The morning call., 1892-12-09
STATE VOTE FOR PRESIDENT.

Il seems that the total vote in this State
for President (Inyo being estimated) was,
roughly, 10000. This would imply pop
ulation of about 1850. 900. which is probably
not far from the truth. Ia the rural eoun-
ties everybody votes. In the cities ineivlsm
Is the cause Of some derelicti0n Of duty, but
take il all round the proportion on ordinary
occasions is about one voter TO FIVE persons.
The vote was so close that one OF the
Harrison electors received mora votes than
one of the Cleveland electors, and the Flee
toral College will consist of eight Demo-
Gratis and one Republican. The Secretary
OF State ascTibes the fact to the scratching
OF one Democratic eleetOr by the voters In
the San Joaquin Valley. who wanted to
elect their man. Hanseomb. AS it turned
out, the operation did not benefit Hans
comb, but elected Bard. who happened to
be first on the list of Republican candidates
for elector. The last time there was a
divided delegation in this State it was due
to the refusal of many Democrats TO sup
port Judge Terry, who had killed Frederick.
1t does not appear that there was any par
tlculaT objection on this occasion 10 the de-
feated Democratic elector, Thompson. who
is worthy newspaper editor. He CHANGED
10 receive the lowest vote on the Demo-
cratic side and was beaten by Bard, who
received tie highest vote on the Republican
side. The difference between the two was
small. Bard got II, 756 votes and Thomp-
son 1850. Mr. Bard will have the salts
faction Of Illustrating the merit Of minority
representation.
If the people had voted for the President
directly Cleveland would nave carried the
State by about $50 votes California has
always been close State. Hancock car
ried il by 81. But $50 m ajority IN a vote of
269000 shows pretty even division of
opinion.
There can hardly be doubt but the ma
1ority. such as it is, was due to the iBdigBa-
tion caused by the efforts of De Young,
supported by Huntington with railroad
money. to foist himself into the United
States Senate. Under norman conditions
Harrison would have carried the State by
about 1000 majority. There is no reason
why his vote should have been less than it
was in 1888. The causes which operated In
the East to cost him New York and Illinois
had no application here. But, though siren
uous efforts were made 10 disentangle De
Young from the national ticket, and TO pre-
vent Republicans who were determined to
defeat the impudent braggart from boiling
the ranks on the national contest, 1t appears
that certain number of them, who seem to
have numbered about 1900. could not dlstin-
guish the part Of the ticket which they
wanted TO support from the part which they
wanted TO defeat. They went over to the
Democratic party, and the consequence was
that Harrison lost the State. Il De Young
had been out of the way there is hardly
room for doubt that the result would have
been different.
In close States a little thing will turn the
scale, and the consequences may be serious.
A very few changes in the Eastern vote
might have made the result of the election
turn on that single vote in California, which
the Democrats lost and the Republicans
won. If that had happened the folly of the
Republicans az Sacramento, and their en-
enlargement Of De Yonngs insane preten-
sions, might have transferred power from
one party 10 another. 1t was not for want
of warning that they elung to Crimmins,
Kelly and De Young. The wsest men in
their party put them on their guard. But
they were infatuated Instead OF kicking
the whole batch of bosses and inflated ad-
venturers into the ditch. and bidding the
Chronicle do lis worst. they erawled at the
feet Of the worst man in the State, and took
the money Of the corporation which has
been sappiug our life blood. and now they
have got their reward.