The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-08-23
The Political Campaign i'm New
FuYcL York. u

X
State; campaign which is likely to be of
more than ordinary interest, in spite of its
insignifcance in matters pertaining to the
State government. Our citizens will now
realize for the first time the political boar.
ing of the amendments to the State consti-
tuition adopted in 1874. Formerly we
elected o Governor and Lieutenant Gov
ernor in the same year that We chose Repre-
sentatives to Congress, and the State ticket
and the Congressional tickets lent mutual
support to each other. In oil previous
elections it has been possible TO
spool the issues" and (what is moro
effective in political canvass) to pool the
election expenses. When q multitude of
important officers are to be chosen in the
same election it is comparatively easy to
raise funds for the canvass. The contribu-
tions OF the State candidates 60 into the
common pool and tighten the electioneer-
ing expenses of the candidates Tor Congress
and candidates for the Legislature. In con-
sequence Of changes in the State constitu-
ton it is a mere accident that even one
State officer is to be chosen in the coming
election. The judges of the Court of
Appeals are chosen for fourteen years but
when one of them dies or resigns or retires
on reaching the age of seventy, his successor
is not chosen to fill the unexpired portion
OF his term, but for full term of Jour-
teen years. The judges Of that Court
are not elected at regular periods, like
other officers, but only as vacancies happen
to occur by death or approximation. 1t is
mere accident that the people Of the State
will elect judge OF the Court OF Appeals in
November Of the present year.
BY the constitution of 1916 the Governor
and Lieutenant Governor were elected in
the same years as congressman; and the
Secretary of State Comptroller, and other
heads of departments in the intervening
years. By an undersigned if not unforeseen
Governor and Lieutenant Governor to three
years it happens that the most important
years in federal politics are years of no con-
sequence at all in State politics. This year,
when we are to choose Congressman, we
elect no political State officers; but next
year, when federal issues will not come
into the canvass, not only Governor and
Lieutenant Governor but all the heads of
State departments will be chosen, and in
the following year, which will be the Presi-
Dental year, the people Of New York will
choose no State officers of any sort or de-
scription. The authors Of the amendments
of 1874 did not contemplate this singular
-
effect will be on the success of political par
ties. It certainly precludes the Gus
tomary pooling Of State issues and
federal issues and leaves each to
stand on its own basis. But, inasmuch as
it will affect both political parties alike, it
may prove to be of little practical conse-
quence What is certain is the candi-
dates for Congress in this State cannot be
aided by electioneering funds contributed
by candidates for State offices. There will be
no pooling of issues or pooling of expenses,
and every candidate for Congress OF the
Assembly will have to paddle his own
canoe"
The dominant issue in this years can
vass will be the choice ola Senator to sue
coed Mr.. Conkling. Three or four weeks
ago it seemed to be settled thing that
Mr.. Conkling will be reelected. The
upon that expectation will make the con-
test exciting and relieve it of the tameness
of forgone and accepted conclusion. If
the administration had not declared its hos
tility to Mr.. Conkling by the removal of
his friends from the Custom House the
eminent and gifted Senator would have
had an easy march to victory. Until
the administration unmasked its batteries
Mr.. Conkling had apparently nothing to
fear. Although the democratic party has
probably majority in the State on any
question which might be voted upon by the
citizens at large the Assembly districts are
SO constituted as to insure republican ma
jority in the Legislature. The present APP
portionment is founded on the State census
of 1866, and not on the census of 1876, as
the constitution requires. The njustice Of
that old apportionment to the democratic
party is proved by the fact that since the
election of Governor Tilden in 1874
the democrats have easily kept con-
troll of all the State offices, although
failing every year to elect q democratic
Legislature. Since 1866 the great cities
which are the democratic strongholds have
been steadily gaining in population, while
the republican rural districts have remained
A reapportionment on the State
census of 1876 would have given the demo-
Gratis control of the Legislature as well as
of the executive departments of the State
having evaded u plain constitutional obli-
CATION and refused to perform an act of
simple justice the prospect seemed pretty
well assured of republican majority in the
next Legislature, consisting, in the main, Of
Sapa&sas q s.l.l;s,.x al