Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1900-03-14
GUESS ON 1900 VOTE.
FORECAST OF NEXT NOVEM
BER'S ELECTION FIGURES.


| New York sun Figures Out that About
Fifteen Million Votes VIII Be Cast
Factors that Arc Expected to Affect
the Number.
In the election of 1892, the first fol-
lowing the last federal census, the to-
/ tai vote on Presidential electors was
l2,150,275. In the election preceding,
in 1888, the last before the census, the
total vote on Presidential electors was
1892, 42S. Between 1855 and 1892,
however, Idaho, casting 10000 votes;
Montana, casting $4,000; North Dako-
ia, casting $4,000; South Dakota, cast
ing 10000; Washington, casting $1,000
| and Wyoming, casting 10000, were ad-
mitted into the Union, and these cast
collectively 272,00v votes. The net
gain, therefore, during the intervening
four years was $4,000, or about 4 per
cent.
AT the same rate of increase the to-
tai vote at the last Presidential cleo
ton, in 1896, should have been about
12,640,000 Instead of this it 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 follow
ing a period of financial depression, has
been ascribed generally to the interest
enlisted in the McKinley-Bryan con-
test, the important character of the
principles involved in it. But even I'M
der such conditions it would be difficult
to account for an increase of nearly
100000 unless there had been general
lethargy among the voters in the vari-
Gus contests preceding or unless other
special reasons contributed to the large
total of four years ago. as p matter of
fact, such cases did contribute materi-
ally and perceptibly, and a statement
of few of them would make easier an
understanding of the situation which is
now confronting the political comput-
ers in their early estimates of the prob
able total vote that win be cast for
President in November next
Between 1892 and 1896 Utah, with a
total vote of nearly 100000, was added
to the number of States and In Colo
RADIO the exercise of the suffrage was
extended to women, with the result
that the total vote of the centennial
State. which was 81 900 in 1883 and
$4,000 in 1892, rose to 10000 in 1896.
Moreover. in the border States of the
country in which prior TO the appear
ance of the silver issue Democratic
success had been accepted as a matter
of course, the uncertainty of contest
brought out larger vote, the increase
in Maryland being from 213,000 to $50
600, in Kentucky from 100000 to 445,-
600, and in Missouri from $4,000 to
$4,000. The changes in these border
States, the extension of the suffrage in
Colorado and the admission of Utah
account. therefore. for 100000 Of the
gain and In the othsr States of the
country there was about the normal in
/ crease augmented by the vigor of the
contest in many of the States which
were uncertain and further 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 a large in
crease in the population of the United
States. No States, it is true, have been
added to the number which are TO par
ticipate, but woman suffrage has been
extended to Idaho by constitutional
provision with the certainty of adding
to its total vote On the other hand. re-
strictions Oh voting have been adopted
in Mississippi. Louisiana and South
Carolina. the full effect of which VIII
shown ct this years election. and
the most reasonable estimate Of the
probable total vote is. everything con
sidered. about 1900. o00-New York
| Sun