Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1896-10-17
REPUBLICANS HOPEFUL.
Especial Correspondence

a
is every likelihood Of several Of tho south
ern states declaring at this election for Nc
I Kinley, Hobart and sound money has given
to this campaign new element Of interest.
The eyes Of all who believe that the preser-
walton of the nation s credit is question
passing beyond party lines are turning
eagerly to the soGth to sec what the voters
in that section of the country propose to do
in this crisis.
The preliminary survey Of the field which
was made some time ago was so satisfac-
tory that last week Mr. Hanna, chairman
of the Republican national committee,
frankly said:
81 60 west fully prepared and ready to
meet our opponents in the open field Of
battle which they have chosen for the final
contest with perfect confidence and assur-
ance as to the result The campaign has
been extended. 1t now reaches into many
of the southern states, which give promise
of success owing TO the developed strength
of sound money principles, and this comes
naturally from the local sentiment in their
section"
Views of an Authority.
In order to get more detailed opinion
bearing upon the condition of the southern
states and the prospects Of turning some
of them into the Republican column your
correspondent called today TO see Mr.. n.
b. Scott of West Virginia, a member of
the executive committee of the Republican
national committee.
In the division of the work of the COM
mittee Mr.. Scott has been intrusted with
the highly important task of directing the
campaign in certain of the southern states
"a duty for which he Is amply qualified, be-
cause he is one Of the leading Republicans
of the south and because of his wide and
intimate acquaintance with existing politi-
cal conditions there. Although MIR Scott
was exceedingly busy with the thousand
and one details bearing upon his work, be
turned from his desk for few moments
and talked freely both about the general
political outlook and the situation in the
south. His views are entitled to the widest
acceptance, because he is qualified to speak
with authority on this matter. He has
had, furthermore, exceptional opportunities
for gathering ample information from the
south, inasmuch as he has been continu-
ously on service at headquarters here ever
since July 27.
"What do you think of the situation
throughout this country, Mr.. Scott" he
was asked.
VIII Sweep the Country.
Gin my opinion, was his prompt reply,
"the Republican party, with the assistance
of the sound money Democrats, are going
to sweep the country, and the number of
electoral votes which the electoral college
will cast for Mckinley and Hobart will
not be less than 2I5, and probably 300
There has been u steady tide setting in for
sound money and protection during the
past four weeks, and it is gaining strength
every day. Our people are thoroughly
united and determined to protect the honor
and integrity of this country and keep our
credit where it is today-the best in the
world. There has been great deal said
about tho farmers being for free silver. My
knowledge and acquaintance with the
farmer are such that l am satisfied that
they, above all men, believe in honesty and
practice it. They have plenty of time in
the evenings on the farm to sit down and
read carefully the facts that are laid before
them, and when they once understand the
situation and find out the truth tho bath
erskite and demagogue who is trying to
convince them of the free silver fallacy will
nnd himself very much mistaken in the
character of the farmer, if it is thought he
can be led after false gods. think the
victory for Mckinley and Hobart, sound
MONEY and protection, at this election will
be greater than was the victory of Grant
in 1872. "
"What do you think of the situation in
the southern states?
McKinley's Southern Strength.
''Well, in the first place, there is no cues
I ffoV, uhop1t Mnrxrlond eriNyinpr nj lpDSf from
| Is, 600 to 20, 900 plurality. / regard Mary
land as being as absolutely secure for Nc
| Kinley and Hobart as l do the state of
Pennsylvania, and the same can be said of
| West Virginia, Delaware, North Carolina
and Kentucky, with the added remark that
there Is fair probability of carrying Ten
nessee. In West Virginia, her interests be-
/ ing so largely with the principles OF the
! Republican party, because she needs pro
| lection for her timber, her coal, her wool
in fact, for all of her INDUSTRIES think
we will roll up Republican plurality of
not less than Is, 900 to 10000. This is alb
| solutely the condition in West Virginia to-
day.
! "North Carolina at its last session of
! the Legislature passed new election law
which will give us fair count there and
we have no doubt of carrying the state.
have received over 500 letters from old
Virginia, and l have no hesitation in say
ing that If our friends, the sound money
Democrats, will get us u fair count in 10
or 10 of the dark counties we can carry the
state by 1000 plurality, In all of the 800
answers to an inquiry / sent out, but four
or five were discouraging in their tone, and
they only questioned our ability to get
fair count. The interests of old Virginia,
like those of West Virginia, depend largely
upon protection.
81 see that Senator Faulkner In an In
terview in Washington recently claims the
earth and the fullness thereof, Including
the virginias, Maryland and Delaware
The senator is like the boy who, not hay
ing a candle, whistled when he went into
a dark cellar to keep his courage I'D. This