The Portland daily press., 1889-11-01
Next Weeks Elections.

Elections occur in many of the States next
Tuesday, but in only four of them are the
contests attracting much attention. These
States are Yirginia. New York Massachu-
sets and Ohio. Governors and legislatures
are to be chosen in Virginia, Massachusetts
and Ohio, and minor Stale officers and legis-
lators in New York. On the whole the most
interesting fight of the series is that in Vir-
ginia, due partly to its closeness and partly
to the peculiar issue which the Democrats
have undertaken to force to the front. White
supremacy is the alpha and omega of
the Democratic contest, and though their
platform has some declarations on other SUBJ
jects, this is the only one that has cut much
figure in the campaign. That the contest in
the Old Dominion will be close is admitted
on both sides and that the Republicans are
at disadvantage by reason of the fact that
all the counting machinery is in the hands of
the Democrats, is evident enough. Never
theless Malone is very confident of winning,
and as no political candidate ever had more
thorough knowledge of his own strength and
that of his adversaries. his opinion ought to
be worth great deal. The State is, how
ever. close and there will be abundant oppor-
edhAbito iOi buC DCulOCEdbS 10 manipulate Lle
count.
New York is another doubtful State, but
the probability is that Hill will, by the aid OF
the big sums of money contributed by his
friends, the brewers and saloon keepers, be
able to pull through the most of his ticket,
for In an off year, especially year following
Presidential election, there is liable to be
much apathy among the voters, who have no
very close personal interest at stake, which
OF course enables those who may be
deeply affected by the result, like the liquor
men, and who therefore are wide awake, to
accomplish more than they ordinarily would
be able to. Two of the names on the ticket,
howeyer-Wemple and Tabor-were so bad
ly smrched by the ceiling scandal that it is
very doubtful il Hills influence and the
liquor mems money combined can pull them
through. The legislature, which is really
the important thing at stake, will be con-
trolled by the Republicans, beyond doubt,
and as Tammany and the County Democracy
are at war in the city, it looks as If the Re.
publicans would carry several districts
which have ordinarily been controlled by
the Democrats.
Massachusetts, has been enjoying very
lively campaign, in which both of the candi-
dates have been on the stump. There is
probably no doubt of the election of Mr.
Bracket, the Republican candidate for Gov
ernor. and large majority of the Republican
candidates for the legislature. The interest
outside the State centres chiefly in the
new method OF voting which will be tried for
the first time on an extensive scale at the
Massachusetts election. By reason of The
great number of independent nominations
the ticket will be very long and the test will
therefore be very severe one. The friends
OF the Australian system are confident, how
ever, that the results will demonstrate the
wisdom OF the new method, and assure its
adoption In the near future by nearly all the
Northern States.
Ohio politics are always red hot. This
year they have been hotter, if that be posi-
BILE, than usual. The prizes at stake are the
governorship and the legislature, which will
elect successor to Senator Payne. There
Is not much doubt that Gov. Foraker will be
reelected, though it would not be surprising
II his majority was somewhat reduced. A
man who has faithfully performed the duties
OF public office, which bring him In contact
with great many people must necessarily
have made enemies in his own household,
and they will not neglect the coming opportun-
ity to crafty their feelings. The contest for
the legislature exceeds in interest the contest
for the governorship, inasmuch as its result
is more uncertain. For great many years
back Ohio has had bad habit of electing
Democratic legislature just often enough to
Keep one Democrat 10 the United States
Senate. Payne's term is about to expire,
ana the incoming legislature will elect his
successor. The time is rife, therefore, for
the PAD habit to manifest itself. Were it
not for this bad habit the State has got into
we should feel little doubt that the lepisla-
ture would be Republican, but bad habits
are very difficult to get rid of.