Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-11-12

William Howard Taft has been elect
ed President of the United States, and
James S. Sherman Vice President, &C
cording to the early returns, by vote
or 81 to 172 in the electoral college,
thus giving a majority over Bryan
and Kern of 80. Taft has siXty-nine
more than the number required to elect,
but falls short of Roosevelt's total of
1856 four years ago. Taft has a plural
ity Of the popular vote in the entire
country of about 100000, against
Roosevelt's 2,545,0OO in 1904. The next
House of Representatives is Republi-
can, and the Republican party will re-
main in control of all branches of the
government after March 4 next.
OF the States called doubtful or de-
batable in the campaign, Taft carried
nearly all. His majority in New York
State may reach 1SS,OO0, he carried
Ohio by about 10000, and Illinois by
$4,000. Indiana was extremely close,
the majority for the head of the ticket
ranging from 5000 to $4,000. according
to the returns at o'clock Wednesday
morning. The returns indicate that
the far western mountain States of
Colorado and Montana have given
Bryan their electoral votes, but Taft
has carried Idaho.
Bryan made a much better race for
the presidency than he did in either
of his other campaigns, gaining both in
electoral and popular votes, but has
made no serious inroads upon the Re-
publican hold on the presidential office
He has done better in the West than in
the East. In the West he has won his
own State and other States which were
for Roosevelt. but in the East, he has
made no Roadway, and the majorities
against him there are almost as large
as they were in 1900. Where he did
gain was in States where there were
Republican fractional fights or a tenn
perance struggle over the State ticket
Involving the electoral ticket as we'll
Hughes Carries New York.
In New York State Governor Hughes
has been successful by a majority an
proximating 1900 at the least. He
ran largely ahead up the State, and
the vote for Chanler in Greater New
York was much smaller than was an
ticipated, while Bryan in the metropolis
scarcely equaled the vote of Taft.
Some of the State fights were in
doubt on the face of the early returns
Hughes carried New York by a major
ity less than half as great as that of
the presidential candidate.
The returns from Ohio and Indiana
came in with provoking slowness. Int
the early figures indicated that Taft
had carried Ohio by anything from TO-
600 upward. Whether or not Governor
Harris or Judson Harmon had carried
Ohio for Governor could not be deter
mined till the full returns were ip.
Early indications were that the Demo.
Gratis won the governorship, as the
cities were against Harris on the tenn
perance issue
Indiana returns were also indefinite,
but it was believed Taft had carried
the State by small plurality, the esti-
mates ranging from 5000 to 5000.
The Republican losses are somewhat
heavy in the cities, due in part to the
labor vote, and the early returns from
the country districts were meager.
There appeared TO be no doubt that
Marshall, Democrat, had been elected
Governor of Indiana, and the indica-
tions were that the Democrats had won
control of the Legislature.
While Taft carried Michigan by a
majority estimated at about 100000, at
midnight Tuesday the election for Gov
ernor was in doubt, with Hemans
(Dem.) leading Governor Warner
Rep.) by 1000 to 10000 Many coun-
try districts in which Warner expected
heavy vote had not reported. There
were no indications of pronounced
Democratic gains in the Legislature
Wisconsin has given Taft its normal
Republican majority of 100000. This
is falling off from the 10000 of 1904.
but is the usual Republican plurality.
Governor J. o. Davidson, Republican.
has been reelected, but his vote is be-