Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-11-02
THE OUTLOOK IN WEST VIRGINIA.
The Democrats Confident of q Majority
OF 5000 and the Legislature.

The advices from West Virginia received by
democrats here are Of an encouraging charac-
ter for that party. The democrats are confident
that the state will give Cleveland majority Of
at least 5000, and they expect to have the leg
islature by from Is to 20 on joint ballot A
democratic official, who has been over the state
recently, said last night to q STAR reporter,
''The republicans, under the leadership Of
General Golf, who wants to succeed Senator
Kenna, are devoting their efforts mainly to the
legislative ticket, and are leaving nothing un-
done to obtain majority in the next legisla-
ture, which will elect United States Senator
Senator Kenna, on the other hand, is max
ing the most thorough canvass of the state
ever undertaken. He has spoken in every one
of the ffty-four counties of the state since the
opening OF the campaign, and will keep it up
until the very eve of the election. On the legis-
,ative fight the democrats are as confident as
they are on the national contest. In the Pam
handle counties up about Wheeling they have
been more than usually active and aggressive,
and think they will be able to gain three legis-
lative districts from the republicans in that
region.
"How about the tariff question:" the re-
porter asked. ''There have been some defec-
tons from the democrats in Wheeling on the
tariff, or tax question, as every one calls it in
West Virginia" the gentleman answered, 'but
have gained rather than lost on the question
Every voter in the state has been supplied
with copies of the leading speeches made on
the tariff debate in the House the last session
These documents were sent through the post
office, SO that there is no doubt they reached
the voters, whose names were obtained from
the poll lists of the state. This work was be-
gYn by the democratic committee in April
last and the speech of Mr.. Mckinley, of Ohio
was sent out as well as the leading speeches on
the democratic side. Those who have trav-
elled through the state during the campaign
have found abundant evidence that these
speeches were carefully read and pondered by
the voters.
"On the other hand" THE srAR's informant
continued, "the republicans did not hear Of
what the democrats had done until late in the
campaign, and then made the mistake Of send
ing their documents through political clubs,
whose officers and members could not be ex-
pected to distribute them as thoroughly as
might be done through the post
office. The constitution Of West Virginia
contains a peculiar provision making it i'm
possible for the legislature to contract a state
debt. When money is wanted for any purpose
it must first be raised by direct tax on the
people. Thus taxation is felt there more
keenly than perhaps in any other state in the
Union, and the state government has to be con-
Quoted in the most economical manner posi-
BILE. So when West Virginia voter is told of
the millions lying idle in the Treasury here at
Washington while taxes are kept up beyond
the needs of tbe Government he feels the
argument for tax-reduction with peculiar
force.
''As to the congressional contests the demo-
Gratis have no doubt about their ability to hold
the three districts they now have, and feel
hopeful of being able to elect successor to
Gen. Gof in the Wheeling district"