The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-09-19
VIRGINIA REPUBLICANS


Dormant - Their Relations With
Those Of Other states-PolIticaIIy
and Industrially : West Virginia
Far Ahead ofthe Old State.
New York Sun: The relation which
the Republicans of VIrgIpIe bear to
their political brethren eiSewhere is Pc
eullar. In the presidential election OF
ls72 the Republicans were beaten in
virginia by only 1900 votes. In 1880 the
majority against them was 1900. In
1854 the majority against them was
only 5000 and in 1883 It was only 1900.
In 1896. with the support of the combln-
ed Democratic and Popullst parties In
the state, Bryan's vote was $4,000 to
$4,000 for Mckinley and lYet In the
present Virginia legislature there are
only eight Republican members out of
total Of 40. and at the'last state cleo
ton. that OF 1887 many OF the Republi-
cans refused to participate In a conVen-
ton for the nomination OF d state tick
ct. In 1898 the Republicans nominated
no candidates, but let the state 20
Democratic by default, and this year,
though the election Is for legislators
only and not for governor, one Of the
most active Republcan1f In the state,
General James A. Walker, q member OF
the Republican executive committee,
has expressed the opinion that
his party win make no noml-
nations for the legislature. He
thinks II Is their policy to let the DEM
ocrats fight this campaign out by them
selves, and that the bitterness among
the members Of that party may result
IN some important developments at or
before the presidential election Of next
year, when the Republicans OF the Old
Dominion will resume their party ac-
tivIty.
This curious method of dealing with
political conditions In state strongly
Inclined, for many reasons, in favor OF
Republican candidates, has never yet
been made entirely clear. Virginia is
governed in the political action Of the
voters generally by the same conditions
as prevail in the neighboring states Of
Maryland and West Virginia, both OF
which gave substantial majOrlties for
President Mckinley three years ago.
Virginia more than either has another
ground Of frlendliness to the Republic
can party In respect TO its large manu-
featuring interests the development
OF which has made Virginia almost a
protection state. The interests of
Maryland are shipping and agricultural
for the most part, while West Virginia,
as a great producer of lumber and coal,
has not yet, outside OF the city OF
Wheeling, taken very active part in
the, development Of manufactures. All
the conditions seemed to operate rather
in favor Of Republican success In the
state of Virginia than among its two
ncighbors, but an obstacle to Republic
can success Is found in the. plan adopt
ed by the local Republican leaders OF
abandoning all contests except In each
fourth year. qGi7s
The practical result Of this voluntary
abstentlon is as follows: The state Of
fees Of Virginia are Democratic
hands. The local offices. 90 which there
are n very large number In Virginia, a
state OF more than hUIdred counties
New York has only sixty-one), are in
Democratic hands ard Democratic
PARTY Inns control OF the shaping Of leg
lslation, Of the estabishlishment OF
conditions OF, voting, and OF the election
machinery. and also administers the
laws in nearly every department. The
rr-t Co-Grcss will hnvsNRLne Demo-
critic meHhcts from Virginia with one
cogtestcf rasr. II scttl9A IN favor OF
the R?puAllcRnit win glyS,pne Repub-
lien merfber, otherwise shlfItcn will be
TSiaocrrts. 10th senatoys are Demo-
c'a:p, and tho RepublltHH5enter into
each. presidential fight under dlsadvan.
tases which 1t would be difficult to ov-
errate.
Yet Notwithstanding these disad-
vn1tages they come each four years 80
near TO carrying the state that DIFF
ference Of comparatively few votes
would change Ghc result esGrciy and
give the Republicans the Virginia cleo
tors, twelve in number This year there
Is dot fHht In progress IN Virginia for
control Of the legislature between two
factions OF Dcmocrats and y had been
thought generally that the Republicans
would be glad OF the oppdEtGpity to in
crease thelr member ship thFOueh con-
fict, but n ndvlc are credible, the con-
test OF 1893 Is another which the Virgin
Ia Republicans will let go by default.