The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1896-08-04
THE ALABAMA CONTEST.
Democrats Garry the State by an
Increased Majority.
JOHNSTON UNDOUBTEDLY ELECTED

The Democratic Candidate for Governor
Says His Majority Is Fully 10000. and
May be Increased to 10000, with two.
thirds of the Legislature Democratic.
MONTGOMERY, Aug 4-The size Of the
Democratic majority seems to be about
all that remains In regard of yesterdays
state election. Because of the slow pro-
cess OF counting the votes on the new bal
lot law returns are necessarily slow in
coming in, but there is no doubt of COM
plete Democratic victory. Incomplete re-
turns from about half the counties SO far
received indicate Democratic gains in all
but Mobile and Macon. In the former the
Democrats appear to have lost 800 votes by
stay-at-homes, but the county Is still in
the Democratic column by 500 majority.
In Macon county, which gave Oates a
majority of 800 in 1894, the result Is doubt
full. Tho Democrats on the other hand
have carried Tuscaloosa county by 1000
majority. 1t gave Kolb 200 majority two
years ago. Marshall county, which went
for Kolb by 800, is close and probably
Democratic Lee county, which had u
Populist majority of 500, is like Marshall.
Kolb in "a, Is In the Democratic column.
Talapoosa, with 800 majority for Kolb at
the last election, is close and may be Dem
ocratic. Fayette, another Populist county,
Is in the doubtful column as are also
Coosa and Dekalb.
In the counties which Governor Oates
carried two years ago there have been in
creased Democratic majorities in all so far
heard from except two. In the BLACK
belt" every county will roll up its usual
large Democratic majority, ranging from
5000 to 5000 each. Jefferson, which gave
Oates less than hundred majority, will
give Johnston probably 500 majority.
Green county increases its Democratic
majority The same is true in nearly
every north Alabama county In this
section, where the Populists are stronger
than elsewhere in the state, that party lost |
heavily. The negroes in north Alabama
generally voted for Goodwin, the Populist-
Republican nomineefor governor, but the
number of Populists who voted for Johns
ton was larger than the negro vote cast |
for Goodwin
Captain Johnston said this morning that
he stands to his original figures of 10000
as the lowest estimate of his majority. |
From reports which he has received he
feels like increasing these figures to $4,000,
with two-thirds Of the legislature Demo-
cratic.
State Democratic Chairman ]. B. Knox
said: "Johnston's majority is probably
larger than that of Governor Oates two
years ago, which was $1,000. l think we
have the legislature by an increased ma
jority."
At Populist state headquarters the
chairman was not on hand, being absent
from the city. The secretary, Frank Walt
zelle, said; 1--WE have received no returns
whatever from the state. We feel that if
we have had fair count Goodwin has
won. The size Of his majority would be
governed by the number of votes the Dem
Gratis. steal in the black belt am not
to give out my figures but l be-
lieve we will carry eight counties which
Oates got two years ago, and lose two
which Kolb carried. We expect the horse
back mails to show Goodwyn's election"
P. g. Bowman, another Populist, said
he believed Goodwin would have from
10, 900 to 90, 1000 majority, but had seen no
returns upon which to base his claim,
which was founded altogether on opinion.
William Vaughan, chairman of the Re-
publican state central committee, made
The following statement: 1.-THE news of the
election in this state is meagre and moth
ng like an accurate estimate can be made.
But it is evident that the returns will give
Joseph f. Johnston, Democratic candidate
or governor a majority Of some 10000.
rhe usual count out has evidently been
escorted to in order to defeat A. I. Good
yyn. By this means the Democrats will
probably secure the state legislature"