Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-11-07


West Virginia. and perhaps also New jersey.
Virginia. North Carolina. Wisconsin and
Nevada It Is scarcely probable that the last
named states entitled to rank as doubtful,
but for the moment it may be interesting TO
consider what they have done and something
about their conditions.
NEW YORK GENERALLY REPUBLICAN.
Beginning with New York, upon which all
eyes are turned, it is interesting to remember
that since the republican party elected its first
President in 1860. the state has but three times
given a democratic plurality, and on every one
of those occasions New York man headed the
ticket On one other occasion. namely in 1888,
a New York man again headed the democratic
ticket and was defeated BY plurality Of IA, 373.
Just what reasons there are for believing that
this plurality of 1873. OF four years ago. when
the same candidates headed the respective tick
cts. will be reversed this time il difficult to
understand. The drift of republican opinion
here is that it will not be reversed and
that the feeling among the business men
and capitalists that they do not want the bust
ness OF the country unsettled, investments
made uncertain, manufacturing checked and
the currency made uncertain in value, and with
the workingmen of the state fearing that
change in the tariff policy would reduce their
wages and the Irish voters inclined to side against
the democratic party, it is difficult TO under
stand what impulse is going to lead them to re-
verse the republican plurality Of four years
ago.
CoSSECrIcUT PROBABLY REPUBLICAN.
Connecticut has given a democratic plurality
three times in the eight presidential elections
which have occurred since the republican party
became a fact in 1860. Its democratic plurali-
ties we're: In 1876. $500 votes; in 1884. 1855,
and in 1883. 336. The republican plurality In
1872 was 1850; in 1890, 1856. So that in the
i've presidential elections OF the past twenty
years the democratic plurality has been $50,
and the republican plurality 7,406. The pro-
lection idea is strong in Connecticut, as 1t 10 in
all manufacturing sections. and the feeling on
both sides is that there will probably be q re-
publican plurality there this time.
NEW JERSEY PROBABLY DEMOCRATIC.
New Jersey has been democratic practically
all the time since 1860. In that year there were
four republican electors and three democratic.
In all OF the other presidential elections. how
ever. New Jersey has given democratic plu-
raitv. and there is reason to believe that she
will do so this time, though there are many re-
publicans who claim that with the strong feel
ing that there is in favor of protection their
chances of success are very good.
DELAWARE DOUBTFUL
Delaware has always cast her vote with the
democrats, except in 1872. There can be no
doubt. however. that the republican chances of
success there are good this time, and the re-
feel COUuUeut Ol Tue
state. while the democrats admit that the
chances are a little more than even against their
party. Senator Higgins is doing very acute and
able work for the republicans there, and with
fairly good prospects OF success.
THE INDIANA SITUATION.
Indiana attracts special attention next to
New York 1t is a curious fact that in the
mind of the average citizen Indiana is looked
upon democratic state This grows out
of the fact probably that in off years Indiana
frequently. perhaps usually. is democratic, but
in presidential years this is not the case. In
the eight presidential elections which have
taken place since the republican party came
successfully TO the front the democrats have
carried Indiana but twice. namely, in 1876 and
in 1854. In both of those cases that popular
and able democrat. Mr.. Hendricks was second
on the ticket. There were two other occasions
in which even the presence of an Indiana man
upon the democratic ticket failed TO give demo-
cratic success. In that state. now that the
advantage of an Indiana man on the
ticket is on the republican side, it is
scarcely reasonable to suppose-other things
being equal-that Indiana will reverse her GUS
tom of giving republican plurality in presf-
dental election. The plurality which the DEM
ocrats had in the Only two presidential elections
in which they have ever carried Indiana was in
1876, 5,515. and in 1884, 6,527. The republi-
can plurality in 1872 22,5i5; in 1850.
1852. and in 1888, 2.3i9. Thus in the five
elections of the past twenty years the demo-
cratic plurality in Indiana has been Il. 042 and
the republican plurality Al SOC. But the demo-
Gratis are fairly confident of carrying Indiana
this time. They seem to base their confidence
here upon the reports received from such
scute democrats as Senator Voorhees,. Chair
man Sheerin and Postmaster Dalton OF the
House of Representatives, whose judgment is
believed to be extremely accurate; also upon
the further fact thnt the democrats are unable
= Il
TO accept offers of even bets on carrying the
state for Cleveland.
As to WISCONSIN, not only has the state always
given a republican plurality which has never
fallen below 6.0O0 but in the last presidential
election the plurality was 81 1921.
soaE SOUTHERN STATES.
Alabama, which has been looked upon as
fairly in the democratic column by the repub-
hcans, never gave anything but democratic
pluralities, except in 1868 and 1872. which we're
under exceptional circumstances. 1t il true
that the circumstances today are somewhat
Exceptional" but very few really expect to
see the vote OF Alabama counted any thing
but democratic.
North Carolina is another state somewhat pc
culiar in this particular. She gave republican
pluralities in 1865 and 1872 and democratic
pluralIties since that time which have seldom
fallen below 2OO00 that OF 1888 being but
there by way of the populists leads some we'll
informed men to doubt whether the democrats
will get the electoral vote of North Carolina.
while not few insist that 1t may be given to
Harrison.
Although Virginia il claimed with the utmost
confidence by the democrats and is not counted
upon by the republicans, it is an interesting
fact that the democratic plurality there eight
years ago fell from about &c, 900 in 1850 to al
in 1884 and dropped down to / $50 in 1888. If
the populists really making the inroads on
the democratic ranks that is claimed. and a fair
vote and fair count are had. the little demo-
cratic plurality OF .539 of four years ago nigh:
be lost in the shuttle, even though it is not ex-
pected by the leaders on either side.
West Virginia is confidently claimed by the
democrats and claimed with fair degree OF
confidence by the republicans. West Virginia.
II viii be remembered, gave republican plu-
ralities in 1861. 1868 and 1872, and democratic
plurslites in 1876. 1850, 1884 and 1888. 1t is
an interesting fact, however, that since 1880
the democratic plurality has been steadily
growing less In 1850 the democratic plurality
was 10. 1+S. in 1884 il was i,211 and in 1883 it
was $50. At the same rate Of decrease the plu-
rality would be on the other side, and the re-
publcans insist that the additions to their vote
in the state since 1858 gives them good reasons
to believe that this will be the result.
DEMOCRATS AT DISADVANTAGE.
Looking over this field of doubtful states il
will be seen that the history Of presidential
elections since the republican party came ipto
existence fayors republican success in nearly
Al Il. n..s1