Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-07-27
BLAINE IN WEST VIRGINIA.
Reasons Why the Republican Tickle
Can Not Carry that State.

Reasons Why the Republican Ticket
Can Not Garry that State.
The friends of Mr.. Blaine, with rather
singular confidence, says a Washington
special, when all the facts are considered,
persist in their claim that he will carry
the State of West Virginia. West Vir-
ginia will vote for State officers in Octo-
Der, and hence the campaign there will
open early. 1t has, indeed, in a manner,
already opened, the Greenbaekers having
put partial ticket, which they are look
ing 10 the Republicans to complete, IN the
field.
The grounds upon which the Republi-
cans have their claims of success are:
First, the fact that both Mr.. Blaine and
his friend, Stephen b. Elkins, are largely
interested in railroad enterprises in West
Virginia, and the opening up of the min
eral deposits of the State is expected to
yield Mr.. Blaine great strength from the
masses; and, second, the fusion which is
now on the tapis between the Republi-
cans and the Greenbackers, by which,
for their help in trying to secure the
whole Of the electoral vote for Blaine, the
GTeenbackers are to receive the help of
| the Republicans in the State race for
| Governor, Auditor, Treasurer and School
/ superintendent, for all of which posi-
tions the Greenbackers have put up cam
| didates.
1t appears, however, upon investigation
| that upon the first proposition the Repub-
I licans have no sort Of monopoly in the
I large business enterprises which are
/ building railroads in West Virginia and
| developing her mineral resources. The
/ enterprise in which Mr.. Blaine and Mr..
\ Elkins arc interested is the West Vir-
| ginia and Pittsburg Railway, running
| through a territory promising rich results
| to the State and all parties interested.
/ But there are also interested in this rail-
/ road venture Democrats of no less prOmi-
| hence and influence than ex-senator Davis
/ and Senator Camden, Of West Virginia,
and Hon. VIM. III. Barnum, Chairman of
! the Democratic National Committee.
\ Their money is equal, if not, indeed,
! greater. in proportion to that of Blaine
/ and Elkins. They have entered into
/ whatever benefit West Virginia may en-
/ Joy as the fruit of this enterprise. and if
| the Republican party is to enjoy the
/ credit of the investment, shall not like
| credit pass to the Democratic party for
the investments of Messrs. Davis, Cam
den and BaTnum?
AS to the second proposition, the prom
Use for the Republicans is no better. The
Republicans are willing enough to fuse
| with the Greenbackers, and many of the
/ leading Greenbackers are openly in the
market for Republican Endorsement, but
| reliable figures from past elections show
| that the Democracy can beat both the Re-
publicans and Greenbackers in the strong
est combination they can possibly effect.
| AS stated before, the Greenbackers have
nominated candidates for Governor, Aud
itOr, Treasurer and School Superintend-
ent. The Republicans are to complete
the ticket by nominating candidates for
the Supreme Court Judgeships and Attor-
ney General. This will probably be done,
although there is strong objection in many
Republican stronghOlds to the candidate
for Governor, Judge Maxwell, who was
once Republican, and while on the SUI
preme bench rendered some Objectionable
! decisions.
Then the other arrangement comes in
by which the Greenbackers are to throw
their support to Blaine in the national
contest. Greenbackism, however, has for
years been palpably losing ground in
! West Virginia. Henry 5. Walker, their
most able representative, has returned to
the ranks of the Democracy, and the last
two contests in the State, when their was
fusion of the Republicans and Green
hackers, demonstrated their full power,
and that it was insufficient to beat the
| Democrats.
Two years ago the Republicans COM
bined with the Greenbackers to defeat the
| Democratic candidate for Judge OF the
Supreme Court of Appeals, but failed by
! ulOEt ludH O,UuV NOIeS. III Lno mira
(Kanawha) district they also combined
at the special elections in May, 1888, to
choose a successor to Congressman Kenna,
elected United States Senator, but We're
beaten by / $50 votes. Since 1872, when
Grant carried the State against Greeley,
| West Virginia has been regarded as safely
| Democratic. In 1876 she gave Tilden A.
449 votes more than Hayes, the Green
back candidate Cooper receiving 1873.
In 1880 Garfield was beaten by Hancock
| by II, 14S votes, although Weaver, Green
hacker, pOlled 9,079, the majority OF
which, it is said, were drawn from Demo-
cratic sources. AT the last Gubernatorial
election Tin 1SS0) Jackson, Democrat, re-
ceived a clear majority of 300 over the
aggregate vote for his Republican and
! Greenback competitors.
Probably the best politician in West
| Virginia is Senator Kenna, and his conf
dence in the ability of Cleveland and
Hendricks TO carry the State is supreme.
He believes their majority will be at least
| 10000. subject" he adds, "to such dis
counts as the Republican Treasury may
make, and these, believe, will be small.
The talk about Blaine's carrying West
\ Virginia take to mean that the Repub-
licans intend to buy as many votes as
possible. l am satisfied as TO the result,
because l know they cannot purchase the
! Democracy of West Virginia.