The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-03-19
FORECAST OF THIS YEARS VOTE,
Probability That Fifteen million BAL
lots VIII he Cast.

In the election of 1892 the first follow
ing the last federal census. the total vote
on presidential electors was II .l5o,275. In
the election preceding, in 1888, the last be-
fore the census, the total vote on presi-
Dental electors was II 800, 40. Between
1855 and 1899. however. Idaho, casting
1900 votes Montana, casting 1900; North
Dakota, casting 5000; South Dakota, cast
ing 10000; Washington. casting 5000. and
Wyoming. casting 5000, were admitted
into the union. and these cast collective
ly 272,0o0 votes. The net gain, therefore,
during the intervening four years was
ASS 900, or about per cent
At the same rate Of increase the total
vote at the last presidential election. In
1896 should have been about Il, 500 In
stead of this. II was more than 100000.
a total vote without precedent In the
United States. or. in fact, In any country
In which universal suffrage exists. SO
large an increase. nearly 100000 in four
years following n period of financial de-
preston. has been ascribed generally TO
the interest enlisted in the Mckinley
Bryan contest. the important character
of the principles involved IN It, But even
under such conditions II would ne diff
cult to account for an increase of nearly
100000 unless there had been general
lethargy among the voters in the various
contests preceding or unless other special
reasons contributed to the large total OF
four years ago. As a matter OF fact. such
causes did contribute materially and per-
ceptibly, and statement OF a few of
them would make easier an understanding
of the situation which is now confronting
the political computers in their early esti-
mates OF the probable total vote that will
be cast for president in November next.
Between 1892 and 1895 Utah. with a total
vote Of nearly 10000, was added TO the
number of states, and In Colorado the
exercise of the suffrage was extended to
women, with the result that the total
vote OF the centennial state. which was
81, 600 In 1883 and a, 900 in 1882, rose to $780,
600 in 1896 Moreover in the border states
OF the country in which, prior to the APP
pearance of the political specter Of sill
yerism Democratic success had teen ac-
cepted as matter of course, the unoer-
tainty OF contest brought out n larger
vote, the increase in Maryland being from
213,0no TO 250.oo in Kentucky from 340,0co
to 4i5.o00 and In Missouri from $1,000 n
$4,000 The changes in these border states
the extension Of the suffrage In Colorado
and the admission OF Utah account. there
fore, for 500ca OF the gain, and In the
other states Of the country there was
about the normal increase augmented by
the vigor OF the contest In many OF the
states which were uncertain, and further
by the fact that there were seven cleo
toral tickets In 1895. drawing to the polls
all classes Of electors, some OF whom had
taken no part In previous elections.
Since the presidential election Of -four
years ago there has been a large Increase
In tho population OF the United States
No states. Il is true. have been added %
the number which are tc participate. bu'
woman suffrage has been extended 70
Idaho by constitutional provision with the
certainty Of adding TO its total vote. on
the other hand restrictions on voting have
| been adopted In Mississippi. Louisiana and
South Carolina, the fun effect OF which
will be shown at this years electiousr and
the most reasonable estimate Of the prob
able total vote is. everything considered
about Ise0 coo New York sun.