The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-06-17
No, Ylrrlnln h n. cemp.lEn.


In a hopeless attempt tn instill some
confidence in the disrupted Democracy
Of west Virginia, the Register has
brushed the dust off its arithmetic. and
after carefully studying up on the rules
of addition, subtraction. division and
percentage. has evolved calculation,
based upon an imaginary state gt Rt---
fairs, that with the assistance Of some
Popullsts the Democratic party win be
able 10 carry the state this year BY
plurality in the neighborhood of l5,OOO
The calculation is neatly made and not
a bit confusing If you bring yourself to
imagine the things which are lifting
through the visionary mind Of the Reg
lister. A weak point. however, at the
outset is that the basis Of the strength
of the parties, taken by the esteemed,
Register, Is the vote of 1899. the year OF
the Democratic cyclone, when the people
went mad for change which they have
since regretted by large majority, and
the fact is totally Ignored that since that
time West Virginia has gone Republican
by a plurality OF more than 1900 This
was in 1894. which the Register may say
was an "on" year when the pcunle had Il
'.In'' Tor the Democratic party.
This Is true, but the fact remains that
for an "ofI" year there was heavy vote
poIled, the total being only 1000 less
than in the presidential year of 1899. In
1892 there were l7l,OT1 votes polled in the
state; in 1894 the vote was 40. ia: in 1892
the Democratic plurality was 4,17O; in
1924 the Republican plurality was 1909.
And 1t is also true that the people have
It I'm" for the Democratic party this
year no less than they had two years
agu. fact which the Register ovcrlooks
in Its mathematical article.
The Democratic party has done moth.
ing in the meantime 20 redeem Itself in,
the good opinion of the people Of West
Virginia or any other state. and there Is
not the slightest ground for believing
that the Democrats OF West Virginia
have had their ranks recruited. Every
Intelligent man knows tDat quite the
contrary Is the case. Not only is It tao.
lily admitted on all sides that the Re
publican party will elect It's candidate
for the presidency this year. but few
Democrats in West Virginia seriously
believe that they viii carry this state.
The same conditions which gave the
state to the Republicans two years ago
,xlst to-day. with the added fact that.
the Democratic party II hopelcssly divI-
Icd and tllsorganizcd. It Is well enough
or the Register. In an effort to build up
the hopcs Of Its constituency. to talk
wisely about percentages of natural In
crease and the percentage Of Popullst
votes that will go 20 the Democracy be-
cause Of its surrender to the Populist
fad, and Of free silver Republican votes
1t hopes to gain. but the situation will
not bear out the calculations. The nat
urai increase Of the Republican vote in
West virEInIn has been going along, too.
augmented by large number Of re-
Cruita from the Democratic party, who
nrc dlFgustcd with four yoars Of Demo-
cratic administration, while the Rcpub-
llcan party VIII IoEc very few II any
votes on account Of the money question.
The Republicans Of West Virginia are
protectiOnsts and have confidence In
the wisdom Of tho party and Its ability
10 Ecttlc tho money question. They VIII
not be deceived by the drmngOg!c argu-
mont that the oIiatinE monetary policy
Of the nation Is responsible for tho ills