Evening star., 1900-10-04
STANDING BY TRADITIONS
WHY THERE is NO BREAK In THE
SOLID SOUTH.
Old-Time Democrats Ignore the Pros
perity That Has Come to Them
Through Republican Policies.

There is not the least possibility OF any
break occurring in the solid south, and
there has not been for many years. with
the exception of Kentucky and West Vir-
ginia, border states no southern state has
given an electoral vote for a republican
candidate since 1876 and the three states
which were at that time counted for the re-
publican candidate We're then claimed, and
are still claimed. to have voted for the
democracy 1t is true that the republicans
and populists of North Carolina were sue
cessful on a fusion issue and secured a re-
publican senator. Kentucky has also
elected a republican senator. West Fir-
ginia has swung into the republican line,
but it is not considered a part of the solid
south.
II is considered rather curious that such a
state Of affairs should exist, in view OF the
fact that the south is so prosperous under
the republican policies, and is so much IN
terested in other things that the republican
party stands for al the present time. Yet
no one predicts with any degree or CONN.,
dence single break in the south this year,
save that West Virginia may go republic
can, and there is a possibility that Ken
lucky may again cast Its vote FOR the re-
publican candidate.
A story was told by a republican the
other day which illustrates the condition
in the south as well as anything that has
been heard from that section He was Wis
iting a prominent man in Virginia, man
who devotes himself to stock raising, and
has very large ranch in the old dominion.
Just now the raising OF stock has proven
very profitable This particular man has
a contract for selling 1909 head Of cattle,
to be delivered at the railroad. and sent by
way of Chesapeake bay to England Most
of these cattle are to be shipped on to
South Africa for the British army This
man said his cattle would average from
400 to $50 each in weight, and that he
would receive 5l4 cents per pound for the
cattle the hGof.
1t will be seen that this is a very high
price, and brings the value of the cattle up
to approximately $50 each. The prohts al
such price are simply enormous rms
ranchman was asked If this price was Wnal
he usually obtained. and he said II was at
present. although five or six years ago he
sold large number Of cattle at s1.5U per
hundred
OF course. the man with whom he was
talking supposed that under those condi-
tions the stock raiser would naturally be
republican and anxious for the success OF
the republican policies which had so in
creased his wealth in the last four years,
but not so. 1t appears that he is at the
head Of the democratic organization Of his
particular section, and IN talking to stock
raisers Hike himself a short time ago he
said it was true that the better prices pre-
vailed now for cattle than ever before, and
that they were enjoying an era of prosper
ity that they had never had in the past:
yet, ne Sald, II was necessary 10 vote the
democratic ticket In order to preserve the
traditions of the county and the state, and
TO keep it true to the party to which the
state had been loyal for many years In the
past"
When this sort of condition Is considered
1t is absurd to think of carrying any of the
southern states. BY tradition the people
are democrats. Democracy stands for re-
spectabiiity in the south. Men who leave
the democratic party are ostracised and are
regarded as men who place material pros
perity'' above their honor" There is no
use to hope for break in the solid south
as long as these conditions prevail.