Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-11-20
DOUBTFUL WEST VIRGINIA.
Senator Faulkner Claims His State 70,
the Democrats.

SIS West Virginia republican or democratic
at present.? asked STAR reporter Of Senator
Faulkner last night, as the West virginian-the
central figure in group of politicians-stood
in the National hotel lobby.
| 'West Virginia" replied the Senator. sis
| democratic. My latest information il TO the
| effect that We have elected the governor by a
| nice little majority-probably 2OOP We also
have the Legislature by a majority of two. The
| congressional contests have, 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 1000"
ITO what cause or combination of causes do
you ascrlbe the narrow escape the democracy
OF your state has just had?" queried the re-
| porter.
There were many causes replied the Sem
| ator. - In the first place our friends. the
enemy had magnificent organization; its like
has never been seen in West virrinia 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.
I'm my own county the republican committee
brought back more than 300 voters, 119 Of them
negroes, who had gone away from the state to
live but who had not up to election day, for
felted their right Of suffrage at their old homes
Some OF these had strayed as far away as Kan
sas and Nebraska. but they all returned in
time to do their utmost for their party on the
eventful 9Th of November The sinews of po-
iltical warfare were not absent. There was a
good deal OF sinew and it exerted itself nightly
Had 1t been put into active operation few
days earlier 1t would have carried the electoral,
state, and congressional ticket for the party Of
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
goodY' ventured the reporter.
That's about it," said the Senator. "The
. distribution did not commence until the Satur-
day before the election and nothing could be
done with it save in the counties along the
railroads. Had the republicans had time to
| reach the back counties we would have been
beaten out of our boots. Comparatively, we
had no funds. The results of the financial
policy was apparent when the returns came in.
The back counties, beyond the reach of
Doodle gave their old-fashioned democratic
majorities, while the counties along the rail-
roads showed such an extraordinary conversion
to republicanism that it was not hard to doubt
the sincerity of the converts"
How much money was disbursed for legiti-
mate expenses inquired the reporter.
Il don't know anything about the amount"
said the Senator, with the air of man who
meant to say: You cannot find out all I
know"
One of the West virginians in the group
broke in, however with: II know. The re-
publicans spent fully 100000 in the state.
Matt Quay sent $50, 900 from the national COM
mittee, but he did not do so until 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"
imp
''As much as We could spare" was the reply;
our opponents. If We had you'd have heard
the returns from West Virginia long enough
ago."
EFFECT OF THE TARIFF
"What effect did the tariff have?" asked the
reporter, turning once more to the Senator.
"A very encouraging one for u.s." he replied.
I'm the town of Wheeling, where the manu-
featuring interests of the state are all conferred
and represented, we increased our majority,
although five prominent democratic manu-
facturers had deserted us. Organized labor
was with us all the time; the tariff question
had been discussed in the unions and assem-
blies, and the workingmen voted intelligently.
The old farmers jumped on US though; they
couldn't stand reduction on wool, and we
couldn't pound it into their heads that the re-
duction, by the cheapening of the manufac-
tured articles would inure to their benefit"
West Virginia may then be classed hence
forth with the doubtful states?"
Yes; / am sorry to say she is rather dubious.
1t Will solidify the democratic party within the
state: There was great deal Of ticket scratch
ing this time, but the men who did it are sorry
already. and they will not do it again. The
democracy of West Virginia will, from this
time forth, be harmonious and victorious"