The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-11-01
WHAT WILL THE VOTE BET

While every presidential election is
attended with excitement that stirs
public interest and presents issues for
decision that should command the
presence at the polls of each voter.
we have had no election since the war
in which attention has so long been
directed to the main issue involved as
this one. The contest is the culmina-
tion-let us hope-of an agitation that
began in 1877 and since 1890 has been
attaining an acute stage. Had the Re
publican national convention executed
the customary straddle, even with the
Chicago convention taking the position
it did, the campaign would not have
had that sharpness Of outline it has
shown. The declaration at St. Louis
for a gold standard put sharper point
on the issue, concentrated the i'll HUI
mors in the blood Of the body polite
and brought them ito head" The re-
suit is an agitation Of the popular mind
that has not been exceIled in virulence
since the war. and that has created a
condition that should bring every voter
in the country to the polls
1t is interesting, in this lulI lust be-
fore the final grapp1e, to consider what
the vote of the nation and state, as an
aggregate, might be and what, in view
OF past elections, it may be- The cleo
ton of 1892, following the census of
1890, was not Of an extraordinarily ex-
citing nature. The apprehension Of
danger and disaster to follow a Demo-
cratic success, which had been one of
The strong resources Of Republicans.
was removed by the election and adj
-ministration Of President Cleveland
from 1885 to 1889, although the radical
declaration of the Chicago convention
In 1892 had alarmed all the beneflciaries
Of protection and impelled them to cast
their full strength. Even with this spur
there were nearly 33 per cent of the
possible voters who stayed at home.
The census Of 1890 gave 16, $40, 81 males
OF voting age. Two years later but 12,-
11O,636 cast their ballots for the five
presidential candidates Allowing for
the natural increase of voters. there
were probably 100000 in that year,
two-thirds Of whom exercised their
right of suffrage. The total population
was 62,622,250 which gives the propor-
ton OF voters to population of one in
five, the factor usually assumed Rn+
or the potential voters the factor would
be about one for every 3.5 of popuIa-
ton.
The present estimated population of
the country is II ,197, 652. Assuming the
usual factor there is voting strength
OF l4,239,530, a figure evidently too low
as shown by the voting-age census of
1897 Taking the factor 35. we have q
potential vote of over 20. 0O0.00o A.
stunning that the unusual interest mani
rested In the issue Of this campaign
Will bring the number Of at-honea
down to the rs per cent Of 1892 WIS
should have a total vote of over IL
100000. In the state the census LAST
years shows voting-age population
OF 429,6SS, but nearly one-third of this
number neglected their duty in the
election of 1894, but 29e, 249 depos,t,np
their ballots. and 1873, 439 STAYING aft
home. The rate of increase from 1890
to 1895 should give the state a poten-
tial vote this year Of 100000. If, owing
to the unusual interest. all but 25 nar
cent vote we should have 800. 900 votes
cast this year. Any estimate of results
based on a less number will probably
prove mistaken. The vote is much more
likely to exceed than fall below that
number.