Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-25
DRAW LARGE CROWDS
Both Candidates for Presi-
dent in West Virginia.
TAFT VICTORY PREDICTED
Republican State Ticket Said to Be
Gaining Strength.
FORM OF BALLOT AGREED UPON
Difficulty in Voting Split Ticket
Probable-straight Voting Re-
garded as Possible.
Special Correspondence Of The Star.

Special Correspondence Of The Star
WHEELING, W. Va, October "a. 1908
Taft and Bryan. on return trips tC
West Virginia during the week, were re-
ceived at all stops with crowds COM
mensurate with their prominence. There
was the difference that Taft was also
greeted with marching club features, a
superiority enjoyed by the republicans
throughout the state, although there has
been notable dearth Of parading organi-
cations this year compared with previous
campaigns. At Parkersburg Taft was
driven through a street demonstration
which rivaled the big parade at Wheeling
In his honor the previous week.
The signs continue to point to Taft's
victory In West Virginia. Success for the
ing, but the republicans get the benefit
of the doubt. Glasscock, their nominee
for governor. completed a tour of the
northern counties this week and every
where made a good impression. fractional
dinerences. once so acute in certain coun-
ties, have been practically eliminated, the
only factor of uncertainty being the ele-
ment of independent republicans who
took no part in the Swisher-Scherr con-
troversy and who made up their minds
during that trouble to vote for Bennett
and who may do at the polls. I'm
doubtedly many of these will conclude to
go along. but on the other hand a large
number of them will support the demo-
cratic candidate.
Jairus Collins, one of the most prom-
nent coal operators In southern West
Virginia. and who was mentioned as a
democratic gubernatorial possibility last
summer. openly predicts that Taft will
carry the state by from $4,000 to 10000.
but that the democrats will elect their
candidate for governor. Republicans are
not so optimistic as to Taft's plurality.
but 1t seems to them absurd that Taft
could win by such margin and not pull
through his party's state ticket There is
nothing to show Glasscock will be cut
as badly as Dawson was four years ago.
The latter ran 1000 votes behind Roose-
welt. SO Glasscocks chances depend on
Taft's strength. With Taft a winner by
$4,000 or less there will be very little
for Glasscock to go on. Betting Is in his
favor and conditions are growing more
favorable for him.
Form of Ballot.
Chairmen Mathews and Bennett have
agreed on the form of ballot to comply
with the election law. which goes into
force for the first time. and official sample
copies have been distributed throughout
the state. There will be five tickets
democratic, socialist, independence league.
prohibition and epublican-arranged In
that order. The democratic ticket has
always had the honor OF being the first
column and there was a sentiment among
republicans to have 1t displaced by the
republican ticket. which was permissible
since the law gives the preference to the
party casting the largest number OF votes
at the preceding election. but the republi-
can managers felt the voters had got ac-
customed to seeing the republican ticket
on the right hand part Of the ballot and
they did not care to disturb an arrange
ment familiar for years.
The republican eagle shows up the most
conspicuously. the democratic rooster be-
ing design in faint etching The prohibi-
tionists use for an emblem a modern mid
dle-class home with children reclining on
the front steps. while the socialist and in
dependence league use the national en-