Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-09-07
LIVELY FOR AN OFF YEAR
State Campaigns in Which Much Interest II
Conferred.

State Campaigns in Which Much Interest 10
Conferred.
THE POLITICAL FIGHTS IN OHIO, NEW YORK AND
INSTRUMENTATION WHICH MAKE THEM
OF ESPECIAL IMPORTANCE JUST Now-NArIoSAL
ISSUES TO BE TESTED THIS FALL
1t is not often that on an "off year" there is
as much Of importance in politics or as much
political work being done as this year. Even
in states where only minor state officers are to
be elected this fall the prospects are discussed
as il much depended upon them, and it may be
said with substan tial accuracy that the national
committees Of the two great political parties
are now watching and directing the political
movements over the whole country in way
they have never before done, except during
presidential campaign.
Even the campaign Of Pennsylvania, where
NO officer higher than state treasurer and su-
dltor general are to be elected, assumes almost
national importance In Ohio, New York and
Iowa The result is awaited with scarcely less in
terest than during national campaign and the
consequences OF victory or defeat are regarded
by the managers of both parties as potential
for the future.
There are great many things which go to
give this importance to otherwise compare
lively unimportant elections.
First of all the fight now is preliminary to
WHat IS expected 10 De lie ana Qeatn struggle
for one Of the parties year hence, and every
energy is being strained to get the advantage
of position.
The passage of the Mckinley bill, with all the
dire predictions as to its effect, makes test OF
popular sentiment with regard to 1t after it
has been In operation for while all import
ant, while the overwhelming defeat the repub-
licans sustained at the last congressional elec-
ton is a considerable Offset to the feeling Of
confidence inspired by the former general
victory. The significance of that defeat is yet
to be fully tested A third party has arisen to
bring In new element the strength and in
fuence OF which has not yet been measured,
and both OF the old parties are in doubt as to
what the consequence of the new movement
will be to them. Again, there is the
widest, widest difference of opinion and de
old parties on the currency question. and it is
important to determine what part Of the ques-
ton OF free coinage of silver is going to play in
the presidential campaign. Incidental to the
currency question and the tariff question comes
IN that OF the fiscal policy put into practice by
the last Congress, represented by liberal ap-
preparations" from republican point of view
and by "extravagance and national bank
ruptcy according to democratic view Of it.
With these issues, now defined more clearly
than ever before. and as yet practically un-
tested, the two parties are approaching the ma
tional campaign and it is necessary for them
to begin their skirmishing q long way ahead.
Going along with these are the individual
ambitions of men who seek the honor Of leading
their parties in the coming fight, and the
lection of presidential candidates depends much
upon the results OF the contests now opened.
THE ISSUES IN OHIO.
The result in Ohio means great deal to both
parties because the two questions which most
disturb them are both to the front. The demo-
Gratis are little afraid of the free coinage
plank they have put in their platform and the
republicans are accused OF being very anxious
about the tariff question. The democrats are
consequently doing their best to make the tariff
the main issue. while the republicans insist
upon keeping the other issue well to the front.
While both parties profess confidence, and
though the state is ordinarily republican, yet
there is enough doubt in the situation to make
both parties extremely anxious, and the third
party element in the fight is one which neither
can measure The fight on Senator Sherman
is personal. and he is subject to attack from
three quarters-the democrats on one
side, the third party folks on another, and yet
on another by Foraker. But, while this situa-
ton is one calculated to excite discord it
does another thing which may not be to the
advantage of the democrats. Sherman has
taken firm stand on the money question
and no other. By going to the front and
making himself the central figure
of the fight he gives that issue
a prominence which it could not have it atten-
tion were directed to Mckinley. In the opin-
ion of a great many republicans the party made
a mistake in selecting a nominee whose asso-
citation with the single question of tariff was
such as to preclude all other issues. They re-
peat the admonition about putting all the eggs
in one basket The attitude of Mr.. Sherman is
in measure an offse. to this complaint and is
apt to prove perplexing to the democrats, who
count on opposition to the Mckinley bill for
their success
The democrats are putting forth every effort
| in tllntry, To haNa fha for ahal
everything. Out of thirty letters received at
the democratic headquarters in this city the
other day from the secretaries of various clubs
in Ohio twenty-nine asked for tariff literature,
while only one made a request for documents on
the silver question. The policy Of the party will
be to fill the state with tariff speakers and to
force Mckinley to defend his bill. The free
coinage democrats in the state and the leaders
of the third party who are fighting for the
same thing, more or less directly, may take
| done through the national committee will re-
late to tariff.
DEMOCRATIC OPPOSITION TO CAMPBELL.
The opposition to Campbell in Hamilton is a
| thing which will figure in counting up the re-
suit, but to what extent no one can tell. The
| Australian ballot system is expected by the
democrats to operate in their favor, but that is
| an assumption on theory. The fight between
| Sherman and Foraker for the senator
pup 10 Couuteu vi, tOO, Nv Tue uemO-
| Gratis to help their cause some. There
| is no doubt about the seriousness Of that
| fight and there may be other possible candi
dates for the senatorship drawn into it before
the campaign is over. STAR reporter saw a
! letter from Mr.. Foraker. written a day or two
| ago, thanking friend for some ammunition
| for fighting Sherman and declaring that, while
| he had sought to avoid the fight and tried to
keep out Of it personally, Sherman had forced
| the fighting, dragging the senatorial contest
! into this campaign, and that he (Foraker)
| would be grateful for whatever his friends did
| for him.
THE SITUATION IN NEW YORK.
The situation in New York is one which gives
| the democratic leaders most annoyance The
party there is in such bad shape, as a result of
rivalry among possible candidates for the
presidency, that they cannot help being con-
| siderably embarrassed in the campaign for
| governor this fall 1t is expected that
| Flower will be the nominee for governor, though
there are all sorts Of complications possible be-
| fore the work of the convention is DONE After
| that, when they have their candidate in the
| field there is the fear which will remain-that
rivalry will lead to the knitting Of the candi-
date lest he get too ambitious and start off as
presidential candidate. The republicans are
keenly alive to the situation, expecting the
! rival factions = to do each other and
their party considerable damage. Platt and
| his followers are working for the legislature
| more than anything else and are looking long
/ ahead hnt fhav tho yoasihilitv xhat