New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-10-01
THE NEW STATE ELECTIONS.

The elections in the new States to-day would
have attracted much more attention at the East
if thee had not been a general impression that
the result in each was correctly fOreShadOWed
in the election of constitutional delegates. In
the two DakotaS and in Washington the Re-
publican majoriteS last fall were large, and
were followed by Republican majOriteS in tho
constitutional election, and there has been no
expectation that the DemOc ats would succeed
in either of these States. In Montana the Re-
publican majority last fall was somewhat UNI
expected. and was not maintained in the con-
stitutiona election. The Democrats having
then a majority, the general impression has
been that similar influences would enable them
TO elect the Governor and majority OF the
Legislature, though Republican adviceS have
expressed confidence Of electing the Congress
man. These are the prevalent expectations at
distance But the latest dispatches say that
a close vote is expected in Montana, with
fair chance of Republican success.
There is one caution to be observed regard
ing the elections in al these new States. The
population has been growing rapidly, so that
The number of voters must have changed very
much within single year, and meanwhile the
constitutional elections involved or raised ques-
tons not previously potent which in some
cases have been carried over into the choice of
State officers and legislatures. These facts
make it possible that results unexpected by
either party may appear But while differ
enceS regarding local matters may reduce Re
publican majorites in the DakotaS,
there seems TO be nc reason to anticipate any
thing but a complete Republican success in
those two States, while all information from
Washington tends to the conclusion that the
Republicans there have been strengthened
rather than weakened by their part in the
framing of a Constitution and their nomina-
tons for State officers.
The accounts from Montana are less clear.
Personal disagreementS have made some
trouble there. and local issues have not worked
entirely to Republican advantage. The cleo
ton is to be held under the new law, embOdy
ing system resembling the Australian, and
while no party can tell how it is going to affect
its former voting force, both perceive that the
hope of rendering fraud or corruption impoS-
sibe was over-Sanguine. The Democrats are
talking just as they always do when privately
apprehensive Of defeat, about a great corrup-
ton fund But they know perfectly well that
mendouS advantage in Montana, in any con-
test that can be decided by money. The hope
Of Republicans is that the secret ballot will
cripple that influence. Dispatches also say
that extensive frauds in registration have been
discovered, perhaps too late for their corec-
tion. The fact that these frauds appear in
district controlled by some of the richest Dem
ocIatic mine operators is suggestive. The
Republican hope is that the new law may prove
sufficiently effective to prevent the final sue
cess Of any fraud.
1t is generally conceded by Democrats that
the two Dakotas and Washington are likely to
elect six Republican Senators and four Repub-
hcan Congressman, 50 that a Democratic vic
tory in Montana would leave net Republican
gain of four in the Senate and three In the
House. But there is no certainty either way
about the Montana result. Even if Democratic
fraud in registration should be found to have
turned the scale the President or Congress
might have ground for action in the matter
But in any case, to-day brings substantial
increase Of Republican strength in the National
Government, partly as the Just penalty of the
prolonged exclusion of the Territories by Dem
ocratS for partisan reasons.