The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-30
Offers to Bet S1O,OOO That West
 Virginia Goes Democratic
THOMPSON IN WASHINGTON
Alabama Referee Says If It Were Not for the 5unaboo of Racial Social
 Equality Alabama Would Be
 Overwhelmingly Republican.
BY PATTERSON srEALEY.

bs ing district has been In Washington for several days giving out interviews to the republican papers to the effect that West Virginia would go republican by 10000 ma jority. The interviews looked so good on paper to Mr. Dovener that he had almost come to believe them himself
 MT. Dovener was blowing about the Riggs house this morning about the eer- tanty of the defeat of Parker and Davia in his state. when he encountered Col. Sam Donelson of Tennessee, assistant sergeant-at-arms of the democratic na- | tional committee.
 "How's West virginia?" inquired col- onel Donelson.
 Safely republican, replied MT. Dos vener.
 How safe7''
 "There is no doubt at all about thf state" said MT. Dovener.
 '1s that so?" queried Cononel Donel. son. q tell you what I'll do. Here is a chance for you to make some money if you know so much about the state. I'll bet you s10.000 or any part thereof that the electoral vote of your state will be cast for Parker and Davis. Just come with me-"
 Dovener did not come. He went back ta Wheeling instead with his confidence de- cidedly shaken over the incident.
 All Eyes on Vermont.
 The Presidents first visitor this morn- | ing was Senator Proctor, who made the announcement that Vermont would go republican twice, both in September and November The President expressed his delight, especially over the November l 4r will be held for governor and members of congress The election Is | some times considered important as | showing the sentiment throughout the | country in relation to the increased of decreased vote.
 | It is claimed at the White House today | that If the republicans get over 25,000 ma jority 1t will mean that the general sen- timent for Roosevelt is on the increase. l Senator Proctor says the majority will not fall far short" of twenty-five thous- and In 1900 Mckinley carried the state l by 29,719 Therefore, for some reason Sem | ator Proctor comedies at the start re- publican loss of about five thousand. The republicans going to make an | active campaign In the state next month. | Speaker Cannon. Secretary Wilson and Senator Spooner will all make speeches. The democrats will not give much at tention to the state, reserving their en- ergies for those states which they hava a chance to carry
 Race Question Out of 1t.
 Tt is generally believed that the race question has been relegated from ths realm of practical political discussion'' | J. O. Thompson of Birmingham Is quoted as saving in the course of an interview here today.
 '@rhe republican party believes. how ever" continued he, that the rights of | hae Far ed under the constitutions of the re- speetive states and under the federal con- stitution The objection in Alabama Is not so much to the state legislation It. self but rather to the discriminations and abuses possible under It's operation, by the democratic machine.
 For reasons of weight" continued Mir Thompson. 'I do not care to discuss in detail the irritating features of the so- called race question. I can only say that under a republican administration in Ala bama there would be no reason to fear either racial social equality or political control by the negro It Is a generally accepted fact that where whites and ne- groes live in large numbers side by side. the latter will rule, as indeed they should.
 "So far as l can remember, the negroes have manifested no desire for political control and they have shown a strong disposition to follow white leadership. But for the bugaboo of racial social equality and negro domination, Alabama would be overwhelmingly republican"
 Western Republicans Drop In.
 Speaker Cannon dropped Into town thls morning and about the same time the two Illinois senator's Cullom and Hopkins arrived. Representative oyerstreet of In- diana, secretary of the republican con- gressional committee happened to be at the White House with Representative Hepburn of Iowa. For publications, the President learned from the five statesmen that Illinois. Indiana and Iowa were cer- tain to go republican this fall. There was no doubt about 1t, for publication"
 On the other hand the situation in Illinois Is known 10 be far from encour- aging to the republican leaders. The de- feat of Governor Yates for re-nomination has not by any means produced state of harmony which insures Illinois going republican, Tn addition the democratic factions seemed to have fought out their fight at the St. Louis convention and are working unltedly for the success of the ticket.
 Had Depressing Effect.
 Secretary Overstreet says he Is counting upon a safe working majority in the next house. He hasn't a very clear idea of where the votes are coming from but thinks they will be forthcoming. Tom Taggart's election to the ehairmanship of the democratic national committee has had depressing effect upon the Indiana republicans. One report is to the effect that MT. Overstreet will not give as much attention to committee work this year as in 19o2-that he has got to look after his own district which gave him four thou sand majority two years ago. majority which Taggart expects to wipe out this year. About the oniy genuine delight the President got out of his callers today was from Representative Hepburn of Iowa. who announced that the west was solid for Roosevelt and stand pat. It admired his bravery and courage and deeds.
 
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