The Portland daily press., 1886-11-01
the ELECTIONS.

Onuer the eXlStlng dppOrt0nment the
House of Representatives consists of 324
members OF this number fifteen have al
ready been chosen, namely, four in Maine,
two in Vermont, eight in Alabama and one
in Oregon, leaving 800 to be chosen tomor-
row. The present house contains about
forty Democratic majority. There is no
doubt that in the next house this majority
will be considerably reduced. The Demo-
Gratis admit tnat There are sanguine Repub-
licans who think 1t viii be wiped out entire
ly, but the better Judgment is that the Demo-
Gratis will maintain slight lead.
In seventeen Of the thirty-four States that
hold elections tomorrow. namely, California,
Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Kansas,
Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Ne
braska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jer-
sey, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennes-
see, Texas and Wisconsin governors and leg
islatures are to be chosen. In seven of the
remainder, namely, Florida, Illinois, Indi-
ana, Iowa, New York, South Carolina, and
West Virginia, legislatures and minor State
Offices are to be chosen; in two, namely, Mis-
souri, and Ohio, nothing but subordinate
State offices. and in the remaining eight, name
ly, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana,
Maryland, Mississippi, Rhode Island and
Virginia only representatives to Congress
are to be voted for. Eighteen of the legisla-
lures elected tomorrow will choose United
States Senators. They are the legislatures
OF California, Connecticut, Delaware, Flori-
da, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Min
nesota Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire,
New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Ten
nessee, Texas, West Virginia and Wiscon-
sin. As the Republican majority in the SEN
ate at the presnt time is only six, it will be
seen that the political complexion of that
body during the next two years is to be de-
termined by tomorrow's elections.
Besides the elections already enumerated,
New York city is to choose mayor, and the
contest there has assumed national inter-
est.
The campaigns in all the States, excepting
OF course the Southern, have been warm but
in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New Hamp-
shire and Tennessee they have been particu-
larly interesting. Ordinarily Pennsylvania
is not doubtful state. The prospect of
Democratic success is usually so slight that
the Democrats have little heart to make
vigorous campaign. This year, how
ever, the presence of the Third
Party Prohibition movement, has given them
courage and they have been making very
active campaign. All their hopes are based
upon the expectation that the Third Party
will poll a heavy vote and draw it chiefly
from the Republicans To what extent they
will be realized remains TO be seen, but the
chances are that the strength of the move
Hent has been greatly over-estimated just as
1t was in Maine. The presence of Mr.
Blaine in the State and the wonderful
enthusiasm of his receptions have tended to
concentrate national attention on this elec-
tion. The Massachusetts contest has been
made more than usually interesting BY the
alliance Of the Democrats and the Mug
wumps and the prominence which has been
given to the tariff issue. The interest in the
Tennessee canvass has been of rather a sem
timental kind, arising from the fact that two
brothers head the opposing tickets. There
can hardly be doubt but the Democrats will
carry the State. In New Hampshire the
vote is always close, and therefore the con-
test is always interesting. The uncertain
quantities which make the result this year
more than usually doubtful are the Third
Party prohibition movement and the labor
movement. The administration has been
doing the Democracy good turn too by or
dering war ships to the Portsmouth Navy
Yard. In spite, however, of all the disad-
vantages under which they are fighting the
Republicans feel confident of electing their
State ticket and also both members Of Con-
gress.
The contest for the mayoralty of New
York city has probably attracted more gener-
al attention than any of the State campaigns.
Ordinarily the fight for mayor is waged
purely by political factions. This year by
reason OF the candidacy of Mr.. Henry George
it has become something of contest be-
tween classes, and on that account has at
tracted the attention of the whole country.
So-called labor movements in plenty the
country mas seen before, but with very few
exceptions they have been too weak and puny
TO be interesting or important. They have
nad the concurrence Of very few of the la
Dorlng classes and their candidates have
generally been either men of little ability or
well-known demagogues. But Mr.. George
has succeeded in rallying to his standard not
only large per cent. Of the aboring men,
Dut also many men of distraction in the
professions, and his canvass has been pushed
with remarkable ability and zeal. That it
inspired the politicians with good
deal OF terror is clearly shown by
the fact that both the political par
ties selected unusually strong men to
head their tickets. But for the can
didacy OF Mr.. George Tammany Hall would
never have nominated Mr.. Hewitt, and but
for that candidacy it is very doubtful if the
Republican machine would have consented
TO the nomination of Mr.. Roosevelt So that
If Mr.. Hewitt or Mr.. Roosevelt is elected,
good deal of the credit Of giving New York