The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-10-22

|
| CHARLESTON, W. Va, Oct. 21.-The
| chances of Democratic success in West
| Virginia have never been brighter during
the entire campaign than they are today.
| The recent attempt of Chairman Dawson.
of the Republican State Committee, to
| bride the judges of the Kanawha County
court raised storm of Indignation which
| mas not subsided yet. The business ele-
ment are very bitter about this matter,
| as they say it is an attempt of a profess
sional politician to corrupt the judiciary.
| One of the worst features Of the con-
test in the State is the delight the Repub-
| licans are taking in boasting of what their
money will do on election day. There Is
no doubt that they have the money. and
that they are going to make what use Of
it they can, but the Democrats think they
have in measure discounted its effect.
The colonization of the negro goes
merrily on, but State Chairman Miller has
perfected a scheme by which he hopes
largely to prevent fraudulent voting. In
each precinct the Democrats have formed
themselves into committees OF three. Ev-
cry negro who comes into the precinct Ia
spotted and his description and alleged
name is carefully noted. Aflidavits are
then made in triplicate to the facts, and
these will be filed with the election Off
GERS at the voting booth. Should these
persons attempt to cast ballot they will
be challenged and turned over to the
county sheriff.
In their attempts to cut off this colo
nized vote the Democrats are being aided
by those Republicans throughout the
State who are fighting the Elkins machine.
and in many instances these Republicans
have filed information accompanied by
their own afidavits for use November 6.
The Democrats are determined that this
coonized vote shall not be cast, and have
so notified their opponents. In addition.
they have as far as possible warned the
negroes themselves not to attempt to vote,
and have told them plainly that If they
do they must take the consequences.
The fight for the State Legislature is
hot one. The Democrats have the advan-
tage from the fact that they have ma
jority of six hold-over Senators and in
addition there is factional fight among
the Republicans due to the candidacy of
Senator Eikins for reelection. The Bit
terness engendered by this fight has
reached such pitch that either faction
would prefer to see the entire Democratic
legislative ticket elected rather than give
their aid to further the interests of the
opposing faction.
The Congressional districts are in splen-
did shape and the Democrats should elect
three Representatives sure, and Lave
good fighting chance for the other.
The First district is the doubtful one
for the Democrats. Representative Dow
ener had plurality of 1920 in 1898. and
it may be that the Democrats will not be
able to overcome this. but there are sew
cral things against him this time that did
not figure in the last campaign. In the
first place there was a horde OF Office
seekers in this district who were promis-
ed anything in 1898, and who were turned
down in order that Senator Scott might
use the patronage to assure his election
by the Legislature. Nothing has been
done to placate these men, and they are
sore.
Another handicap is the old soldier ele-
| ment They do not think that Dovener
gave them a fair deal at Washington last
winter. 1t was his third term in Congress
| and yet nowhere does his name appear in
the Record except to answer roll call.
Hon. William E. Raymond, the Demo-
cratic nominee, on the other hand. has the
| endorsements OF the veterans of both the
blue and the grey in the district. In ad
dition he is from the mountain section
of the district, which has never before re-
ceived the honor of the nomination, and
the clannishness of the mountaineers is
| proverbial when it comes to promoting
the interests of one of their number.
| In the Second district Representative
Dayton is surely beaten. He only had a
| plurality of 624 in 1898. and Mineral
| County, which gave him over $50 in that
| election, gave his Democratic opponent,
| Col Thomas B. Davis. a little over 200
majority in his race for the Legislature
| in 1899. South Branch Valley, which has
always been Democratic stronghold, but
which refused to support McGraw, who
/ opposed Dayton in 1898, will this year
poll every Democratic vote in the valley
| for Davis. Another strong element in
favor of Davis is the coal and lumber in
terests. These men are his business as
sociates. and are largely Republicans, but
they have openly advocated his election.
| In the Third district Judge Johnston.
the present incumbent, will be reelected
by an increased majority. Representative
Johnston is the only Democrat in the
present delegation, but he has done a great
deal of work for his district in the matter
of pensions. AS he was a gallant Con-
federate soldier. this work has been great
ly appreciated by the Union veterans. and
| he is receiving their support. Mr.. ]. H.
Gaines, his Republican opponent, is the
recognized candidate of the Elkns ring
His conduct in the Kanawha County cleo
ton cases has made him personally I'M
! popular, and the Republican managers
have practically abandoned his fight.
| The present representative from the
Fourth, Judge Freer, it is claimed, was
cheated out of denomination and in con-
sequence there is bitter fractional fight
on. James A. Hughes. the Republican
| nominee. is the present postmaster at
| Huntington. and so little does he think of
| his chances of success that he has refused
to give up the surety for remote pes
sibility.
Greed Collins. the Democrat. is the
| farmer candidate He is personally very
popular in the district and a recent poll
indicates his election by about loo.
Representative Freer carried the district
in 1898 by 673.
| With the colonized vote shut out 1t
seems almost certain that the State will
| give its electoral vote for Bryan. Ger
| tainly the Democrats were never better
| organized nor more determined to dispute
| every inch of debatabie ground than they
are this year. c. T. K.