The New York herald., 1879-10-08
OHIO POLITICS.

STRUGGLE BETWEEN THE TWO PARTIES FOR
THE POSSESSION or THE LEGIsLArURE-THE
GUBERNAroRIAL CONTEST DwARFED-A MOST
UNCERTAIN OUTLOOK.
COLUMBUS. Oct. 6. 1879.
The interests ut stake in the Legislature to be
elected on Tuesday next have caused the Ohio
pagn be fought largely the Legislative ticket
The candidacy OF Fosterand OF Ewing has played but
secondary part. The success of either gentle
man is not of prime Importance to their respec-
tive parties. but to control the Legislature is. In
the last month have looked up the situation in all
parts Of the State. and in all the hot campaigns of
the last few years have never seen tho parties
working moro intensely or on moro uncertain
ground. Tho republicans have had to contend with
the present large democratic majority. while the
democrats have been kept busy defending and
planning tho maladmnstraton of their majority.
1t is only in connection with the Legislature that
local issues have entered into the canvass.
SENATE.
Tho Legislature will be composed of 1856 men,
bers-thirty seven in the Senate and 1lS in the
House. OF the thirtythree Senatorial districts. into
which the State is divided. seventeen demo-
cratic in 1873. Notwithstanding the republican VIC
tory the State ticket. In three of these districts
the republicans had fighting ground and their pros
poets Of carrying at least two of them are good.
The Thirticth district is composed of Huron and
Erie counties. the western end of the and
ottawa and Sandusky. which torn part of the demo-
cratic stronghold. in the northwest. Huron county
gives arepublcan majority equal to the two demo-
cratic counties. Erie which includes sandusky city.
is evenly balanced and will decide The district has
two members. Ono is reasonably sure to be o demo-
crat.
Highland and Ross. two southern counties both
very close. make up the Sixth. The combined dem
ocratic majority is less than three hundred and
owing to the strength OF the republican candidate
democratic defeat is probable.
The Seventh district includes Adams and scio.o
rlver countes jackson and Pike. and is very Close
with chances favorins the republicans.
On the other hand. OF two districts in Eastern
Ohio which gave republican majorites in 1878, one
is properly democratic and has democratic men,
ber of tho present Legislature The other is
always uncertain. The Twentieth Is made
up of Harrison and Belmont counties, and usually
gives slight republican majority; the republ-
lican candidate will be elected. The Twenty first
includes Stark and Carroll Local causes have given
it to the republicans the last year two and the
strong fight made by u coterie OF Garhed's sup
porters has carried dismay into the democratic
camp; but the democrats arc reasonably sure OF
success.
The Fourteenth. made up OF counties in the south
eastern section OF the State is democratic but ex
Attorney General Pond, the republican candidate
has made so strong race that his chances OF eec-
ton are good.
The endless quarrelirg between the Toledo hard
money democrats, led by Frank Hurd, and General
Steedlnan soft money followers, threatened ut
time to give the Thirty-.hrd to the republicans:
but the divisions have been healed temporarily, and
the regular candidate will be elected.
Cuyahoga is the Twcnty-ifh district, and the weak
nomination made by the Cleveland republicans has
inspired the democrats with hope; but Cleveland is
republican city.
Tho First district returns three Senators, who will
probably be republicans. Hamilton county leans
that way this year.
THE HOUSE,.
From the above summary 1t will be seen that in
tho Senate tho odds are against the republicans
Their chances in tho House are better, but by no
means brilliant. or the dozen counties composing
the Western Reserve two only have o DEM
ocratic representative Erie and Cuyahoga. Tho
five hundred odd nationals in Erie will throw
their influence for tho democratic candidate. Tho
solitary democrat from Cuyahoga will be re-electcd
the republicans lose representative by the reap
ness OF their ticket Mahoning has o greenback-
democrat member, but the county is republican,
and the fusion candidate cannot be elected again.
hold. and but two counties arc on the doubtful
list Williams is probably the closest county in the
State. 1t republican by twenty majority in 1877,
but last year the dominant party was in minority
OF ten. A small faction OF nationals hold the bal
ance Of power How they will use it is problematl-
cal. Wood was republican till the grecnback wave
struck it. The nationals polled over one thousand
votes In ls7S and as part OF them are supporting
the democratic candidate tke republican prospects
dubious.
Lucas county is the stronghold OF the Ohio ma
tioEas. The party aourishos in full vigor under tho
miasmatic influence OF Toledo. 1t shows signs
OF dissolution. and will elect two membcrs OF the
Legisla ure Van Vert, along the Indiana line, sell
dom gives democratic majority Of more than
hundred and tho efforts OF the republicans to capture
it have given some indications OF success. Preble.
further south, is usually republican by ono hundred
to two hundred. but local divisions havo proved
entering wedge which has split the party.
Tho river counties. beginning with Columbiana
and running down to Lawrence, are republican,
with two exceptions. Washington Is democratic by
a small but safe majority. belmont is very
close. with evident leaning to the democrats.
From Lawrence up to Hamilton Scioto Is tho only
publican county. Hamilton is ut heart democratic.
the large German element in Cincinnati give 1t y
publican complexion at present. and that party will
in Eelnont. , is Private pSseis STAMPING ground.
But the private IL not candidate for re-
election and in consequence the county bids
tar to fall into the democratic line. It's majority
either way Is small. Morgan is also close, seldom
giving more than one hundred republican majority.
The chances this year. In Athens General
Grosvenor, having been read out OF the party by
local salwarts has bolted and set up candi-
date OF his own 1t will not interfere with the sue
of the regular candidate In Guernsey which is
reliably republican on the State ticket. local dvi-
sions serious that the democratic candidate
will probably DO successful. The same is true of
Jackson, which is republican by two hundred to
three hundred usually. The democrats and nationals
have united on q candidate and he will probably be
elected. Highland and Ross arc two counties domo-
cratic by less than one hundred and fifty. and be-
tween them will lose at least one member.
or the interior counties Madison Is the most
certain. The republican majority OF forty became
in 1878 dcmocratic ono OF sixty 1t IN tmpossible
to predict the outcome this year. In Muskingum
the democratic margin is small that. ow-
ing to the vigorous canvass made by their oppo
nents the result is in doubt. Franklin is demo-
cratic by twelve hundred to fifteen hundred.
but because of internal rottenncss rcvolu-
tion. like the election of a republican Mayor in
Columbus last april. IL u bare possibility. Dela-
Is close that ex-Congressma Jones has
been pressed into service the republican
candidate to break the strength OF anoin-
ally III State politics. dcmocratc-prohibition
fusion. The prohibtionsts control over three hun
drcd votes. aud therefore hold the balance Of power
In Knox local operating against the
democratic candidate, though the party has u ma
jority OF six hundred. Hardin is very close with
prospects favorable to the republicans
In the strong democratic county OF Clermont tho
republicans and nationals have united. The ma
tionai vote exceeded thousand ut the last elec
ton, and the fusionist candidate may be elected.
like state of affairs exists in Darke Generally the
nationals have kept up their organization. They
have made nominations in perhap thirds OF the
counties and III the close will play the mischief
with the old parties.
A STATE UNCERTAINTY.