West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1916-11-09
California Casts Her Electoral Vote
for the Chief Executive Which
Makes His Success Ccrtain-Re-
publican Leaders Give Up All
Hopes-Congrcss Democratic

SOAuAhh dI LuluHiBnL tOnlBuL maQe GER
tain the reelection OF Woodrow viii
son over Charles +. Hughes. with at
least six electoral votes TO spare. The
states OF Minnesota and New Hamp-
shire remained doubtful, with a strong
trend towards the Democratic candi-
date.
Wilson has certainly carried 81
northern. southern and western states
with 272 electoral votes. Hughes car
ried IA eastern and northern states,
and two western states, with a total
electoral vote OF 243.
California, which has wavered for
two days between Wilson and Hughes,
settled all doubt as to the outcome
OF the election at 10 o'clock tonight,
when the lead for the President was
increased so that with but Go districts
missing, his plurality was 3,112. In
New Mexico he took the lead from
Hughes and was 1894 votes ahead,
with 15S precincts not yet reported.
At the same time North Dakota be-
came sure for Wilson and Wilson
gains were reported in West Virginia,
Minnesota and New Hampshire.
When the news OF CALIFORNIA; de-
cision reached Republican headquar-
ters in New York. the place was al
most instantly deserted. There is still
talk OF making contests and many
lawyers. headed by former Attorney
General Wickersham, have been en-
gagged to take all possible legal steps
to fight for Hughes in the close states
| to the last trench.
So decided, however, were the mid
night returns, that none of the Repub-
lican leaders had any confidence that
recounts or recourse to the courts
could elect their candidate. The re-
suit of the election which was clouded
by doubt and conflicting reports for
two days, has upset all precedents in
American politics. Wilson has been
elected by Republican states, states on
which the G. o. p. leaders counted SO
surely that they took little trouble or
expense to make prediction fights
within their borders.
Without New York, or Illinois, both
OF which declared decisively and i'm
mediately for Hughes, the Democrats
found enough strength in the middle
and far west to overcome the great
| electoral vote of these and many other
populous and important states. OF
the western states. where Hughes
| victory was practically conceded by
| Democrats, Hughes was victorious in
| Oregon only. In the middle west
Iowa and South Dakota only cast their
votes for him.
New England's rock-ribbed Republi-
canism almost cracked under the
strain of the trend toward Wilson. Re-
publican pluralities of former years
dwindled until they almost disappear
ed. In New Hampshire, II will require
an official count to decide the claims
OF the Republicans that their hold on
a solid New England state is still un-
broken. The result in New England
is a savage blow at the confidence OF
the high protectionists that the tariff
was even considered by the American
/ people.
AS far as can be gathered from the
returns the predicted Progressive de.
lection to Wilson after Col. Roosevelt's
attempt to drive them back into the
Republican ranks has been verified by
the results.
In every western state which went
for Wilson, there are enough Progress
sives TO have swung the electoral vote
the other way, had they supported
Hughes In most instances, where
Col. Roosevelt attempted to secure
Hughes votes by personal appeal. the
people voted for Wilson.
1t is clear that the Progressive par
ty, instead Of being absorbed by the
Republican party, remains still indie
pendent, and may yet have TO be reck-
oned with in the next election.
Prohibition made decided step for
ward. Michigan has voted for state
wide prohibition. by 10000 majority;
Nebraska by $4,000. Montana by 10000
and South Dakota by $4,000 Idaho
has adopted a prohibition constitu-
tional amendment by a majority of
three to one.
Twenty-four OF the forty-eight
states have now declared for state
wide prohibition, and more than 60
per cent Of the population, and So per
cent Of the area Of the country, Is now
dry.