The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-30

Another straw vote. and very sig
niiicant ono, was taken recently by the
students OF eleven Ohio colleges. The
students of these colleges como from
various religious denominations from
various social strata, from cities, VIII
lagos ANA farms Now, the opinions
or these young fellows either echo
those of their fathers. or. IL differing
markedly from these, indicate the
trend of the young mon of tho coun-
try, those Who arc going to vote for
tho first time In 1912. Despisc. II YOU
will. the vast army OF those who.
mere boys of seventeen in 1905, Will
vote next year; but their votes Will
count all tho same. At the eleven
Ohio colleges straw votes were cast
for Wilson, La Toilette, Taft, Hur-
mon. Roosevelt Bryan and Debs; aud
not only did Wilson have a very large
plurality over any other candidate: he
actually pollcd nearly 100 more than
TAFT and Harmon combIned-in their
own Ane s'a,s' straw vo,s@ wa, taken
throughout the country by an agri-
cultural paper published in Chicago;
the result being announced on D"ccm-
Der 10. Democrats and Republicans
were asked to state whom in their
Judgment their respective parties
should nominate. A total OF 3,S26
Democratic votes were cast, and OF
these Wilson received 2.1s6; Clark,
80: Harmon. eos. all others combined.
594. Wilson's percentage OF the total
was 81, Clark's la and l1armons but
S; no one else receiving even so many
as that. Thus Wilson received n clear
ina Jnriiy over all his competitors COM
hincd and az ovcrwhelm majority
over any ono of them. Moreover. Will
son led the combined opposition In
each Of the six geographical divisions
New England. the Middle States, tho
Central West the Northwest. the far
West and the South.
NON note tho significance of these
three straw votes when jointly consid-
cred. Municipal reformcrs (represent-
ins urban populations throughout the
country. subscribers to an agrcul-
tural paper representing rural popu-
lations throughout the country and
tho students of eleven colleges trepre-
scnting urban, village and rural popu-
lations in ITarmon's own State), all
show by their votes that Woodrow
Wilson is the Democrat most likely to
lead his party to victory. In this con-
ncction il should be mentioned. too,
that tho Woodrow Wilson League Of
College Men, under the joint leader
and South Carolina. was formed q short
time ago and is conducting an active
propa eanda for Wilson. 1t already
comprises more than 100 colleges and
universities. and has more than 10000
college students enrolled upon It's
membership list. Can any other Dem
ocratic candidate point 10 such q body
Of ardent Young men. scattered from
the atlantic 10 the Pacific, who arc
eagerly WORKING for his cause?
Whether the leaders Of the Demo
era tic party in Virginia arc aware of
the above and similar facts. do not
know. Il not. ] respectfully urge them
to consider their Significance forth
win, ana 10 decide whether 1t be not
time 10 do what they can to insure the
nomination OF tho man who evidently
urouses more enthusiasm among the
voters ;han any other Democrat what
ever lf these leaders decide for VIII
son and spea!: out, the battle In Fir-
yinia IL won. 30 action that the lead
crs could now take would increase
their popularity more or would better
Acrvc 10 heal the wounds OF last sum
mcrs unfortunate factional strife.
r. RI. DABNEY,
Enivc.sity OF Virginia.
wjlgon'a birthday f1sth Dec. IBID.