The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1907-03-21

After eight years of republican
control, in which Charleston has
fmade the most remarkable stHdes Of
Fany city. > in the. country, snotwith-
standing the democratic slogan that
ring was in control OF every branch
of the city government, Greater
Charleston, will on April list, All
Fools Day, pass into the control OF
the democrats, the result of the, cleo
ton Yesterday, in which the demo-
icrats swept the entire city, the re-
publicans losing every precinct with
In the corporate limits Of the city.
The result of the election, of
! March IS was forshadowed early
yesterday, but neither republican nor
democrat thought for even a moment
that the majorities would be so large
for the candidates on the democratic
ticket: The returns came as a sur
prise to the whole city and even
those who had predicted victory
were overwhelmed at the size of the
democratic victory.
| The result; was the expression of
the people and not one republican
could be found, after learning that
General Holley was elected, who ev-
en- desired that the result could be
anything different from what the re-
turns show. No republican, with the
interests Of his home city at heart,
! wished the hands; Of General HoIley
TO be tied as the hands Of the repub-
| flcan administration has been dur
| ing the past two years with a dem
Ocratlc council. The republicans are
| deslrouS of having General Holley
have. free rein during the next two
years to carry into effect those prfn=
c1pies which he has so ably ADVOCATE
ed in the interests Of reform. Just
what the republicans think about
these matters are of no consequence
to the voters at the present time, but
time, and time only, can tell what
4 the democrats will do in the govern
ment of the best city in the state.
Notwithstanding that the reDub-
| iicans are disappointed at the ver-
( dict rendered by the people, they
| nave no other choice than to abide by
the decision and await the results OF
| the democratic victory. Never be-
fore has there been such q CLOSELY
contested victory. between the two
old parties and today the democrats
in control OF the city government, or
with their eyes. raised to the time
when they will be, AoTfI 1st, VIII
] have the SUPPORT OF all @fepublieafas,
J those who assisted them to the VIC
tory, and those who we're aligned on
the opposing side, to benefit Greater
! Charleston and make it the first city
of the state, the. position where It
rightfuIly belongs.
/ Eight years ago the republican
! forces Of Charleston secured control
| Of tho pfu of n
1 Impossible to find a, citizen fR fhfs
city Of $4,000, inhabitants,T who t3-
| day will tell you that the city has not
prospered and enjoyed the distinc-
ton Of becoming the first city in
4 West Virginia as result OF that
rule. But the people desired a
change Of government and they. have
/ received that change in complete
form and nobody in the city will say
that they do not wish to see the city
prosper under the democratic admin
1stratfon. The change was victory
Tor better government and only time
can say whether the people will ap-
prove of the verdict rendered by
themselves, at the POLLS.
Early In the day the republicans
realized, that they. would lose the
town, but staid at their posts until
the polls closed and fought against
overwhelming odds. The democrat
ic campaign fund was the largest
ever f1oated~~in the history of = the
city, the democratic party had two
commissioners at every polling place
in the city and their workers were
more eager and anxious to win than
ever before since Charleston became
city and they corralled sufficient
republican votes to roll I'D handsome
majorities for their ticket.
Just as7 the polls opened yester.
day morning, hundreds, OF democrat.
ic workers In the city rushed Rnpd.
reds Of voters to the polls and zofed
them even before many Of the re.
publican workers were on the
ground. Following up this big ad.
vantage with the most liberal use
Of money ever displayed in Charles.
ton elections, they continued to lead
throughout the day. + The cost OF
the big victory is eBtimaGe6 IRON
$35, 900 to $4,000 and the exact
amount will never be known. Votes
sold from SO up to $35 at many Of
the precincts Of the city.
The. big majorities Of the demo.
8 erats Wohld., have beer. materially
AftTgdBeed had The republicans been
Liable. 10 have voted all those who are
a11Jtated With the Republican party
At the Simpson stable precinct and