Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-20
West Virginia Senator Dis
cusses Political Conditions.
TOO SOON TO ANALYZE
BUT he CANNOT DETECT ANY
REASON FOR DEMOCRATIC HOPE.
Believes That Republicans Will Retain
Most of the Gains Made in
1896 and 1900.

Senator Scott cannot see any reasonable
hope on the part of the democrats for a
victorious campaign either in his own state
of West Virginia or in the country at
large.
I'm the first place, the campaign has not
yet progressed far enough to allow any ac-
curate analysis of the situation that will be
presented to us next November when the
voters go to the polls he said today, when
seen by a Star reporter short time a1ter
he reached this city from New York, where
he has been busily engaged with the work
of the speakers buerau of the national
republican committee.
but cannot see any possible foundation
for any hope on the part of the democrats
that they can win in this election rake
West Virginia for instance, with Its rec
ord of a majority for Mckinley OF over
q, 600 With conditions in that state pros
porous and with republican principles ia
voring the further development of the state
and continuation of prosperity how can
any one have a reasonable expectation
that the people will at this time turn to
another marty that has nothing to hold out
to them?
"The entire contention Is unreasonaple.
1t cannot appeal to the common Judsineh.
of any one. and to those who know west
ment and the relation of that development
70 the policies of the republican party the
suggestion is not tenable
Democratic Losses.
"Tben. too, take the country at large.
The democrats cannot hope to get back
that support they lost in 1896 and lSo,
which is generally referred to as the so'd
element 1t may be that few OF the
older men who voted for Mckinley ana
who had been lifelong democrats Will
next November return to the democratic
fold and vote for Parker and DAVIS. But
that class forms very small part OF the
body Of men who were lost TO that party
There were thousands of young men IN
1896 and again in 1900 whose associations
would under ordinary conditions nave
made them democratic. but who under the
conditions that were forced on the party
hy Mr. Rryan gave their votes to McKin-
ley; .au -. vo,no voters to very
large extent will remain with the repubii-
can party. They have been associated with
republicans in the early years OF their po-
litical activity and they will find no rea-
son sufficient to cause them to leave those
associations. They are naturally repubh-
cans so far as their business interests are
concerned. They are for SOUND business
principles in the administration of the gov
ernmSnt. Hey VIII iSLieiAA 40 ~AAo i-
Republican Gains.
"The fact is the gold democrats will
largely remain in the republican party just
as the greenbackers became republicans
after the greenback party broke up.
$50 far as New York state is concerned
I can see no reason for democratic hope
there. When the campaign has gone along
a little farther it will be possible to point
out definitely conditions that will indicate
how the voters of the state are leaning,
but at this time matters are not sufficiently
crystallized to give reliable forecast.
Senator Scott is in charge of the speak
ers' bureau of the national committee ana
in performing that work he has for long
time been closely confined to his desk in
New York Mr.. Scott has complete In
formation of the conditions that exist all
over the country and knows just where ef-
fective work can be done by the large
number Of speakers who are at the COM
mand of the committee. In 1885 and 1870
he gained an intimate knowledge Of every
section of the country, and that knowledge
is now being put to good use in the as
signment Of speakers.
He is pursuing the work of the speakers
bureau with a great deal Of energy. He is
now feeling quite well. although he has re-
Gently been Ill at times He will return to
New York in a day or two.