The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1901-02-07

One-fOurth the votes cast In the 40
states In the union, although they must
have about one-third of the population
of the country. The average proportion
OF voters to population is about one in
seven, or an average far below what pre-
walls in Northern states. This absence
of interest in national political questions
Is not healthful, but it will doubtless
continue as long as present conditions
prevail in the South.
"The general apathy which appears
t. have prevailed in three-fOurths of the
Southern states can not be explained en-
tirely by the knowledge that these states
were certain to 60 Democratic in any
event. 1t was undoubtedly due in a
large measure to the unpopularity Of the
Democratic candidate and platform.
The constantly decreasing vote in the
states which have disfranchised the col
ored voters is noticeable. Louisiana,
Mississippi and South Carolina cast in
the aggregate only about $4,000 votes.
Twenty years ago these same states cast
$4,000 votes, or more than double what
they did this year, notwithstanding the
increase in population of the past two
decades. The vote of North Carolina,
the other disfranchising state, fell of
about 42,00O."
This view is shared by many of the
Southern Democratic papers. For ex-
ample, the Florida Times-Union and
Citizen (Dem.), in deplOring the fact
that never did so many American citi-
zens absent themselves from the polls
at presidential election" exhorts it's
own party to abandon it's false gods"
and to return to true Democratic prin-
ciples and example.
Mr.. Bryan gained strength in IA states
and lost in the other 81; Mr.. Mckinley
gained in "a states and lost in 21. Mr..
Bryan's heaviest gains were in the East.
In New York he gained over 1875, 600; in
New Jersey about 10000, and in New
England states nearly 10000 In Illi
nois too, Mr.. Bryan gained 10000. On
the other hand, Bryan majority of 51-
lie in Utah was converted to McKin-
ley majority of 1850, and in Colorado
Mr.. Bryan lost oyer $4,000 votes. On
the Pacific coast California, Oregon and
Washington Bryan majority Of 1000
was transformed into Mckinley ma
jority of $1,000. Says the New York
World (Dem.), in summary:
I'm strongly Republican New England
and in the overwhelmingly Democratic
solid South there was decline in the
popular vote, an actual decline, indicat-
ing q much larger failure on the part
OF dissatisfied electors to appear at the
polls. In New England it was Mr.. Nc
Kinleys vote that decreased; in the
solid South it was Mr.. Bryan's.
I'm the great backgrounds of sound
money-the Middle Atlantic states and
the Middle Western states, together hav-
ing nearly half the population of the
country-Mr. Mckinley stood still. In
the former Mr.. Bryan gained slightly; in
the latter he lost slightly; although he
relatively gained some ground.
In the great former strongholds Of
POpulism, in those Is Northern states
between the Mississippi and the Pacific,
Mr.. Mckinley made enormous gains and
Mr.. Bryan sustained enormous losses.
Mr.. Bryan.s plurality of 10000 in 1896
was changed into a Mckinley plurality
of 26S, 900.
The vote in the electoral college-292
to 155, as compared with 271 to 176 in
1S96-gives only slight indication of
the real result. 1t exaggerates Mr.. Nc
Kinley's victory. 1t minimizes Mr.. Bry-