Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-08

carried some heretofore republican
counties, Marion and Peasants, for ex-
ample, but lost in former democratic ball
iwicks, as Nicholas and Summers.
The first senatorial district, embrace
ing the extreme northern counties of Han
cock. Brooke and Ohio. elected Henry
Zilliken, of Brooke over j. F. Gre. re-
publican, to the state senate. This was
distinct republican loss and was nat
urally disappointing to Senator Scott. be-
cause it is his senatorial district and be-
cause 1t means that much of a loss to
him in the matter of succeeding himself
two years hence. Cree was defeated SIM
ply and solely because of the fight put up
against him by the liquor interests Of
Wheeling. They were afraid he would
vote for prohibition and Zilliken was a
pronounced liberal on the liquor issue.
The republicans balanced this loss in the
senate by the election OF Howard Suther-
land in the fifteenth district. Sutherland
defeated Post. who was elected from that
district at special election last year.
1t was only an apparent republican gain,
as the district had gone republican at the
preceding election and Post was chosen
at the special election to fill the vacancy
occasioned by the death of Senator Tai
bolt.
Aggregate of Majorities.
The aggregate majorities received
by Representatives Hubbard, Sturgiss,
Gaines, woodward and Hughes demon
strate West Virginia is safely republican
by 10000 in presidential year Taft ex-
ceeds their vote through support from
Democratic business men. and Glasscock' $
majority fell down because of discomfort
with the factional differences created by
the leaders and to a growing opposition
to Senator Elkins domination. Bennett g
majorities were received in the counties
where there are few negroes, and he was
openly supported by the flower of the re-
publicanism in northern counties. 1t is
too early to say whether the democrats
regret the negro planks in their platform.
but in their present mood over the defeat
OF Bennett they seem intensely resentful
of the vote in the black belt counties.
The republican and democratic state
campaigns were skillfuliy managed by
Samuel v. Mathews and George /. Neal,
respectively. Mathews proved himself a
gem. He early discounted the vote in the
northern counties and directed his ammu-
milton to the southern end of the state
with a view to bringing out big repub-
Lean vote. Glasscock in the short time at
his command covered thirty-five of the
fifty-fve counties and won over malcon-
tents in his party by his candor and evil
dent purpose to give both factions a
square deal. Physically frai and at
times hardly able to stand up under the
strain, he appealed favorably to the cleo
torate and the worst the democrats
could say OF him and about the only
thing was that he was Senator Elkins'
man, a charge having a semblance of
truth only In the fact that he had been
one of Elkins attorneys.
Bennett Weak on the Stump.
On the other hand. Bennett was a weak
err campaigner than Cornwell in 1904
With Giasscock stronger than Dawson
and Bennett weaker than Cornwell it was
natural to expect republican success in
the state If Taft ran any way near the
Roosevelt vote. and he did that beyond
expectations. The labor support of Bryan
was Offset by the votes of many in other
walks of life who grasped the opportunity
to neutralize labor as an effective political
agency. The general distribution Of stock
certificates compared with bygOne years
also produced an element that feared tC
take a chance with Bryan and risk the
loss of dividends in Industrial enterprises
And although Bryan was stronger than
Parker to head their ticket, the demo
cratic campaign lacked the vitality OF
1904. when they made state issues para
mount with the popular and aggressive
Cornwell as their leader. Bennett was a
negative proposition, who was never sure
of his ground.