The Portland daily press., 1891-10-27
The Coming Elections.

On next Tuesday elections take place In
the States of Iowa, OHIO, Pennsylvania,
New York and Massachusetts. In all these
states but Pennsylvania governors are to be
chosen. In the latter the contest is for sub.
ordinate State officers. In two of these
States, Iowa and Pennsylvania, the contest
has been fought chiefly on local issues, and
national questions have entered into them
only to comparatively slight degree. In
New York, too, local issues are apparently
predominant. though national questions have
not been quite so completely ignored as In
Iowa and Pennsylvania. In Massachusetts
and Ohio national and State issues have been
given perhaps an equal prominence.
In Iowa the question that will have the
most to DO probably with the result is that
Oh prohibition. The Republican platform
declares for the present law. which is pro-
hibitory one, while the Democratic party
has raised the standard of high license, On
national questions Iowa is doubtless
strong Republican State. and whatever the
result this year there is but little doubt that
next year the Republicans will carry it by
good majority. But on the prohibition issue
it must be admitted that the result is some
what doubtful. There appears to be feel
ing on the part of some Republicans that
they would like to experiment with high
license, prohibition not having accomplished
as much as they anticipated. and as there is
no national question directly involved In the
election and no congressman to be chosen,
THIS may lead some of them to vote for the
Democratic candidates for Governor and
Legislators. 1t is among the possibilities,
though not among the probabilities, that this
number may be sufficient to turn the scale.
A brief experience with high license will
convince them, however, that that policy as
means of diminishing the drink evil is far
more delusiye than the prohibitory law,
which they arraign for inefficiency.
In Ohio the outlook is very bright for the
Republicans. The silver question and the
tariff question have been very prominent In
the canvass, and hsvs-sssaAsnsly~ taken
pfeeeucnee or local questions. which, how
ever, have been by no means neglected. The
hepupiicans have taken positive ground on
Doth OF these Questions, standing sluarely
for the Mckinley bill and against the free
coinage of silver, The Democrats have met
the former fairly well, but have persistently
N'~NNN VIZ aoteOts thou6u tuOih PidtlUIm CUH-
tained an out and out free silver plank. Ohio
is a safe Republican state when the voters
are aroused, and there is no doubt but they
are aroused this year as they have not been
since the last Presidential campaign. Ohio
votes this fall under the Australian system.
How much effect that will have upon the
result is a matter OF speculation. In our
-eriufJn 1t will have very little.
In pennsylvania national issues have beeu
almost entirely ignored. Unfortunately the
peculations Of the city treasurer of Philadel-
pnia furnished the Democrats with an abun-
dance OF campaign material which they have
been using for ali it is worth, and 1t is to be
feared that 1t is worth good deal. The Re-
pnphcans must depend largely upon
Philadelphia for their majority in the
State, and it is there, unfortunately,
that Republican disaffection is the
strongest. Republicanism is so strong in
Pennsylvania that it cannot be defeated ex.
cept by the folly Of Republican leaders or the
crookedness of Republican officials. Un-
happily there have been both this year, and it
Is to that that Republican defeat, IL it comes,
will be attributable. 1t will not signify In the
smallest degree that the people of Pennsyl-
vania have weakened In their allegiance to
the principles of the Republican party.
In New York State the Democrats have
for long period past carried the State ex-
cept in Presidential years. This has been
partly due to apathy and disagreements
among the Republicans. Apathy and disa.
greements are absent this year, and there.
fore the Republicans have good reason to
feel sanguine at their prospects. Fassett
has been magnificent candidate and made
magnificent campaign; and il the contest
decided on the merits of the candidates
or the merits of the questions at issue he
Will without doubt be the next Governor.
But in the cities Of New York and Brook
Ign there is great mass of voters who never
consider candidates or questions, but inya-
riably vote the Democratic ticket, This is
the factor that renders the result of the con-
test doubtful.
In Massachusetts. IL there be any doubt
1t is in regard to the Governorship merely.
The subordinate officers and the legislature
will undoubtedly be Republican and so prob.
badly will be the governor; though Russel's
popularity is such that he Will be likely To
get some Republican votes and run ahead of
his ticket. If he is reelected it will be dine
to his personal popularity and not to his
party's strength.
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