Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-10-12

Indiana, Ohio and West Virginia.
The elections in the states of Indiana,
Ohio and West Virginia, to-day, enlist
the eager interest of the country on ac-
count of the important bearing it is ex-
pected the result there will have in de-
termining the outcome Of the national
contest three weeks hence. The prob
able effect of victory or defeat has been
generally discussed from various stand
points throughout the contest, and even
rs we write the issue is being decided
by that great arbiter of political disputes
in a government by the people and for
the people-the ballot
A weapon that comes down as still
As snow-fakes fall upon the sod,
but executes a freeman's will.
As lightning does the Will OF God"
The three states named to-day elect
state officers and congressman. The real
battle is being fought in Ohio and In
diana, the guerrilla operations of the allied
enemies of Democracy in West Virginia
scarcely serving to create diversion. In
the IIoosier state, however, the conflict
is most desperate, and glance at the
history of previous elections in that CON-
lnonwealth will disclose ample cause for
hard fighting. While since 1872 the
Democrats have uniformly been able to
record Il plurality Of the vote ut each
successive election, they have not, with
ihe single exception of 1874, shown ma.
tority over all. The comparison Of to-
days vote will be made with that cast
for governor four years ago. when the
state went Democratic, as follows:
Williams, Dem. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 2l3, ,lGl
HarriSgto,m H', t;iik ii,ki:.''.'''''' sTSSi. TsSI.
The total vote on governor was 434,
457, or 1887 more than for president
in November. The Democrats car
fied the state by 5,Osi over
the Republicans, though they failed
to obtain a majority of the total vote
The Legislature is at present Democratic
on joint ballot by a. to q Republicans
Nationals and Independents. The Demo
cratic majority, should be increased in
The new Legislature, which will choose q
successor to Senator Mcdonald. The
congressional delegation at present stand:
six Democrats, six Republicans and ont
National elected by coalition with the
Democrats. The situation is complicated
by the Grecnback nominations, and thu
Republicans claim seven or even eight
districts, but there seems to lie better
reason for expecting that the Democrat:
will elect seven congressman. The cleo
zion of Landers is claimed by from 800
to 1000 over Porter, who will run ahead
of his ticket.
In Ohio the most prominent state Off
cial to be chosen is the secretary of state,
Lang being the Democratic and Town
send the Republican candidate, though
. full Legislature will be chosen, upon
whom will devolve the duty of electing !:
United States senator in the very
remote contingency of Senator-elec,
Gariield's promotion the presidency
The contest has been bitter
one and there is 10 reason to he
lieye that the admirable campaign thu
Democrats have made will not beal
fruit in material reduction of tin
adverse majority of over 1900 ont
year ago upon which the comparison
Of returns will be made. The present
congressional delegation stands clever
Democrats and nine Republicans, but the
Republican Legislature gerrymanderet
the state with the view of securing thir
teen of the congressional districts at this
election. The Democrats have battled
,nanfu!iy TO secure an equal division and
hope to elect ten of their candidates fol
Congress.
In West Virginia L governor and STATE
officers will he elected, and a Legislature
that Will choose United States senator
I'm place of Frank Hereford, Demo
crat. The Legislature is now Democrat,
on joint ballot by 81 to 2s (including Il
GrecEbackers), and will remain Demo
cratic. The Democrats carried the stat
in October, 1876, 10y 56, ,026 to 43,4777, ant
will today elect their ticket headed b,
Mr.. Jacob G. Jackson by some lO,OO(
majority over the Republican ticke
headed by Mr.. Geo. G. Sturgis, despit
the trading that has been in progress
with the Greenbackers. The congres
sional delegation of three will undoubt
edly remain solidly Democratic.