Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1892-05-23
THE GAZETTE.
How the Repnblicans Figure.

A leading republican Senator, who is
almost certain to be one of the leading
managers of the coming campaign, said
in Washington on Saturday: "Write
down the lists of States which may be
classed as probably republican, with
their electoral votes, and you will have
this result: California, 81 Colorado,
Idaho, 3; Illinois, "a Iowa, 10 Kan
sas, 10; Maine, 6; Massachusetts, 10
Michigan IA /; Minnesota. 8; Montana,
3; Nebraska, 8; Nevada, 2; New
Hampshire, q; North Dakota, 3; Ohio,
%; Oregon, 4 Pennsylvania, 80
Rhode Island, 4 South Dakota,
Vermont, 4 Washington, 4 Wiscon-
sin, u; Wyoming, 3. Total, 2lS.
''The states which voted for Cleve-
land and which are still classed as dem
ocratic, are, with their electoral votes
Alabama, II Arkansas, s; Delaware,
3; Florida, 4 !; Georgia, IS; Kentucky,
13; Louisiana, s; Maryland, s Missis-
sippi, 8; Missouri, II; New jersey, 10;
North Carolina, IL South Carolina, 8;
Tennessee, u; Texas, Is; Virginia, y;
West Virginia, 6; Connecticut, 6; TO-
tai, 175.
Il have left out of these two lists as
doubtful States, New York, Sc, and In
diana, 15-total, 81 electoral votes.
"Now, there are IA members of the
next electoral college, so that 223 votes
are required to elect. Assuming that
all the States counted in the republi-
can column vote as they did before.
there is total of 21S, or five short of
the requisite 223. In that event, we
could eject a republican president VIII
out either New York or Indiana, if we
could carry either West Virginia or
Connecticut, either ofwho5e six votes
would make total Of 224, or one more
than needed to elect.
But right here arises difficulty
which has not been sufficiently consid-
cred by the general public, and which,
to make a republican election sure,
must be overcome. Michigan has IN
dertaken TO carry its congressional ger
rymander into the electoral college by
providing for the choice Of the electors
by congressional districts; even the
clcctors-at-large are to be so chosen.
the State having been divided into two
districts for that purpose. The consti
tutionality of this action is now before
the Supreme Court of that State, and
whichever way it may be decided there,
the question will undoubtedly be appeal
ed TO the Supreme Court of the United
States, so that it may be q long time be-
fore the legality of the choice Of elcc-
tors by districts can be decided. As
matter of fact, however, the Michigan
members Of the electoral college will
be chosen by districts, and, in my judg-
ment, at least four Of its fourteen cleo
tors under this system will be demo-
cratic Subtract four from the column
of 21S which have given you, and you
have only 214, making it necessary to
elect at least nine additional electors
from either the democratic or the doubt
full column That makes it necessary
TO carry both West Virginia and Con-
necticut in order to win republican vic
tory, or else to carry New York or In
diana.
''As between Indiana and New York.
l feel certain that Mr.. Harrison will
carry his own State, and thus still have
six votes more than we need in the
electoral college, even without New
York. am, therefore, at loss to see
how the republican party can possibly
be defeated next fall, even though the
democrats should nominate Senator
German, who, ! will admit, is the
strongest man the democratic party
could possibly nominate.