Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-10-23
May Cost the Republicans the West
Virginia Legislature.
TIE STATE Is PROBABLY M'KINLEY'S
Bryan May Get an Increased Vote
From the Farmers.
CONTESTS FOR CONGRESSMAN
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

special correspondence OF 1he Evening star
CHARLESTON, W. Va, October II. 200.
Chairman Miller of the state democratic
committee maintains that poll of this
state taken about three weeks ago showed
plurality for Bryan of 1900. He says I'M
usual effort made to obtain an accur-
ate forecast of election results and that the
poll can be depended upon rejecting the
true political situation. The republican
chairman has given out the statement to
the effect that carefully revised reports
from all portions of West Virginia show
that this state will give about 10000 ma
1ority for the republican national ticket.
In the present condition of politics in West
Virginia both of these polls are manifestly
incorrect. both being too high.
The democratic chairman, while asserting
that this poll can be depended upon, ad-
mitS that the state is doubtful, and may so
republican, thus showing that he lacks
confidence in his own figures. The repup-
lican poll or report was obtained by the
state chairman of the republican commit
tee through the census enumerators. There
were six hundred of these enumerators in
the state at the time of the census work,
and Chairman Dawson says he has received
letters from three hundred of these enum-
orators and only one of these letters spoke
of republican loss. He says the enumar-
ators who made reports to him are those
who worked in the populous districts of
the state.
fuenced by campaign considerations agree
that the electoral vote of West Virginia
will be given to Mckinley. The republicans
admit that there is more doubt in regard
to the outcome of the state ticket and they
are unquestionably alarmed at the legisla-
tive situation
The Farm and Labor Vote.
A majority of the farmers of West Vir-
GINA are democrats, and voted in 1896,
being the most ardent champions of the
cause of free silver. The coinage issue is
not discussed this year among them TO any
great extent, but trusts and imperialism
have taken its place. The state has been
afflicted this year by bad crop failures, and
very Few or the farmers have made any
money. Few, if any, of them have any le-
sources other than their annual income,
hence the agricultural regions are in con-
siderable stress. The agricultural counties
of the state may be expected to give as
large democratic pluralitieS as they did in
1896. or even larger
The vote which went republican four
years ago was the vote of the coal miners
and employees of industrial concerns The
owners and managers of these mines and
plants were very active in their advocacy
OF the national republican ticket in 1896,
and there is considerable falling off in
this political activity this year as compared
with that of the last presidential campaign
The employees of these mines and mills
however. are naturally republican in their
sympathfes. owing to the prosperity which
has existed of late. and which stands out
in sharp contrast to the depression Of sew
eral years ago There are many more
miners and mill operatives emDloyed this
year than in 1896, and a majority of this
new vote may be looked upon as safely re-
publican
Not Much interest in the Campaign.
There is not very much interest being
taken In the campaign, one way OF the
other. Both parties are deficient in organi-
cation, and the leaders of both are there
fore In the dark as to the exact status of
political opinion. While there will probably
be some democratic gains in the agricul-
tural counties and loss to the republican
vote in industrial counties, due to apathy
the industrial vote will remain sufficiently
republican to carry the state for Mckinley
by plurality which, though smaller than
that received in 1896, will be sufficiently
decisive.
In the Congressional Districts
The republicans hope to return solid del
egation to Congress from this state They
will, in all probability, regain the third dis
trict, which is now represented by demo-
crat. The second district is in serious doubt
owing to the popularity and wealth of
Davis, the democratic nominee. Represen-
tatlve Dayton has been renominated by the
republicans in this district, but he has not
made himself very popular during the last
two years. and many Of his constituents
seem to believe that he has grown away
frcn the people of his district to such an
extent as to impair his usefulness. The
fourth district is also claimed by the demo-
Gratis, but there seems no reason to suppose
that the republican nominee, benefited as
he will be by the presidential ticket, will
not receive good working plurality in a
section of country which is naturally re-
publican in its political sympathies.
The State Ticket Fight.
]. H. Holt, the democratic nominee for
governor, is making a strong race, and
there are plenty of republicans who believe
that their nominee, A. B. White, stands
chance of being defeated. The source of
Mr.. Hollis strength is the alleged sympathy
of the managers of large corporate interests
with his candidacy. He Is corporation at
torney Of note. and they do not believe that
should he occupy the executive mansion the
large property interests of the state would
suffer at his hands.
A strong fight is being made throughout
the state against the republican legislative
ticket by that faction of the republican
party which is opposed to Senator S. B.
Elkins. In Senator Elkins long political
career and in the conduct of his great bust
ness interests throughout the state he has
naturally antagoniZed certain number of
people who resent the control he exercises
over state politics and the pre-eminence he
assumes in commercial matters. One thing
which helps along this fight against Elkins
is the dsfavor with which certain COM
biEa lions of republican county officials are
regarded by some of the coal operators and
others who claim they have been over
assessed and imposed upon in local matters
DisafectfOn in Kanawha.
The worst disaffection due to this cause
is found in Kanawha county, where there
has been a vigorous protest against the
nominations made by the local Elkins COM
bine. This county gave Mckinley over |
2, 900 plurality in 1895, and elects four mem |
bers Of the state legislature. Upon this |
county depends the political complexion of
the next legislature in all probabili for |
the majority of either party will be very |
small in that body. The present arrange |
ment Of districts throughout the state gives |
the advantage to the democrats. as is |
shown by the fact that whereas the state |
went for Mckinley by IL 500 plurality the |
republicans had very small majority in |
the legislature that year. In 1898 the state |
went republican on the congressional ticket !
by several thousand and the republicans |
secured only working majority Of one on |
joint ballot. This majority. it was, was |
secured only through number of republi- |
hold ha