The Washington herald., 1916-11-10
PRESIDENT REFLECTED;
Wins in CALIFORNIA
Victory in Coast State clinches Victory
for Democratic Chief.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

with an equally large German American
icitizenry. supported Wilson.
In other cities there was no indication
THAT Americans Of German extraction had
voted as a unit for any particular can
didate.
The stubbornness with which the Re-
publican. leaders held to their hope for
Hughes relaxed toward night, when CAL
ifornia showed finally that It was for
Wilson. ~
In the evening there seemed to ge grim
determination to endeavor by legal means
to take away the pluralities In doubtful
Estates which the leaders admitted private
Ily existed In Wilson's favor.
i AS the last hope of California finally
fiickered and went out there was little
talk of contesting. 1t is likely that there
will still be legal fights in some of the
States, notably New Hampshire, but the
probability is that these will be mere
formalities.
Democratic national headquarters was
topsy turvy today. with some of the
rooms being vacated for new tenants.
Wilson shouters poured in and out OF the
half dismantled quarters all day. cheer
Ing each fresh bulletin and each new edi-
tion Of the evening newspapers as the
| Wilson tide grew. Many of the stan
were weary and red-eyed with loss of
in reach Of the telegraph bulletins.
The crowd did not worry much about
the Presidents chances after they were
assured that he had California safe.
The following telegram. received at 2
O'Clock in the afternoon. caused this as
Isurance:
California is safe for Wilson by 5000
Woodrow Wilson Independent League
watching count. Congratulations to the
President and yourself"
| 1t was sent to Chairman Mccormick by
Isidor Jacobs, a former California Pro-
gressive, now President of the Woodrow
Wilson Independent League in that State.
| All day the interest in the most exciting
Presidential race since Cleveland narrow
ly won from Blaine in 1884 centered
around the count in California. The vote
in favor of Hughes slowly ebbed until
late In the afternoon. Growing Hughes
pluralties in the strong Republican city
and county Of Los Angeles for a. time
threatened to wipe It out entirely. So
close was the fight in other States that
California might easily have turned the
tide of victory.
Wilson Began to Gain.
In the afternoon Wilson began to pull
ahead again. At night It was announced
the count of 5.ss1 precincts out Of a tota
OF $50 gave Wilson 460, ,1S9 and Hughes
AS, 400. alead of 2,3s0 for the President
with less than 100 precincts to be heard
from and most OF these in northern
California where Wilson Is certain tc
run ahead.
While at Republican and Democratic
headquarters all the doubtful states were
claimed with a high degree of confidence
or apparent confidence, IL was plain thai
the real leaders are now giving theiI
best effors and energies to the great
legal battle that is bound to follow the
receipt Of the full unofficial returns.
John B. StanchfleId. who has been RET
tanned by the Democratic National Com
mittee to safeguard the Wilson interests
when the Republican attack is delivered,
was in frequent communication with the
Democratic chiefs and a complete line
OF defense was drawn up.
The Republican strategy is to consist
of absolute refusal to concede that Will
son has carried the wavering States
needed to make up his Electoral College
and to file contests wherever sufficient
basis for them can be found to give them
standing in court
While the Republicans talked bravely
Of what they proposed to do, there was a
general air of gloom in their headquar-
tiers. After the late returns from Cali
fornia many of the men high I'D in the
Hughes counsels conceded that only by
a legal battle can they hope to stem the
Wilson tide