Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-09-27
" EST FIRGINIA'S VOTE.
Careful Estimates Give the state 90 the De-
mocracy by Large Majority.


mocracy by a LaTge Majority.
A Huntington. w. Va, letter TO The
Herald saws: After two-weeks' tour Of
this state, embracing visits 10 more than
half Of the ffly.four counties. and after
having met aud conversed with many we'll
informed people OF all the different polili-
cal parties, your correspondent believes his
conclusions as to the general situation may
have some interest 10 those whose eyes are
directed TO this October State.
Parties here prior 10 this year, with an
occasional exception, have been divided
into Democratic, Repuhli an, and Green
hack. In 1850 Hancock poled for Prcsi'
dent S5,39I; Garfield, 46,2i3; and Weaver,
9LOJ0-pakiug total vote OF ll2,1l3.
Uancoek's plurality over Garfield was H.
las, and bis majority over both opponents
was a.OG9. II 10 claimed. and with good
reason, that the total vote OF 1850 was at
least 10 per cent. lees than the actual num-
Der Of electors. or 1900. CT which 20 per
cent. were Democrats, or 5000. and had
these stay-at-homes voted the majority over
all would have been above 1000. In support
of this claim il Is said that as the kepubh-
cans worked more zeaiously than the Dem
oerais. ana having fewer numbers, their
vote was much more fully polled. while the
Democrats, knowing their majority had
ALWAYS been large. did not work to secure
full vote. regarding success As certain.
Other facts lead 20 the conclusion mat tue
aggregate Of voters was greater than the
voie polled. The Auditor OF State reports
tbe number Of males over twenty-one years
who were sssessable for school purposes IN
issf. the year following the last presi-
dental election, at 12G,fsl. or l3,16S more
than the total vote OF 1850. In lSS- the
Aa ahgr 81
12e.Os5, an increase Of 2,fll over the
wear previous. In that year the total vote
Tor Supreme Judge was but 80, 09i, show
ing tbat nearly $4,000 voters stayed at
home. TIE reports o. the assessors are
said to be not thoroughly accurate, the
number Of polls being uDderstated rather
than otherwise. The conclusion, then. Is
that, making liberal estimate for immigra.
ton and the natural increase, the totl
. number OF persons entitled to vote In West
Virginia in 1884 is from $4,000 TO 10000
IL ten per cent. should remain away from
the polls on eleetion-day the ballots cast
would number from $4,000 TO 10000.
ESTIMATE or THE yOTE.
What viii be the percentage OF stay-sl
homes aud the proportion their number
will bear 10 the different psrties involves
the question as 10 how West Virginia vii
vote Ia October. Msny well-posied per
sons believe that the reserve vote likely L
be Indifferent 30 voting In an ordinsr,
DISQUALIFICATION year Is much greater
than l4.C00. Governor Jackson gives II Al
his opinion that these figures should be
raised 10 between 1900 and $4,000 votes
ana he agrees In locating three fourths Of
the vote in such strong Democratic cOun.
ties as Wayne, Logan, Hampshire, &c.
Now, II by persistent, effort the stsy-st.
homes can be reduced TO but instead OF u
per cent, thon the 1900 would have taken
IRON II 1900 votes, OF which over 5000
would 70 10 the Democrats, giving them a
net gain OF $500 and increasing the msjoi-
ify Of 1880 to about $500. This estimate IL
based on the superstition that the Green
hack vote OF 1868. 079--yet remains In
tact, and viii be transferred bodily 10
tie Republicans. But such conclu'