Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1888-11-24
DOUBTFUL WEST VIRGINIA.
SENATOR FAULKNER CLAIMS HIS
STATE FOR THE DEMO-
Gratis

Is West Virginia republican or
democratic at present ?" asked Star
reporter of Senator Faulkner last
night, as the West Virginian-the
central figure in a group of politicians
stood in the National hotel lobby.
| "West Virginia, )" replied the Sena-
tor, is democratic. My latest infor-
nation is to the effect that we have
elected the governor by nice little
maj probably 200. We also
have the legislature by majority of
two. The congressional contests
have, l think, resulted in giving us
two of the districts, but there is still
room for little doubt on that score.
Our electoral vote is for Cleveland by
plurality of not much less than ], :
000."
"To what cause or combination of
causes do you ascribe the narrow es-
cape the democracy of your state has
just had ?" queried the reporter.
"There are many causes" replied
the Senator. "In the first place our
friends, the enemy had magnifi-
cent organization its like has never
been seen in West Virginia. Every
part of the state was carefully looked
after and every republican voter who
could possibly reach the polls was
there with his little ballot in good
season.
BRINGING HOME VOTERS.
$" In my own county the republican
committee brought back more than
300 voters, 1l9 of them negroes, who
had gone away from the state to live
but who had not, up to election day,
forfeited their right of suffrage at their
old homes. Some of these had stray
ed as far away as Kansas and Nebras-
ka, but they all returned in time to do
their utmost for their party on the
eventful 9th of November. The sin
ews of political warfare were not alb
sent. There was good deal of sinew
and 1t exerted itself nightly. Had
it been put into active operation few
days earlier it would have carried the
electoral, state, and congressional
ticket for the party protection"
THE REAL CAUSE.
'Then you ascribe your victory to
the fact that the republican managers
did not turn the money loose until it
was too late to do them any good ?n
ventured the reporter.
That's about it," said the Senator.
"The distribution did not commence
until the Saturday before the election
and nothing could be done with it
save in the counties along the rail-
roads. Had the Republicans had
time to reach the back counties we
would be beaten out of our boots.
Comparatively, we had no funds. The
result of the financial policy was ap-
parent when the returns came in. The
back counties, beyond the reach of
boodle,' gave their old-fashioned
democratic majorities, while the coun-
ties along the railroads sho wed an ex-
traordinary conversion to republican
ism that it was not hard to doubt the
sincerity of the converts"
How much money was discussed
for legitimate expenses p inquired
the reporter.
don't know anything about the
amount said the Senator, with the
air of a man who meant to say "You
cannot find out all / know"
One of the West Virginians in the
group broke in, however, with: 81
know. The republicans spent fully
100000 in the State. Matt Quay
sent $4,000 from the national COM
mittee, but he did not do so until the
republicans in the State had raised
$4,000 to add to it. Then there was
not less than $4,000 more spent in
local fights"
"How much money did the demo-
Gratis put in Pr
AS much as we could spare,n was
the reply 81 but we didn't have any,
thing like as much as our opponents.
IF we had you'd have heard from
West Virginia long enough ago.n
EFFECT OF THE TAkIF.
What effect did the tariff have ?''
asked the reporter, turning once more
TO the Senator.
A very encouraging one for us,n
he replied. :" In the town of Wheel
ing, where the manufacturing inter-
ests of the State are all centered and
represented, we increased our major
ity. although five prominent demo.