Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-03
= QUIET CAMPAIGN
SPELLBINDERS FAIL TO AROUSE
THE WEST vIRGINIANs.
Both Sides Claim to Be Ahead in the
Race-The PFebabii-
ties.
special Dispatch to The Evening Star.

WHEELING, w. Va, November 3.-Both
the republicans and democrats have closed
their campaign and waiting for the
voters to decide Tuesday. The campaign
has been a very quiet one Apathy reigns
everywhere, and the most strenuous efforts
of the spellbinders seem to have failed to
rouse the population. The lack of interest
has fooled the statisticians, and neither
party is giving out figures tonight. The
vote will certainly be light, and the demo-
Gratis claim they will be the gamers in the
falling off. Democratic hopes are based
largely upon the vote of 1893, when they
say conditions were similar to those at pres
ent. BY the vote of four years ago the
democrats had majorities in two of the
congressional districts as they are now con-
stituted and in two others the republican
majority was less than 1000 This gives
the democrats hope, Notwithstanding the
vote of two years ago put them hopelessly
in the minority.
1t has been the history of West Virginia
that republicans suffer from the stayat-
homes. From public standpoint the re-
publicans are putting on a brave front. VIM.
o. Dawson, chairman of their state COM
mittee, made a statement that the last two
weeks had encouraged him greatly. He
stated that the republicans would elect all
five of their nominees for Congress by good
safe majoritieS. The state senate, he pre-
UlCtS, Will nave lW6nly-IOuT TepuDilCdnS anu
four democrats with two doubtful, and the
House of delegates will have ffty-four. re-
publicans and twenty democrats, with
twelve doubtful. Mr.. Dawson refused to
give figures the majoritieS in the con-
gressonal districts
Claim Made by Democrats.
The democrats say they will carry the
second and fourth districts, but do not give
figures. They still cling to the hope that
they will have a good show in the three
other districts As to the legislature, they
make no claims conceding it to the repub-
licans.
From an unbiased standpoint, judging by
the reports as obtained Sunday night, IL is
safe to say republican majorities will be
maj erially reduced. The first district will
undoubtedly be carried by Capt. B. B. Dow
eEer. the republican nominee, though he
has had the hardest fight of his career In
the second district the closing days of the
campaign have cheered the republicans, and
they are now quite confident that Repre-
sentative Dayton will defeat John 7. Nc
Graw. McGraw however, is making a
mighty final effort. The result will be
close. and if Dayton is elected his majority
will probably be not over 1000. Much de-
pends upon his ability to hold down the
democratic majorities in the eastern Coun-
ties In the third and fifth districts lndi-
cations point to the reelection of Repre-
| sentatives Gaines and Hughes by reduced
majOrities. Hughes, particularly, VIII not
| have WalkoVer.
Fourth District Doubtful.
Developments of the last few days in the
fourth district have greatly encouraged the
democrats, and they now claim that their
candidate, Col. W. N. Chancellor, will de-
| feat Harry c. woodward. They claim that
| Wood county, which includes the city of
| Parkersburg Chancellors home will give
| Chancellor a rousng majority. Heretofore
| Wood county has gone republican by 200,
and it's loss to that party will endanger the
| entire district. 1t is safe to say tnat Chan
| cellor has an even chance.
! In many sections of the state a hard
| fight has been made against the organiza-
| tiOns in the nominating conventions ard
| the republican leaders won out only on the
| argument that they alone could save the
! state. If they lose three or more of the
| congressional districts it viii mean tho
| selection of new leaders. In democratic
ranks it will mean the undtsputed ascend
ency of John 7. McGraw as arbiter OF
! democratic fortunes