Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-11-17
ECHOES OF THE ELECTION
West Virginia Uncomfortably
 Close and Doubtful.
THE. LATEST ABOUT CONGRESS.

NJ ajorities for All Candidates Very Small in West Virginia and May Go Either way-Contests Inevitable-survey of the Political Field.
 CHARLESTON, W. Va, Nov. T.-West Virginia is still enveloped in mist of doubt which can only be dissipated by the official count. Except on the electoral ticket, the vote is so close that perhaps 100 votes will be the margin of difference between the two parties the state ticket, and in the three congressional districts in dspute-namely, the First Third and Fourth-the maJorltles will not aggregate 100. There seems to be no doubt about the success of the Democratic electoral ticket. Official and other reliable data received by the secretary of state from about onehalf the state point to this result by a majority ranging from 500 to 1,OOO.
 On the state and congressional tickets the trouble arises from the absence of reliable returns and the difficulty of procuring them in advance of the official count. All con- lectures based on data thus far received make the result close. The Republicans claim Goff's election by about POO majority, based on data already received and on the estimated vote of the counties not yet re- ported. The majorities given out and pub lished since election day are inaccurate, un- reliable and misleading, and this applies to the majorities reported on both sides.
 It is upon such incomplete data and upon such altered figures that claims are based for the election of Golf and Fleming, respec- lively, as well as for the election of the three congressman in dispute. Secretary Waller expressed the belief that Fleming is elected by about 100 majority. This belief is founded on an examination of the certificates now in hand and on answers from county officials charged with the custody of the sealed packages. So far errors and mistakes ill computation have been discovered, the result has not been affected, these are about equal. Secretary Walker described the pres ent situation when he said:
 ''While I believe Fleming will be elected by about 100 majority, yet it is not improba- ble that when all the returns are in they may show a small majority for Golf. The official count will alone determine the result. Neither candidate will have more than 15O majority"
 The recount that has been demanded in several counties will delay the official ascer- tainment of the result in the state and in the congressional districts, but Secretary Walker believes that by Tuesday the successful can didates may be named.
 In this congressional district the result is as much in doubt as that for governor The
 
 Alderson, Democrat. The returns from 6 few of the counties composing the district have been received, and from some of then number of precincts are not reported il any form Both sides claim the victory, but by so small majority that either may bt overturned by the official count. The same is true of the Ninth district, in which Smitl is the Republican and Jackson the Demo cratic candidate. Whoever may be success ful in these two districts are likely to obtain certificates on less than fifty majority, ac cording to present estimates, and no matte to whom certificates may be issued, ther are indications that the candidates declaret defeated will make a contest in the house o representatives.
 WASHINGTON, Nov. 17.-It is believed her that two Democrats are elected in Californi and that Pendleton the Republican who's : election was very close, is also elected i 3 West Virginia.
 l Harry Smith, the journal clerk of tn house, has issued the following list, careful revised, and believed to be gleaned from tn