The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-11-06
ELEaTioN srKAWs.

II IS curious to note how many side issues
and local issues figured in the Eastern cleo
t.uns on Tuesday. In Illinois tie question
OF an iss ue Of $4,000 additional bonds
ftr The W orld's Fair cut considerable fig
tie in the contest in Cock County. In
parts of Wisconsin the compulsory school
act, known a. the Bennett law, was the
chief bone Of contention. At Cincinnati,
Oh 10, a large proportion of the Democrats
refused to vote on account of differences
wiz their leaders on city improvements.
IT. Nebraska the prohibition amendment to
the Constitution was defeated by 10000 ma
jorty, and this told against the Republicans,
Who had allied themselves with the Prohibi-
tiunists. In Kansas the new party, known
Il, the Farmers Alliance, seems to have
showed under both of the old parties. In
South Dakota the most exciting contest was
over the choice of a capital city. In quite
number of Congressional districts through
out the North the result was determined by
personal popularity.
Ii is the happy custom of the American
people 10 submit differences of opinion,
wien they arise, to the test of a popular
vote ard TO acquiesce in the result. Such
LEGAL issues seldom come TO the front in
Presidential years. On those occasions they
are kept in the background in order that
public attention shall be concentrated on
the more important business of shaping the
policy If the nation for four years. But off
years offer a convenient opportunity for
taking the sense of the people on subordi-
rate controversies, and they are turned to
account accordingly. Thus it will probably
be t und that Tuesdays election settled The
fate OF the Bennett law in Wisconsin, of
the rival claimants for the honor of becom-
Ing The capital Of South Dakota, Of public
improvements in Cincinnati, of prohibition
III Nebraska and Of other issues which have
been distracting the public mind in those
States.
So far as appears from the meager returns
thus far received the new party known as
the Farmers Alliance has not exhibited the
strength which was expected in any State
but Kansas. As political party it stood on
too narrow platform. a party consisting
wholly of farmers, and proposing to subordi-
nate the interests of all other classes to the
agricultural interest, may win local vict0-
Ties in localities purely agricultural, but can
hardly expect TO acquire national or even
State Importance. Such parties arise When
ever local distress presses heavily ON partic-
ular classes; and as long as their demands
are moderate they not inirequently accom-
pliSh local results But when-as is usually
the case-they ait empt to use their strength
for tile promotion OF class interests exc u
siyely, they unite the members of all other
classes against them, and go to pieces in due
course.
The vote in New York City is remarkable.
Municipal contests in that city have usually
been triangular. Tammany, the County
Democracy and the Republicans generally
each put tickets in the field, and the long
established supremacy of Tammany has
been due to its numerical superiority over
each of the other TWO separately. This year
the Republicans united with the County
Democracy to form municipal league, and
put in the field an unexeeptionable candi-
date named Scott, who received the sup
port OF the Republicans. County Democrats
and Mugwumps. Yet they We're beaten by
some 10000 majority, the vote being very
uniform for ali the Tammany candidates
In considering the result allowance must be
made for the strength which Mayor Grant
derived from his attitude as the assailaDt of
Mr.. P0rter's census, but the chief moral Of
the event is that coalitions have a tendency
to bring ont the full vote OF the party against
which the coalition is formed. The vote in
New York City was very large. The regis
traiion was 245, 164. and If these 22S, 900 are
thought to have cast their ballots. The pro-
portion OF votes poled TO population is less
than in San Francisco, but the proportion
Of non-yoiing foreigners is larger there than
III this city,