Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-10-02
Special Correspondence of The EVENING STAR.
ct

GRAFTON, W. Va, october ISt-
The threat which Mr.. stephen B. Elkins made at
Che opening OF the campaign, that lac meant to
carry West Virginia, has had the effect OF stirring
the democrats TO unwonted activity, and they are
In the midst OF one OF the most thorough and ex-
citing canvasses known since they regained con-
troll OF the state government. stump speakers are
securing the state in every direction, and fences
ana DEAD walls glow with grandiloQuent an
nouncementS OF mass meetings, addresses and bar
pecuesl The opposing state and county commit
tees watch narrowly one another's maneuyers and
whenever republican or fusion campagner makes
descent upon close or doubtful locality, he is
forthwith followed 10y a democratic orator, VINO de-
nounces his miSstatements and refuteS his argu-
Ments; and although the republicans are not now
Claiming that they Will capture the state as conti-
IDENTIFY as they did some weeks ago. their more san
guine leaders have by no means abandoned all hope
oI SO DONG lhey still look upon West Virginia as
good lighting ground. and they claim TO be well
supplied with the SinewS OF war, better known 10
politicians s"Soap AAin other states they are as
sailing the democrats as freetraders and, where
ever possible pushing the tarM the front as the
great issue OF The campaign. This shibbeleth they
expect TO prove Very effective in the mining re-
gioDS OF this, the second congressional district and
also In the first district, where there many iron
and glass factories And To tell the truth as far
as this congressional district goes at least the
democrats are not lodging the issue. Their candi-
date for Congress, Hon. VIM. L. Wilson, handles
the subject feareSSly in his addresses, aud makes
no apologies for his own or parys action on the
Morrison bill last winter. / met Mr.. Wilson the
at keyser in the evening, stopped over at that
place. hoping to meet at the gathering politicians
and others who would AFFORD an inside view or the
situation and state or popular feeling In this Sec
ton. was not disappointed. As the candidate
stepped from the train, he was met among Others
by miner. whose nrst request was that he should
touch upon the tarir in his speech In the evening
Mr. Wilson promised to do SO. and accord
mgiy devoted ~ nearly his entire remarks
democratic revenue reform standpoint. The
chief interest OF this section, and indeed OF all
West Virginia, is coal mining, and while arguing
generally la favor or reducing the revenue. Mr..
Wilson insisted that he favored maintaining the
duties upon this article and charged that the re-
auctions made from time TO time ia the tariff on
coal had been done by the republicans ia the In
tereSt OF New England manufacturers
TARIFF REVISION.
Twas surprised. however, at finding such gen.
eral sentiment here among democrats, even among
workingnen, In favor OF tariff revision and reduc-
ton. The subject was discussed with warmth at
the hotel, and 1t was curious to note how glibly
even the most unpromisng looking miners and
other workmen OF the humblest sort, ratified on the
arguments or the reformerS, and applied TO their
own cases the familiar illustrations OF the evils OF
protection. The miner first alluded to was very
outSpOken in favor OF tariff reduction, and that,
too, although he is employed in the mines OF ex-
Senator Davis, and his brother who are protection
THE FUSION
The fusion which the republicans matched up
with the greenbackers on their state and electoral
ticket does not seem TO be working well. Though
Judge Maxwell, fusion candidate for governor, is
said to be man OF high character and good attain
mentS the truth Is he does not excite great enthH-
siaSm among the rank and file or the Darty and
some OF the republican leaders do not look on him
with great favor. The greenback strength at the
last presidential election in the neighborhood
OF IL, 600 In this state, believe. This was drawn
about equally from both OF the Old parties. The
nomination OF Maxwell, who has always been re-
publican, and processes no sympathy with the
greenbackers OF course proved dstasterul to those
soft-money men who were formerly democrats, as
he had nothing to commend him to them what
ever AS q consequence, they are drifting back
INTO the democratic ranks. and while Maxwell will
VIII not sufficiently increase his party vote TO
near electing him. The same. IL is thought, Will
prove true In the presidential contest In November
This view or the situation obtain from repub-
can editor, who. while confident the democratic
majority would be seriously encroached upon could
not persuade himself that his party would be sue
ceSSful. Had the flsiOn movement been harmoni-
Gus, the result would probably have been a repub-
lfcan victory. The democratic plurality In 1880 was
5000. and the greenback vote 1900, leaving a
clear majority OF only 5000 for the former IL was
this narrow majority which at the outset inspired
the republicans with the hope OF capturing the
state could they make a bargain with the green
hackers They made this bargain, but as fire.
quentiy happens in such cases, while the leaders
premise they f1nd they are not able TO deliver the
votes on election day.
BY many democrats with whom I have talked
the situation was outlined I'm substantially the
same way. Most Of them admitted that their usual
majority would be somewhat impaired at the COM
ing elections, but All seemed quietly confident OF
victory. The general estimate places the demo-
cratic majority at from 5000 20 10000.
Among the stump speakers from outside the state
VINO are engage age In the democratic canvass are
Mr. Monaghan, OF Rhode Island. They addressed
meeting here this evening.