Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-10-31
WEST VIRGINIA.
Both Parties Claim State But Pepubli
cans Lead.


Charleston w. Va, oct. 30.-A fierce,
and perhaps even a bloody, battle Will
te fought at the polls in this state on
election day. The Democrats are de-
termined that no imported voters shall
cast their ballots, and for the purpose
OF preventing an influx OF negroes from
Virginia hundreds Of white men have
pledged themselves to constitute an
armed guard about the polling places.
The payrolls OF all the corporations
In the state have been obtained and
polling list has been made up at each
precinct showing who is entitled 10
vote. Any man not on this list especial
" a negro, will be challenged by the
Democrats and driven away by dis
play OF force. II necessary. instructions
have been sent by the Democrats state
committee to all election officers in
sympathy with tn. party to reject in
tn. final count all Republican ballots
which do not conform exactly to the
law and to count all Democratic bal
lots IT, by any possible construction.
they can be considered as indicating
the intention Of the voter to cast a
Democratic ballot.
1t is estimated that in the last GO
days the Standard Oil co. and allied
interests have shipped out of West Nlr-
ginia at least $500 votes. largely Repub-
lican Corporations like the FairmOnt
Coal & Coke Co. the Baltimore & Ohio
Railroad and others employing large
numbers of men are earnestly endeav-
.l..Fa a
ticket. and. if Republican in tendency
on the national ticket are rather in
different as to it's success in this state.
In addition to these influences in
favor Of the Democrats. there is tn
hight over the new Republican tax law,
which will apparently seriously affect
the vote for presidential electors and
threatens to drag the state Republi-
can ticket down to defeat.
The Republicans. on the other hand.
40 far as the national ticket is con-
cerned, can claim two very important
Influences in their favor One is the
fact that West Virginia is normally a
Republican state by virtue of sympathy
with Republican political principles
and a considerable negro vote. having
given the Republican national ticket a
plurality Of u, 022 in 1900. The other in
fuence in favor of the Republican ma
tional ticket is the fact that within the
last four years perhaps 10000 new
voters have come into the state. More
than 10000 of these are Republicans.
These new voters nave no state pride
in Mr.. Davis and have not been here
long enough to become ke emily interest
ell i'm the state fight over taxation. Up
on these two factors the Republicans
base their claim that West Virginia
will go Republican on the national
ticket by at least 10000 plurality. With
the complications produced by the
state fight however. they will be well
satisfied with n plurality Of from 5000
to 1000. which is much nearer the
proba bilities, so far as can be seen at
this date.
The Republican candidate for Gov
ernor. W. NJ. Q. Dawson. now secre-
tary Of State. is In serious danger of
being defeated. owing to the fact that
he Is looked upon as the real author
OF the new tax law. in the discussion of
which the people Of West Virginia have
been in turmoil for the past six months.
II is believed that many Republicans
will scratch his name from the ballot.
even IL they vote for the balance of
the Republican nominees. Many voters
will scratch the entire Republican state
ticket. This condition renders Mr.. Daw-
sons chances much less favorable than
those on the ticket with him. His de-
feat is freely predicted. but II the state
tional ticket he may be elected, but
certainly will run far behind the vote
cast for the national Republican elect
ora.
The workers Of both political parties
are apparently we'll supplied with funds
for use on election day. The Republi-
cans assert that they have enough
money to hold their own people in line
in other words. to buy all fioaters of
Republican tendencies. The Democrats
appear to be more than satisfied that
they will have all the money necessary
TO buy everything which can be bought
to swell the Democratic total. The fact
that both sides have money will off,
set the advantage which might come
to the Democrats from a liberal CAM
paign fund.
The Republicans have n decided ad-
vantage in the state Legislature, owing