Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-05-26
1.-THE States which voted for Cleveland,
and which are still ciassed as Democratic
IRE with their electoral votes:

~ have LETT out OF these TWO HsJs, as
doubtful States, New York, 80, and Ind
ana, l5-t0tal 81 Electoral votes Now,
there are a. members of the next Electoral
College, so that 223 votes are required 10
elect. Assuming that all the States count
ed In the Republican column vote as they
did before, there is a total OF us, or hYe
short of the requisite DOB. In that event we
could elect a Republican President without
either New York or Indiana, if we could
carry either West Virginia or Connecticut,
either of whose six votes would make a
total Of pa, or one more than needed to
elect"
Then he went on to consider the fact
that Michigan will choose Electors by
districts, and at least four of the four
teen will be Democrats. This will make
it necessary to get nine Republican
Electors outside Of the probable" list.
To do this the Republicans must carry
either New York or Indiana, or both
West Virginia and Connecticut, and GU
the probable list.
But he feels sure that Montana will
be Democratic, that Colorado is ex-
tremely doubtful, that West Virginia
will remain Democratic, and that it is
preposterous for HARRISON to think Of
carrying Connecticut. This narrows
the contest down TO Indiana and New
York. As TO these he says:
Nothing is more certain than that Har-
risen cannot carry Indiana. His majority
there was small in the last campaign, and
since then the Republicans in that State
have become so hOpeleSsly divided that 10
might as we'll be counted in the Democratic
column The defeat Of j. Sloat Fassett
for Governor in New York by such ma
jOrity as was rolled up against him is, 10
my mind, conclusive evidence that Harri-
sion cannot carry the Empire State. EN-
Senator Platt Bas been publicly quoted as
agreeing with this view Is 10 New York,
and 10 is on that ground, and that alone,
that he opposes denomination"
He then proceeded TO state his hope
that BLAINE could carry Connecticut,
that he is the only Republican who has
any chance TO carry West Virginia, and
"if we coucede those two States to the
Democrats, then, In my opinion, it be-
comes absolutely necessary to carry
New York." because q do not believe
that even BLAINE could carry Indiana"
BLAINE, it may be remarked paren-
thetically, tried to carry West Virginia
in 1854 and failed. West Virginia Demo
Gratis are no more nervous over the pos
sibility of Mr.. BLAINE accepting the
nomination than theyare over Mr.. HAIR
ElsoN's pronounced candidacy.
So, after all the figuring, we get
down to the Old familiar proposition
that, whoever may be nominated, New
York is the pivotal State, the battle
ground on which the decisive part of
the contest must be fought. The anony-
nous big Indian thinks lit is certain as
anything in politics" that HARRISON
cannot carry New York, and he adds; Il
cannot now think OF any Republican
who can carry New York except
BLAINE" Well, BLAINE has tried it
and failed. HARRISON has tried it and
succeeded. The precedents are against
BIAINE's chances. This big Indians
figures, and many others from his side,
show clearly only one thing-that the
Republican situation looks most deSpe-
rate to those most familiar to it, and
that something more than figures would
be needed to improve it. 1t is easy to
see that even in the big Indians tables,
which hopelesSly defeat HARRISON and
offer no real announcement to BLAINE,
several States are included in the
probable" Republican list which are
really as doubtful rs New York.