess until this morning. After the doors were opened it was ascertained that the board had accepted the resignation of Commissioner Mixson, to take effect at 6 o'clock tomorrow evening. One of the members of the board, when asked what the board would do about electing Col. Mixson's successor, stated that the board had not acted in regard to the matter as yet, but that it would make proper provision for the conduct of the business of the dispensary until the place could be filled. Pirtor tlio hnnr/1 will nvAmune the features of the law affecting th6 conduct of the business in case of the commissioner's resignation, which were pointed out in The State a few days ago, remains to be seen. Those features of the law were called to the attention of The State by an attorney of some note. It is understood that the attorney general's office holds different views, however, and is of the opinion that the provisions of the law quoted do not apply to the matter in the way pointed out The board, it is said, considers itself free to go ahead and select a successor to Col. Mixson. The board was busy yesterdajr with its monthly purchases of whiskey. Most of the purchases were made, but no information in regard thereto was given for the public, except that no orders were given to the reebles and Live Oak companies. The board has determined not to make public henceforth the names of the parties from whom liquors were purchased and the amounts that were purchased. This ~i:? ~.;ii Ko nrithViAlH in t.h? lmuniiauuu mu nt>uu?'<. future. Mr. Allen, the member of the board whose church intimated that it wanted his resignation as a member of the board, was present yesterday. He will very likely have something to say about the matter today. Mr. White of Cincinnati is still here. He had the board informed that while he had refused to make a statement in regard to the rebate question in Cincinnati, he was here now and had come here for the purpose of becoming a witness. He has not yet gone before the board, however. He will probably give a statement to the press today in regard to the scandal, inasmuch as his name was so frequently brought in by the several witnesses.? State. A SeuHRtlon in Sumter. Sumter, October 7. Since Capt. D. E. Keels retired from the treasurer's ollice of Sumter county it has been reported that he was a defaulter for several thousand dollars, but until this term of court nothing definite was developed. At the last term of court the crand iurv appointed a special com miltee to inspect the books of ExTreasurer Keels and report at this term of court. The committee empleyed W. W. Suder, an expert book- . keeper, to examine the books, which he did, and the presentment of the grand jury made this afternoon declares D. E. Keels a defaulter for $7,164.9">. Judge Benet ordered the Solicitor to take the necessary steps to bring Mr. Keels before the court at this session, which will be done. Murders at the Polls. Augusta, October 7.?A special to the Chronicle from Mi'len, Ga., says: (>n the opening of the polls at Monte, Emanuel county, Wm. Durdens, a negro hand, waiked up to vote, when the Democratic ticket was snatched out of his hand by C. W. Williams, a negro Third partyite. Several Democrats rushed for him, and Williams pulled his pistol and killed S. S. Middleton. 1 le made an effort to escape, but was overtaken and shot to death.