The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1897-03-11
Gain over
preceding

table that the vote of 1892 was an unusu-
ally light one, being a gain of but SO
per cent over that of the preceding presi-
Dental election. This is the lowest gain
made at any time in the quarter of cen
fury which this table covers. The vote of
1892 was evidently the lightest in proper
ton to the voting population that has been
given within the period in question.
1t would not be surprising, therefore,
if the increase in 1896, compared with
1892, should be an unusually large one,
especially in view Of the fact that the in
terest in the election was more intense
than was perhaps ever felt before, at
least in the memory of the present gen.
Grafton. An examination of the percent
age column, however, will show that the
actual increase over 1890 was only 1916
per cent, while in 1876 the increase over
the preceding presidential election was
3O.1 per cent, and the increase in 1888
over that in 1884 was 1873 per cent, nearly
as much as 1896, on which occasion the
interest in the campaign was unusually
great and the efforts to rally every vote,
by both sides, were exceptional. A study
of this table will show to those who ex-
anime it that it cannot be successfully
charged that the total vote of the nation
in 1896 was excessive or out of proper
ton in its increase, especially when it is
remembered that the vote of 1892 was
unusually light and that the percentage of
gain is estimated upon that light vote.
In order to give, however, those who as
sumo an excessive vote in certain States,
the full advantage of every fact, let us
examine thesvotes in the States of which
Mr.. Allen complains and compare them
with the vote of 1892, confessedly light
vote. Pennsylvania increased her vote in
1896 1874 per cent, as compared with the
vote of 1892, and Mr.. Allen complains
that there was a fraudulent excess" of
o. 600 in Pennsylvania vote. He makes
no complaint. however, of the fact that
the State of Montana, which was as
earnest for the free coinage of silver as
was Pennsylvania against it, increased
ber vote 21.9 per cent. Indiana increas-
od ber vote 14.7 in 1896, as compared with
1900 vet Mr.. Allen, whose party carried
south Dakota, makes no complaint of the
"a - thar South Dakota increased her vote
III ner cent. nor does he refer to the
fact that Indiana, in the election of 1876,
whom she went Democratic, increased her
ro+a 26.3 per cent. Iowa increased her
vote 17.6 per cent, and Mr.. Allen charges
~. 500 fraudulent excess of votes, but
makes no comment on the fact that North
Carolina. Populist State, increased her
vote IFS per cent, nor does he refer to
the fact that Iowa in 1876 increased he,
hor vote 8. / per cent in 1896, as compared
viii, ,,it 1892. and Mr.. Allen charges 22,OOO
..froudulent excess" of votes, but makes
~ = reference to the fact that his own
STATE Nebraska, increased her vote Ill
80 cont in the same election. Maryland
ina-ee sad her vote 1913 per cent in 1896,
~ c o with 1892, and although Mr..
Auan charges q fraudulent excess OF
8 e 1no he raises no objection to the fact
tb.t ten States, giving their votes to the
p 1nas Democratic candidate. increased
thn;r votes in much greater ratio than
d;d MARYLAND, nor does he refer to the fact
that MARYLAND herself. in 1883. when sne
w ,ns, Democratic, gained 13.5 per cent
o mn., her own presidential vote N the pre-
esd;r~ election. Ohio. of which AT
Alien complains as casting 94.5OO frauo'