The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-02-12
THIS YEARS VOTE.
rFrom the New york SUM


In the election of 1892. the first following
the last federal census, the total vote on
presidential electors was 12.150275. In the
election preceding in 1888, the last before
electors was II 1892. 429. Between 1888 and
1892 however. Idaho, casting $4,000 votes;
casting Sc 900: South Dakota casting TO-
900; Washington casting $1,000. and Wyom-
Union, and these cast collectively 272, 900
votes. The net gain, therefore, during the
Intervening four years was 4S5,OOO or
At the same rate of increase the total
vote at the last presidential election, in
stead of this, it was more than 1900. 900.
total vote without precedent in the I'm
tied States. or, in fact, in any country IN
which universal suffrage exists. So large
an increase, nearly 100000. in four years
following a pel1od of financial depression.
has been ascribed generally to the inter-
est enlisted in the Mckinley-Rryan CON
test, and the important character of the
nrineiDles involved in it But even I'M
der such conditions it would be difficult
to account for an increase of nearly 2.G00.-
600, unless there had been general leth
argy among the voters in the various con-
reasons rass contributed to the large total of
four years ago. As a matter of fact, such
causes did contribute materially and per.
ceptibly, and u statement of a few of
them would make easier an understand
ing of the situation which is now con-
early estimates of the probable total vote
that. will be cast for president in No
Between 1892 and 1896 Utah, with to-
tai vote of nearly 100000 was added to
the number of states. and in Colorado
the exercise of the suffrage was extended
to women. with the re q 1t that the total
vote of the Centennial state, which was
81 900 in 1883 and 81, 600 in 1892. rose to $780,
900 in 1896. Moreover, in the border states
of the country, in which prior to the ap-
pearance of the political specter of sill
Verism, Democratic success had been ac-
cepted matter of course. the uncer-
tainty of contest brought out a larger
vote. the increase in Maryland being from
213 900 to $50, 000 in Kentucky from $4,000
to AS, 000 and in Missouri from $4,000 to
675 900. The changes in these border states,
the extension of the suffrage in Colorado
and the admission of Utah account, there
fore, for 500, 900 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
Their by the fact that there were seven
electoral tickets in 1896, 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 large increase
in the population of the United States.
No states it is true, have been added to
the number which are to participate, but
woman suffrage has been extended to
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. Louis
lana and South Carolina, the full effect
of which will be shown at this years cleo
ton and the most reasonable estimate of
the probable total vote is, everything cen
sidered about 100000.