St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-04-14
The Little Atlantic Common,
wealth Grandly Swings
Into Line.
A Great Upheaval in the City
Of Providence Turns the
Legislature.
Ringing Protest Of the Peo.
pie Against Rotten Bor-
ough Politics.
Democrats Good and True
Will Win the Fight in
Ninety-TWo.
Special to the Globe

Special to the Globe.
PROVIDENCE, r. l., April 13.-The
Democrats swept the deck here yester-
day, electing the state senator and seven
out of eight representatives, thus Civ.
ing them the legislature in grand
committee and securing the elec-
tiOn of John Davis for governor
and the entire Democratic state ticket
The election was thro wn into the legis-
lature by that absurd provision of the
state constitution which requires that
candidate must have majority OF tho
votes cast at the state election. While
the Democratic state ticket had large
plurality it did not have the re-
quired majority over all, and the
fightswas then thrown into the legisla-
ture, which is elected ON the same prin-
ciple of majority vote. The appoint
ment of legislators is made i'm man
ner that would rival the famous rotten
borough system which prevailed
in England before the passage
of reform bill, and, of course,
the odds were largely in
favor of the Republicans. There was
no choice, however. in over third Of
the legislative districts, and second
elections were necessary in these cases.
The Democrats captured Newport, o
Republican stronghold. owing to tho
unpopularlty of Gov. Ladd; and followed
this up yesterday by electiug
more than the usual share of the men,
bers from this city. The majorities Of
the eight members elected yesterday
range from 164 to $50. Ever since the
abolishment of the property qualifica-
tlOn several years ago the Democrats
have carried Rhode Island by majOrities
ranging up almost to 5000, but with the
exception of one or two candidates on
the ticket, they have failed to elect be-
cause of this majority rule, the legis-
lature being carried by small maiorIties
through the rotten borough system OF
representation. This election is fraught
with much significance to the Repub-
licanS, and foretells the election
of two Democratic congressman this
fall and the carrying of the state by the
Democracy in 1892. The past campaign
was fought on strict party lines, and the
popular disgust excited by the McKin-
ley bill aided not little i'm swelling the
Democratic vote. Hon. .JOhnW. Davis, who
is practically elected governor, has long
been leader of the Rhode Island DEM
oeracy. and, in the popular revolt
against BOSS" BraytOn and the old Re-
publican ring four years ago. was
elected governor. Under his admin
istration the odious property quail
made Democratic. He has since been
elected twice by large plurality of the
popular vote, but was defeated by
an adverse majority in the legis-
lature. The candidate who failed
of election as representative was
John G. Brennan, of the Tenth ward,
who lacked 267 votes of majority. His
principal opponent was w. Ii. Covell,
Republican. A new election will be
held in that ward. The incoming legis-
lature now stands 81 Democrats, so Re-
publicans. This insures the election by
at least two majority i'm the grand COM
mittee of the Democratic state ticket,
as follows:
Governor-John W. Davis of Pawtucket
Lieutenant Governor-William T. c. Ward
well, of Bristol.
Secretary of State-Edwin D. McGuinness.
Of Providence.
Attorney General-Zeiba O. Slocum Of
Gloucester.
Treasurer-John G. Perry, of South Kings-
ton.
Yesterdays half-holiday and pleasant
weather brought out the full Demo-
cratic vote. The Republicans also
pOllcu q idIScI NOsc tJdll dt Tic ICS uldE
election. but could not outvote their
rivals. The election of Gov. Davis and
his colleagues will take place in the
May session of the assembly at New
port. The ticket is the same as that
elected in 1887, with the exception OF
Mr.. Wardell. The Australian ballot
system worked smoothly yesterday, very
few voters requiring instruction, and
all having ample time to prepare thelr
votes.