The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-08
Tho Now Electoral Law.

The New Electoral Law.
Tho now electoral law, under which all polit
ioal contests are hereafter to be fought In thi:
State goes into legal effect on July l. Al
though 1t contains none Of the Objectionable
provisions against which the friends OF pop
ular institutions have protested, and which
the enemies Of popular government were
intent upon incorporating, 1t involves q
virtual readjustment OF political conditions
and decided change in the methods Of con-
Quoting political contest.
First. we are to have a sweeping altera'
ton in the methods Of nomination. Hith'
erto any one could be candidate, or could
withdraw from being a candidate. for any
Office to which he might lawfully aspire
Under the new law t." whole question OF
candidacy Is to be guy lIad by certain iron
clad rules. Certificates OF nomination, duly
signed and witnessed, must be filed, estab-
fishing as q condition OF candidature the
acquiescence OF o certain percentage Of the
voters of tho State, city. district, or ward.
In this respect public candidature for all
offices is put In about the same con-
dition as now governs in Presidential
nominations. Theoretically, every American
citizen, OF native birth and requisite age,
may run for President Of the United States /;
actually, no one can do anything of the
kind, for there Is no direct voting for Presi-
dent. 1t is for Presidential electors that We
vote; and unless an aspirant has had
framed In his interest a complete electoral
ticket. properly printed. and at hand ready
for use on election day. he cannot be can
didate for President even although the
voters OF community should be unanimous
In his favor. He Is deprived even OF tho
small privilege. most precious to cranks.
OF voting for himself
Under the new system candidate for any
Office to stand any chance OF success
must DO regularly and officially NOM
mated. and within fixed time must have
his name and party designation printed on
tho official ticket Thus the whole system
OF canvassing by tickets sent out by can
dldate or his friends, or by organizations. or
published In newspapers, is entirely done
away with. There will be no preliminary
distribution OF tickets. The independent
candidate, II he Is to have any hope Of win
ming, must. as matter of necessity,
put himself in line with some existing organ
Izat1on. however obscure. or must establish
one for his candidacy. Accordingly, the
number of political organizations will be
vastly multiplied. With the increase of
these there will be corresponding increase
in the number Of politicians to conduct them,
devoting time and toll to compliance with
the provisions Of the new law, salutary as
the latter is In most respects. and disfran-
chising In none.
When, eighteen years ago, the Legislature
OF 1872 adopted, and a Democratic Gov
ernor signed what was known as the City
Registry bill, its first effect was to
deprive OF their political usefulness hun
dreds OF hitherto active and Industrious in
dividuals who had been influential In cleo
tions In this town. 1t involved sub
division Of districts. an increase in the
number OF polling places, and therefore re-
ductlon Of the influence Onward leaders: a bet
ter representation for the minority party; an
increase in the number OF watchers and
challengers; and a division among fifty or
sixty municipal leaders OF the influence and
popularity previously enjoyed by five or
six. We were told by the reformers OF that
day that its effect would DO TO abolish the
occupation OF those known as politicians.
But 1t did not turn out 80, because all laws
which make voting more difficult have the
certain effect Of making politicians more
numerous and important. The regis
tration law, however. established new
order OF politicians, men better equipped In
political knowledge, IN education. and In
Reneralship. but not as well able to appeal
to the imagination or enjoy the fellowship
OF voters as those they replaced and super
Beded. Independent candidacy suffered. and
organizations became more important; but
the change was. in the main, beneficial. and
during the past eighteen years there has
been no essential departure from the
method adopted IN 1874
Tho establishment OF the new electoral
law and the consequent alteration which
will be effected In the methods OF nomina-
ton. OF canvasslng, and OF voting, will I'M
doubtedly have a similar effect, and bring
forward q new order OF municipal states
men, young men OF intelligence and capac-
ity who will utilize the new conditions and
DO benefited by their establishment. The
Importance OF the so-calIed independent
voters and OF independent organizations,
such as Citizens Committees and the like
will bo diminished; and great field
will be opened for the efforts OF those VINO
are committed to the adoption OF various
political principles not held In common by
many OF their fellow citizens. 1t will tend
largely TO relieve tho two great political par
ties OF the attentions and threats OF cranks,
who will now enjoy an ideal opportunity for
cunning candidates Of their own way OF
thinking. and OF establlshing, by actual arith-
meticsl test. precisely what they amount 10.
In 3 general way. the new law will Bon
eft the Democratic party in the State
BY multiplying tho number OF political
organizations In the populous districts.
whore the Democracy Is strong It will in.
lure the Republicans by putting premium
upon independent candidEturss in the Con-
ETessionGl and legislative districts OF the In
kATioI which tho Republicans have usually