Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-10-28
The Coming Elections.
Portland Press. !

on next Tuesday elections take place
In the states of Iowa, Ohio, Pennsylva
MIA, New York and Massachusetts. In
all these states but Pennsylvania gov
ernors are to be chosen. In the latter
the contest is for sub. ordinate state Off
GERS. In two of these states, Iowa and
Pennsylvania, the contest has been
fought chiefly on local issues, and nation
al questions have entered into them only
tn II comparatively slight degree. In
New York, too local issues are appar-
emily predominant, though national
questions have not been quite so COM
pletely ignored as in Iowa and Pennsyl-
vania. In Massachusetts and Ohio ma
tional 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
il that of prohibition. The Republican
platform declares for the present law,
which Is prohioitory one, while the
Democratic party has raised the stand
ard of high license On national ques
tions Iowa is doubtless a strong Repub
ltcan statesand whatever the result this
year there is but little doubt that next
year the Republicans will carry it by a
good majority. But on the prohibition
issue it must be admitted that the
result is somewhat doubtful. There
appears to be a feeling on
the part of some Republicans that
they would like to experiment with high
license, prohibition not having accom-
plished az much as they anticipated, and
as there is no national question directly
involved in the election and no congress
FOL no oh this load
OF them to vote for the Democratic can
didates for Governor and legislators 1t
is among the possibilities, though not
among the probabilities, that this mum
Der may be sufficient to turn the scale.
A brief experience with high license
will convince them. however, that that
policy as a means of diminishing the
drink evil is far more delusive than the
prohibitory law, which they arraign for
lnefliciency.
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 have ap-
parently taken precedence of local ques
lions, which, however, have been by no
means neglected. The Republicans have
taken positive ground on both Of these
questions. standing squarely for the
Mckinley bill and against the free coin
age Of silver The Democrats have met
the former sirly we'll, but have persis
tently evaded the latter, though their
platform contained an out an out free
silver plank. Ohio Is a safe Republican
state when the voters are aroused.
and there Is no doubt but what
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 re-
suit is a matter of speculation. In our
opinion it will have very little.
In Pennsylvania national issues have
been almost entirely ignored. Unfortu-
nately the populations of the city treas
urer of Philadelph furnished the Dem
ocrats with an abundance OF campaign
material which they have been using for
all it is worth, and 1t is to be feared that
it is worth good deal. The Republicans
must depend largely upon Philadelphia
for their majority in the state,
and it Is there. unfortunately, that
Republican disaffection is the strong
eat. Republicanism is so strong
in Pennsylvania that 1t cannot be defeat
ed except by the folly Of Republican
leaders or the crookedness Of Repub
lican officials. Unhsppily there have
been both this year. and it is to that that
Republican defeat, IL 1t comes, will be
attributable 1t will not signify in the
smallest degree that the people of Penn
sylvsnia have weakened in their al
legisnce to the principles Of the Repub-
liran party.
In New York state the Democrats
have for long period past carried the
state xcept in Presidential years This
hiss been partly due to apathy and dis
sgres nlents among the Republicans
Apathy and dissgreements are absent
this year, aud therefore the Republicans
have good reason to feel sauguine at their
prospects. Fassett has been mag
nticent candidate md msde msgnifi-
cent campaign; and If the contest ia de-
cjded en- the merits of the candidates or
the merits of the questions at issue he
will without doubt he the next Governor.
But ia the cities of New Y ork and Brook
Ign there is great mass Of voters who
never consider candidates or questions,
but invariably vote the Democratic
ticket. This is the factor that renders
the result of the contest doubtful.
In Massachusetts,, IL there be any
doubt ii is in regard to the goveruorship
merely. The subordinate officers and
the Legislature will undoubtedly be Re
publican and so probably will be the
Governor; through Russelrs popularity
is such that he will be likely TO get some
Republican votes and run ahead OF his
ticket. II he is re elected it will be due
to his personal popularity and not to
his party's strength