The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-03-10

Capitol.
CHANGE OF DAY FOR THE STATE
ELECTIONS.
From the NJ Y. World.
We hope the bill which has been intro
duced in the State Senate for changing the
State elections to the month of October may
pass. We will state our reasons with frank
ness, and hope they will be weighed with
candor.
Let us first, however, meet and dispose of
the only objection likely to be urged against
the passage of the bill. 1t can be described
in one word-expense. That this objection
is trivial is proved by the fact that twenty
five States in this Union hold their annual
State elections on different day from that
designated for the Presidential election. If
the additional expense were of any impor-
tance, those twenty-five States would long
ago have altered their laws and held their
State elections on the first Tuesday of No
vember.
Those States had fixed the day of their
annual elections before Congress passed the
act requiring Presidential electors in all the
States to be chosen on the first Tuesday in
November, and the fact that they have not
altered the time of their State elections shows
that in their estimation the additional ex-
pense of two election days is of little conse-
quence. True, those States choose their
members of Congress at their State elections
but in Presidential years it would be Just as
easy to choose them at the same time with
the Presidential electors. If, therefore, New
York should change the day, the only addi-
tional expense she would incur beyond the
election expenses of the twenty-five States
which do not hold their State elections in
November, would be the simple cost of q
separate Cons aressional election once in four
years. This is bagatelle when weighed
against the advantages of change.
First. By adopting a different day, we
should frustrate the intended effect of the
Federal election law on our State elections.
IS that insulting law was avowedly passed to
control the politics of New York, we can
easily frustrate its object by separating the
State from the Federal elections; and not
merely frustrate it but make it recoil against
its authors, as will be apparent to all who
have patience to read this article through.
Second. The change would have an i'm
portant and salutary influence on the Presi-
Dental elections; and on this ground alone
we should be willing to advocate it, Every
observant politician has long felt the dispro-
| portionate influence of two or three States,
| of which Pennsylvania is the most Important,
| in the election of our Presidents, owing to the
| fact that their State elections occur in Octo-
| ber. In 1868, the Presidential election was
virtually decided by the October elections in
IcuuoylNdula3 luuldnu dhu OhiO' AhO liOiul
influence upon the country of elections in
| those States just on the eve of the Presiden-
| tial election is prodigious. The fact that
| they hold their State elections in October
| quadruples their just weight in national poll
| tics. The influence of the October elec.
| tiops upon the Presidential contest is &C
well understood, that political parties
make the most profuse expenditures of money
| to carry the October elections in Presidential
years. and this corrupting concentration OF
effort upon two or three States is one of the
worst degradations of our national politics
If the great State of New York should also
hold an election in October, the extension oi
the area would prevent such a corrupt con
centration of electioneering influence, ant
the October elections would afford a fairel
indication of the drift of political sentiment
If New York had held its State election il
October in 1868, the Republicans would have
divided their corruption fund between New
York and Pennsylvania, and have lost botE
States The probable consequence woul'
have been the election of the Democratic
candidate for President. Even if the Re
publicans, despairiug of New York, hat
spent all their money in Pennsylvania,
great Democratic victory here would have
Offset Republican success in less impor
tant State, and the Democracy would still
have had chance of winning in the Presi
Dental race. 1t would have most whole
some effect on the politics of the country t.
strip Pennsylvania of the undue in1uenc
she exerts in every Presidential electio
through her State election in October NeV
York can easily neutralize it by the passag
of the bill which has been introduced in ou
Legislature.
Third. The change OF our State election t
October will give freedom to the Democrat
party in its selection of Presidential cand
dates. The Democratic party is free-trad
party, and if it were not for the mischievou
influence of the Pennsylvania October elet
ton, the party would be under no temptatio
to weaken itself in the country by trimmin
| on the tariff question. The Pennsylvani
protectionists have strong grip upon nj
tional politics and legislation by the gret
5 anxiety of both parties to carry that State
! October as means of influencing the Pres
+ Dental election. If the great commerci
9 and free-trade State of New York also he
an election in October, national convention
would not be tempted to court the Pennsy
vapia protectionists eitker in the selection
candidates or the construction of platform
b An October election in New York wouldspil
t the big guns OF the protectionists and emanC
n pate our politics from long servitude to PEN
i sylvania interests.
n Fourth. A change of day for our State ele
}, tions would reverse the batteries of Il
g Federal election law, and pour all their sh
y into the camp Of the enemy. Every pract
y cal politician appreciates the influence
Q elections npon other elections which imm
Q diately follow. The September election