Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-18
TAFT ST|RS VOTERS
Visit to West Virginia ArouSeS
Enthusiasm.
lis MET BY LARGE CROWDS
Bryan to Go Over Same Ground
Next Wednesday.
jim CROW" ISSUE PROMINENT
Democratic Position Seemingly IN
Favor-"Black Belt" Counties
Regarded as Republican.
Jim CROW" ISSUE PROMINENT

WHEELING, w Va, October IL
Taft's visit to West Virginia this week. to
be followed by a return call next week.
will make for republican enthusiasm all
along the line. and the leaders do not
deny that the necessity therefore existed
Their candidate for the presidency was
greeted by large crowds at every stop.
and the demonstrations in his honor were
cordial to the limit. Mr.. Taft's voice
was not good. preventing extended speak
ing. but his personality is an appealing
factor. He found responsive crowds
everywhere.
Mr.. Bryan is to strike West Virginia
next Wednesday evening. when he crosses
the Ohio river from Bellaire. He will
spend day in this state. His onlv
previous appearance here was In Wheel
ing. when he spoke before q record
crowd. and the republican managers OF
the Taft demonstration In this city were
anxious to eclipse that assemblage. To
that end they provided for a monster
street demonstration drawing from a tri-
state radius, and two-night speaking
meetings. The parade was up to ex-
pectations. but the speaking feature was
disappointment. Democratic disturbers
prevented Taft from speaking At one
If the scheduled points by their yells
at the opening. He did not try hard to
talk down the disturbers. preferring to
preserve his voice for the meeting a few
squares away. and at that place he had
an attentive audience
1t was the outpouring on the streets
and the applause that greeted his car
riage as 1t rolled by that was considered
significant. His visit TO the Ohio valley
was into the enemy's country, so far a.
the labor injunction question permits
Of that classification. and his visit was
helpful. 1t may not. be conceded by the
democrats that Taft's presence removed
much of the disaffection In labor cir
cles. but It is undeniable that 1t was Of
potent influence. AS a result the re-
publican leaders in the Ohio river coun-
ties OF West Virginia are imbued with
new life. They do not think there is
any doubt of West Virginia's electoral
vote. Senator Scott puts the Taft ma
jority at 5000. but few share his OPP
timism. Fifteen thousand is conserva-
tive.
Opinion Of Arthur Vorys.
Arthur 1. Vorys. who Travelled with the
Taft party. said the crowds greeting the
candidate In West Virginia were the
largest and most enthusiastic met pro-
portionately so far in the campaign.
Vorys may have wanted to be compli.
mentary locally. but that he was sim
cere was manifest by similar expressions
from the travelling newspaper cor
respondents.
The republicans are looking to the min
ing counties of the southern part Of West
Virginia to insure success beyond doubt.
They are elated over the increased reg.
istration in republican strongholds The
registration has been particularly heavy
in the tier of the sO-called black belt
counties. Mcdowell county shows an in
crease Of $500 over the total vote cast
four years ago. and the increase 10 simply
an addition to the customary big repubii-
can majority from that county.
Four mining counties in that terri
tory. overwhelmingly populated by ne
groes, are figured on to give a combined
majority of 1900 for the national and
state tickets. and the republican leaders
cannot figure on any losses elsewhere
which this majority will not more than
overcome. Should these four counties
give the majority predicted there are
grounds for predicting Taft victory or
easily 10000 and a very comfortable ma
jority for Glasscock, the gubernatorial
nominee.
Head of State Ticket In Danger.
There is considerable concern over the
reports from the second congressional
district as to the head of the state ticket.
and it will be the scene OF hard cam
paigning from now on. This district IL
inhabited by hosts of republicans who
espoused the cause of Auditor Scherr for
governor. Likewise ii is hotbed or
opposition to Senator Elkins. who is
touted as the political father OF Glass
cock Senator Scott. who will JOIN Taft
on his swing westward through West
Virginia. starting at Harpers Ferry and
ending at Parkersburg, will stump the
second district up until a day or two
before the election. He will be accom-
panied by State Senator Fred o. Blue. a
former Scherr leader. and for a part OF
the time by Candidate Glasscock. The
latter is covering ground fast and re-
hrpcf linU
Norfolk and Western counties.
Unexpectedly the negro question IS
forging to the fore the paramount
state issue. This was unexpected be-
cause the adoption of the Jim Crow
and suffrage planks by the democratic
convention was resisted TO the last by
the acknowledged leaders OF the party.
The democratic candidates and speakers
have discovered that they struck popular
ground when they touched on these
blanks hence recently they have elabo-
rated their speeches on that score.
BY forcing this issue to the front they
have thrown a new element of Zest to the
canvass. Tax reform. the live issue four
years ago and which Glasscock is en-
deavoring to revamp. falls TO elicit
stir. Glasscock met the issue face to
face in the Norfolk and Western region
this week by vigorously condemning the
democratic planks, and he had sympa-
thetic audiences. including large repre-
sensations OF negroes. Candidate BEN
nett. following on ms tran, toufu Wlluiy
enthusiastic audiences among the white
voters who comprised them when he de-
clared himself as favoring the democratic
planks to the letter
Becomes a Drawing Card.
1t was the popular impression at first
that the democrats made mistake by
incorporating these planks. That i'm
preston was changed, for in the north
ern counties, where the negro vote is
small. the race question has been a draw
ing card. 1t has served to interest tax
payers on economic lines when the demo-
cratic orators have urged that the negro
vote represents an element that has
been a factor in deciding state issues OF
taxation by their votes, but have been
an insignificant factor in tax contibu-
ton.
AS a means OF attracting and holding
audiences the negro planks have not been
a mistake from the democratic stand
point but the increased registrations in
black belt districts indicate the fear of a
solid negro vote against the democratic
ticket felt by democratic leaders who
opposed the planks in convention. The
negroes are aroused over the possibility
of unfriendly legislation and can be ex-
pected to give little concern to the repub-
lican organizations this year. The per-
centage of stay at-homes among them
will be inconsequent al and the demo-
Gratis must be hopeful to believe they
can offset this feature by racial appeals
to white republicans.