New-York tribune., 1908-08-05
FOR TAFT In VIRGINIA
BRYAN NAY LOSE STATE.
Poll Taa Decision Disfranchises
Host Democratic TOters.
1Rr relesran Nh 10 The tribune. !

Richmond, Va. Aug 4-Consternation preValls
in the ranks of the Democratic party in Virginia
and the Democratic leaders both here and in other
parts of the state frankly admit among themselves
that II recent decision of Judge Martin OF NOT
folk is not reversed before the coming national
election Virginia must for the first time since Ma
homes day be counted in the Republican column
The decision is the Interpretation of the poii-
clause in the state constitution Section q ol
Article II of the Virginia constitution requires ta
every man otherwise qualified to vote must person.
ally pay his poll at least six months pefore
election time Judge Martin in deciding test case
this clause. ruled that personally pay means
that the prospective voter must in his own person
hand TO the proper state or county otIcer tiio
amount of his poll tax. He even went so far as "
decide that payment by personal check wheh no'
made in person, violation OF the clause
The result of this decision judging from care
ful study and analysis of available figures, pracu-
cally the disfranchisement OF so per cent ol
the Democratic vote of the state, while it means
only the disfranchisement OF approximately 10 per
cent of the Republican voters The reason Tor llis
is that the large majority of the Democratic vote
is polled in the rural districts where IL mas oeeh
the custom for years for farmers and land holoers
to mail checks for their poll tax 70 the county
treasurer. The farmers before the Martin decision
hardly ever thought Of hunting up the county
treasurer in person to hand him the 81 90 tax.
On the other hand the larger part of the Repuo-
lican is pcled by negroes who, as rule. do
not much if any land and pay their poll tax
IN person. Inc great majority VI NiIIe INSPuOh-
voters In Virginia live in cities where II is
easy to pay the tax in person.
In 1904 Bryan received from Virginia so64S votes
TO Roosevelts 1850. These figures show how grave
IS the situation facing the Virginia Democratic
leaders. estimated that if the Martin decision
is not reversed the Democratic vote in the coming
national election will not exceed 10000 and Repub
lican leaders this is too liberal an estimate.
There several conferences of Democratic
leaders week to decide what steps be taken
carried to the Court of Appeals Immediately The
ablest constitutional lawyers of the state will be
engaged, and neither effort money will be
spared in the attempt to have the Martin ruling
overturned. a fund is being raised for this pur-
pose.
Democrats throughout the state are up in arms
over the decision. and Indignantly exclaim that It
IS ridiculous and absurd but they admit that they
have grave fears of the Court of Appeals taking
this view of II.
Mr. Byrd, Speaker of the House of Delegates
has admitted that the decision is grave menace
to Democratic hopes If stands, he said, it
such heavy loss of Democratic votes. while at
the same time not seriously affecting the Repub-
hcan vote to make the situation here a serious
Il cannot help believing said Mr.. Byrd. that
the may be appealed and the Court of APP
peals reverse Mr.. Martins decision before the
voting day comes
MI Lewis member of the Virginia Legislature,
who has wide knowledge of the political situa-
ton in tidewater Virginia. said:
Unless the Martin decision is reversed on appeal
do not well see how any Democrat can take an
optimistic view Of the situation. The decision
means the disfranchisement of so many Demo-
cratic voters that it is a question whether Bryan
carry the state
Elated by the decision Republican leaders are
determined to make the stiffest kind of fight to
put Virginia in the Republican column. Even be-
fore the Martin decision they felt that there was
a possibility of carrying Virginia, and now they
believe that this possibility has changed almost
10 certainty. They predict Republican
majority of from 10000 10000.
From reports of Republican leaders in various
parts of the state. 1t would seem that this pre-
diction might be carried out, always barring the
possibility OF a reversal of the decision
The negroes, it is said, have paid their poll tax
this year unusually large numbers, The federal
oficeholders all in line and working hard for
Mr. Taft The fact that he is spending much of his
time at Hot Springs and that prominent Virgin
ians are meeting him and coming in personal touch
with him will surely be an important factor n
the coming campaign. Republicans throughout the
state will make a concerted effort to get
MI Taft himself make speeches in Norfolk
and Richmond. They believe that II the Repuo-
lican National Committee will make an active cam
pagn 10 carry Virginia Mr.. Taft will poll a heavy
vote among conservative business men and anti
Bryan Democrats.
1t is certain that many qualified Democrats in
this state will not vote at all on Election Day.
1ber feel that they cannot support Bryan, while
tradition and party loyalty forbid their voting the
Republican or any other ticket The alternative is
not TO at all.
Another factor OF the Virginia situation is the
attitude of Senator Daniel. At the Roanoke con-
vention he opposed instructing the Virginia dele
gates for Bryan with all the force he could COM
mand He fought Bryan until it was Enthusiastically
demonstrated that further opposition was hopeless
Democrats know that Senator Daniel cannot go
into the campaign with his usual energy and
warmth and that his support of MI Bryan can
not at heart be real. His embarrassing position
is well known throughout the state, and this must
have it's effect the Presidential vote
Mr Taft's prospects of carrying the state have
taken on a roseate hue.