Union gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1899-1900, 1900-03-23
GUESS ON 1900 VOTE.
FORECAST OF NEXT NovEM.
BER'S ELECTION FIGURES.
New York Sun Figures Out that About
Fifteen Million Votes Will Be Cast
Factors that Are 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
12.15O.275. In the election preceding
In 1888, the last before the census, the
total vote on Presidential electors was
IL .392.420 Between 1888 and 1892
however, Idaho. casting 10000 votes
Montana, casting 1900; North Dako
ta. casting 10000; South Dakota, cast
Ing 10000; Washington, casting $1,000
and Wyoming. casting 10000. were ad
mitted into the Union. and these cast
collectively 272,OOO votes. The net
gain. therefore, during the intervening
four years was 4S5,00O, or about pei
cent.
At the same rate of increase the to.
tai vote at the last Presidential elec.
ton, in 1896, should have been about
12,G4O,O00. Instead Of this, it was more
than 100000. 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 un-
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 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 will 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 91,OOO in 1888 and
$4,000 10 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,OOO to 25O,-
600. In Kentucky from $4,000 to 49,
600, and in Missouri from $4,000 to
675,OO0. 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 other 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, 1t 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 on voting have been adopted
10 Mississippi. Louisiana and South
Carolina. the full effect of which will
be shown at this years election. and
the most reasonable estimate of the
probable total vote is. everything con-
sidered. about O0O,OOO-New York
Sun.