Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-05
ON EVE OF ELECTION
PROSPECTS ROSY FOB WEST VIR-
GINIA REPUBLICANS.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

w II w. Nd-,- NOSeiFUeT O-Oh
the eve Of the election in West Virginia
prophets who want to win honor in their
own country by going on record are few.
General apathy has so complicated the SIT
uation that the only Grosvenor is the
dauntless Charles Swsher, the secretary of
state. He goes into figures somewhat in
detail. Gov. Dawson predicts republican
majority Of from IS 900 to $4,000, but quail
flies 1t by adding If full vote comes out"
Swisher gives all his partys candidates
for Congress in the five districts majorities
as follows: Hubbard, in the first. 5000 to
1900; Sturgiss, in the second, $500 to $500;
Gaines, in the third, 1900 to 4,JO0; WOOD
yard, in the fourth. 5000 to $500; Hughes,
in the fifth. 5000 to 5000.
OF the lAJ members OF the legislature ne
gives the republicans at least eighty. rms
estimate includes the twelve republican
holdovers In the senate. OF the elghty-sX
members of the house of delegates to be
elected he claims fifty-siX for the repub-
licans: comedies eighteen to the democrats,
and Classics twelve as doubtfui, with re-
publican chances fair for electing eight of
the doubtful dozen. All told he does not
concede more than twenty-four democratic
members in both branches Of the legisla-
ture.
Swisher's Record.
When Swisher early last winter predicted
that the republican majority on joint ballot
would exceed the high-water mark Of fifty
six in the previous session he was treated
to more or less ridicule for his optimism.
But few days before the special congress
sional election in the second district. IN
June, 1905, and while he was the republican
state chairman he publicly predicted the de-
feat of the republican candidate, James ..
Lakin, by Col. Thomas B. Davis. and he
hit the bud s-eye on that occasion. his
prophetic vision now may be considered
1,,t III
500 for the congressional ticket, his top
notch figure. falls 10000 short of Gov. DaW-
sons minimum estimate. In any event the
fearlessness of the secretary of state In
launching into fields where others dare not
tread Is refreshing. and If he makes good
Swisher will forever more be acclaimed as
West Virginia's political prognosticator.
Notwithstanding the slimness of all their
meetings, the republicans feel that there is
a general satisfaction with conditions that
will turn to their account They believe
lower tax bills and business prosperity Will
win for them. The democrats. with every
thing to gain and nothing to lose, interpret
the quiet campaign in hopeful way ana
as signifyng silent disgust with the domi-
nant party. Democratic leaders admit one
thing-and that is that somebody is to get
an awful beating.
whether the landslide is to be against
them or in their favor they know not, but
they hope for the best. They do not look
for a close finish Their activity has been
confined openly to their congressional ticket
and it Is seen in the efforts to arouse the
labor vote against Hubbard and Sturgiss
in the two upper districts. They are not
making any concentrated fight on the leg
islature, probably realizing Its futility.
May Make Gains.
The democrats may make gains in the leg
islature, for the big republican majority In
1904 was augmented in that year OF
Roosevelt by the election of republican
legislators in close counties by very small
margins in most cases. But 1t is as GER
tain as anything can be certain in advance
that the republicans will again control the
legislature by comfortable majority on
Joint ballot and that Senator S. b. Elk1ns
will be returned without opposition in his
party and only formal opposition from the
democrats.
The senator's hold on his party has been
demonstrated conclusively and his part IN
amending the Hepburn bill so as to meet
abuses peculiar to the West Virginia min
ing regions strengthened him materially
and quickly dispelled some slight, scatter
ing opposition previously. g.
The campaign developed few prominent
defections in the open from the two par
ties. The notable one was Richard Ran
dolph Mcmahon Of Jefferson county, who
renowned democracy to work for the re-
publican ticket, and he has been one OF
galaxy of former democrats who have sur
rounded Sturgiss in his canvass and con-
tributed to the oratorical end. McMahon's
detection is tnOuSnt TO De lHulCdllNe VI
further losses by the democratic party in
Jefferson, the banner democratic county
| in the state. To what extent it will be off,
set by republicans who are keeping their
| own counsel is open to surmise but the
| leaders look to scratching in the district.
Model Circular.
The republican state committee has issued
a circular letter to the voters. which is a
model of terseness compared to the volum-
nous eachment sent out by the demo-
cratic committee several weeks ago. The
republican document dwells on souphouseS,
prosperity and lower taxes. 1t adds as
postscript under Chairman Woodyard's sig
nature the injunction to watch your tax
tickets" the same having been the slogan
paramount for a year. The injunction to
watch the tax bills means to draw COM
parison between the days prior and subse-
ouent to tax reform. The republicans nave
the best of the tax argument In popular
sense, and have made the most of 1t.
Summed up, republican control OF west
Virginia seems assured, contingent, OF
course. on something like d good VOTE but
as the slump may work both ways this
will hardly affect the general result. Inc
apathy may be only skin deep Every
body is unanimous that surprises are IN
store. and excepting few spots every
body seems good natured. The new regis
tration law is looked. however, to stir up
some feeling for its crudity Is being DEM