New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-10-19
THE BIG FIGHT IN OHIO.
NATIONAL IMPORTANCE OF THE LEGIS
LATIvE CONTEST.
DEMOCRATS PREPARING TO TRADE CAArBELLrs
HOPEFUL REVIEW OF REPUBLICAN,
PROSPECTS ALL AROUND.
Ry TELEGRAPH TO THE IAIBUSEI
CRr TELEGRAPH TO THE TslEUSE.J I

PROSPECTS ALL AROUND.
uy TELEGRAPH TO THE IalEUSEJ
Columbus Ohio, Oct 1s.-Thc political situss
ton in Ohio has cleared up greatly in the last
three weeks. Many elements of uncertainty have
been eliminated in the rapid course of the cam
paign and the result of the vote two weeks hence
can now be anticipated with some degree o,
accuracy and confidence II Is becoming clearer
every day to the best observer here that tho
Republican State ticket cannot now be beaten
except through some grave accident or blunder
before the close Of the canvass. MAJOR Slchlnleys
election is indeed conceded to be more than
probable bv fair-minded Democrats, and the whole
strength of the Democratic organization is now
being directed toward the control of the Legis-
lature which is the real prize Of the present cam
paign Without the Legislature the Governor
ship will prove only an empty and expensive
honor, for the Governor in Ohio has no veto power
and is mere administrative figurehead, while the
Legislature is the sole governing BODY, ana
can bend the whole political forces Oh 'he
State to whatever partisan ends lO may
see it Even with Major Mckinley IN the "oF-
ernor's chair, the Legislature could reverse 'ne
ancient methods OF choosing Presidential electors
and by apportoning them among the congress
districts, according TO the Michigan plan, prac-
tically mortgage over fifteen Of Ohios twenty
three electors TO the Democratic candidate Tor
President in 1892.
With this tempting prospect OF political as-
grandizemcnt before them, and the rich prize OF
a seat in the United States Senate at STAKE
as WELL the Democratic managers care httic
for two years more of control IN the
State administration. and would be glad
70 assist in the defeat of the present
Governor, if the choice Of Democrauc
LEGISLATURE could thereby be made more secure
This readiness of the opposition to trade away
their State ticket is the great danger TO inc re
nublicans at the close Of the present campaign
and every orator on the stump has senslply in-
sisted that the head of the Republican uckee
should not be helped by the sacrifice In any
county of the Legislative candidates MAJOR Mo
Kinley has taken the lead in urging upon voters
everywhere the necessity Of choosing kepuo-
lican Legislature, and he has frankly ana cou-
rareously said at all his meetings that 1t is OF IN
fnitaly greater importance 10 the Republican
party Of the State to control the next Lessla1ure
than to elect their candidate for Governor
Granting then, at the outset, the lesser ponucai
imnortance of the success of the State ticket,
Major NcKinley's election as Governor may be
safely nredicted on several grounds. With no
disturbing or exceptional conditions to contend
with Ohio is now as it always has been, Re
nuhlican State. At every election in which pub.
iic interest has been thoroughly aroused, and at
which the full voting strength OF the
State has been drawn out the Republican
ticket has triumphcd by substantial maJorlSies.
The victories won BY the Democrats have come.
as a rule. in "off" years. when the local vote
has fallen far below its normal proportion 10
the voting population. Thus in 1873 Demo-
cratic Governor was chosen by sos plurality, In
a total poll Of 44a,294; but the year oetofo
President Grant had carried the State py over
| 5000, and the total vote had reached o2s,4oo'
| General Hayes had majority or 1910 III OIlo
when he ran for the Presidency IN 1870 All
the voters were out and the poll rose 10 ooo'ooV'
But the next wear, when Bishop won a surprls-
| ingy easy victory by majority OF 22'oZo 'ne
total poll was only 554,967, falling off OF lOl'-
600 In 1888. when Governor Hoadly was chosen
over Mr.. Foraker by 1900 majority, the
| total vote was 71s,OOO. The next year it rose TO
7s4.OOO and the Republican majority for MI
Rlaire WAS over 10000 Again in 1889, when
| Governor Campbell was elected there was a COM
paratively light poll. the total. 775,520, oeing
! Ga 900 less than that of 1888, which reacheu
| s40,37G. 80,
There is every indication that full vote VIII
ha drawn out this year. Tie present campaign
has been made moro vigorous and active than any
other State canvass for many years, ana lt Id
doubtful whether public interest has not Deeh
aroused more fully than in an average Preslden-
tial contest Over 100000 votes Will undououeoy
be cast and if $4,000 are recorded there shoulo
ho no question il past experience holds good. OF
q pronounced Republican victory 1t must DO
ranocmbcred also that Major Mckinley entered the
fight this wear with a majority OF over lo'Voo
behind him-10 800, TO be eXact-for that was INC
majority given last year to the Republican State
ticket. Political conditions last fall were as
| unfavorable as they have ever been lor the
Republican party throughout the country. icy
Ohio weathered the storm better than almost any
other State, and showed concluslvey thao poiiicai
divisions here are both stable and vigorous. Cow
ernor Foraker has been the only Republican State
officer beaten since 1888; and he did not nave
the partv solidly behind him two years ago.
Major Mckinley has now the earnest and unani-
mons backing of the party in every county III the
| State and ne has proven himself the most popular
candidate who could have been put in the held.
| II is hard TO see how he can lose 5000 OF the
votes that were given TO Secretary OF State Ryan
! last fall Besides, SO impartial an observer as
President Taubeneck of the Peoples party, mas
frankly asserted that any detection OF RepuDhcahs
from Mckinley will be more than made up by the
% 600 Democratic votes which he is confident Will
20 to the Major on the free coinage issue.
The PEOPLES party movement was early In the
campaign something Of a disQuietlng force Dut
no one contends now that the new party wiz
mote more than its usual showing in the scattering
column. The Peoples party has no certain foot
hold in a single county in the State, and 1t has
lost strength instead of gaining it, in the last SIX
weeks. Mr.. Taubeneck admitted the other day at
Tinin th2t probably not single legislative candl;
Gate on tie Peoples ticket would be elected, ana
be seemed sanguine only of beating the Prohl-
hi+iSnists in tie race for the GOyernOrshp. Mr..
seit2 tie canddlt. for Governor, has retired from
the campaign and is resting IN Iiiiin' and there
n"1 ao1 octilitv among the Peoples party propa-
gandists Mr.. Seitz was, candidate for