Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-10-31
NEW YORK'S BATTLE.
The Struggle for Members Of the
Legislature and Congress.
MANY DISTRICTS ARE In DOUBT,
But the Republicans Will Probably be
Able to Hold Their Own.
INTERESTING POINTS OF THE CONTEST

ESPECIAL TELEGHA1 TO THE DI6P4TCH.l
NEW YORK, October 30.-No one expects
to see any material change in the political
complexion Of the States representation in
the next Congress as result of the ap-
preaching election. The delegation consists
of "a members, of whom Is are Democrats.
In the Blaine-Cleveland campaign they sue
ceeded in increasing their representation by
two members, making II in all; but that
only lasted through the Forty-ninth Con-
gress, for in 1886 the Republicans recaptured
the two they had lost and they have held
them ever since.
The present numerical strength of the
two parties in the delegation is fair test OF
the sentiment of million and quarter
voters of the State when polled on national
issues and not distorted by factional dissen-
sions or local prejudice. Were the present
contest in the several districts confined to
the record of the Republicans in Congress
and in the Government. there would not be
the slightest reason to doubt the return of 20
OF the party's candidates out of the "a.
FACTIoNAL FIGHTS.
Clashing ambitions, however. have led to
some dangerous-perhaps serious-compli-
cations in three districts. which may not
only balk the effort to wrest properly Re-
publican district from the Democracy, but
may also place two other districts In their
control. The Democratic districts in this
State are "below the Harlem"-an express
sion which serves as an imaginary boundary
line for the Democratic majorities, for on the
other side of the Harlem the Republicans
invariably sweep everything clean through
to the western borders of the State.
The figure men of both parties, therefore,
always base their estimates on what ma jori-
ty the Republicans will carry through the
State down to Harlem bridge to offset the
sure Democratic majority that will be sent
up there from this city. Long Island and
Staten Island, which comprise all the terri
tory below that famous political boundary.
Fourteen Congressman are sent to Wash
ington from there, and it is aboutas easy for
a camel to crawl through the eve of a needle
as for the Republicans to capture more than
one district out of this solid block of IA ly-
ing in contiguous territory and having fully
SOC, 900 voters. Once they did manage to
sqeeze Ashbel P. Fitch into seat from the
H.,
that be crossed over to the other side while
down In Washington, embracing DEM
ocracy, and Tammany Hall Democracy at
that.
A SOLID COMMUNITY.
The district returned him as such two
years ago and ne is up for reelection now.
This only illustrates the force of the state
ment that Satan himself would be over
whelmingIy returned in any of the New
York City districts if running on the Dem
ocratic ticket.
The one spot below Harlem bridge on
which Republican candidate can thrive is
the Third district over in Brooklyn, where
William G. Wallace is the party
candidate for reelection. He ran
$500 votes over his Democratic opponent
two years ago, and would win easily this
time if the party machinery was in good
running order. 1t isn't. Still Wallace has
more than an even chance of pulling
through. Secretary Tracy addressed an en-
thusiastic gathering at the Academy of
Music in his behalf few nights ago, and
has since then brought many Of the discon-
tented ones into line. He tells me that
Wallace will win.
AS in the Wallace district, so throughout
the State the only places in which Repub-
lican success is endangered are those in
which the local leaders have placed their
personal inclnhations above their party
loyalty. Eight of the present Republican
representatives are up for re-election-Bel-
den, Raines, Sherman, Wallace, Ketcham,
Payne, Quackenbush and Sanford. Ali of
them but Wallace are reasonably certain to
be returned, and even he is not far off the
line. Such danger of loss as may exist is in
the districts that have for one reason or
another retired the sitting members,
A DISTRICT IN DANGER
This is notably the case in the Rochester
district where John Van Voorhis, former
member of Congress and man of strong in
dividuality, wrested the nomination from
Mr.. Baker, whose friends thought him en-
titled to fourth term. In the Elmira dis
trict, where Congressman Floods victory in
Federal patronage over that rising young Re-
publican, j. Sloat Fassett, has cost him his
seat. In Buffalo, where John NJ. Farquhar's
defeat for denomination has hurt the party's
prospects, and in the Orange Rockland dis
trict, where Moses Stivers, who won by less
that 100 votes two years ago, was defeated
for denomination by Clarence Lexow, whom
the Democrats expect to beat with Henry
Bacon, a man who vanquished Stivers four
years ago, and was In turn vanouished by
him in the 1888 campaign.
The Democrats claim all four of these dis
tricts, but / doubt whether they can carry
more than one. Ex-senator Plat assures
me that they cannot even do that. Prob
ably if the Rochester district didn't contain
about 5000 more Republicans than Demo-
crats ex-Congressman Van Voorhis would
not be able to pull through, for Bakers
friends claim that he was unfairly dealt
Voorhis' election. Halbert S. Greenleat,
his opponent, enjoys the distinction of being
the only Democrat that ever represented the
district in Congress. He was swept into the
place by the historic tidal wave that landed
Grover Cleveland at Albany as Governor,
backed by nearly 200, majority. Mr..
Van Voorhis has strong friends as we'll as
strong enemies, however, and will probably
save enough of the normal Republican ma
jority to keep Mr.. Greenleaf In private life.
APoPULAR CANDIDATE.
Far more dangerous is the situation in the
Buffalo district, for the Democrats have
shrewdly insisted on running Dan Lock-
wood, who is popular from one end of the
city to the other, and certain to poll larger
vote than any other man thev could have
named. The Republican majority here
averages less than 2,0OO and quite a slice of
this will disappear through local dissen-
sions. Benjamin H. Williams, the Repub-
lican candidate, is a business man of high
reputation. Ii the election were held to-day
the chances for success would be small, but
he is steadily gaining ground, and If he con-
TIMES to do so for the next few days he will
squeeze into the place.
The Twenty-eighth, or Elmira, district
may be counted upon to remain in the Re-
publican ranks, though Henry T. Moves,
the nominee, will not get the majority that