Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-11-03
THE OLD BAY STATE.
The Mckinley Bill and McKinley's Cousin
Issues in the Campaign.

The Mckinley Bill and McKinley's Cousin
Issues in the Campaign.
Correspondence of The Evening Star.
BosToN. Nov. 2, 1892
"Not only the Mckinley bill, but Mckinley g
cousin is an issue in the Massachusetts cam
paign," said a bright young democrat the other
day, and he put the case we'll The fact is that
VIM. NJ. Osborne of the Boston police commits
sion, who he's been tn chief bone of conten-
ton betw cen Gov. Russell and his council, is q
cousin of Gov. Mckinley and was raised with
him in Ohio. 1t is at his elegant house that the
tariff statesman stops whenever he visits Boston.
Washington people will readily understand
the status of the Boston police commission be-
cause they know all about an administration by
appointive rather than elective officers. The
Boston police commission was created by a
legislature who feared that the city OF culture
was becoming too corrupt to be trusted with
the full responsibilities Of self-government. 1t
was designed to superintend the entire police
service of the city, and especially to see that
the sumptuary laws on the statute books were
enforced. All the liquor licenses in the city
are granted by the police commission, and this
part Of the work comes under the direct admin
fstration of Mr.. Osborne. As the number Of
licenses is limited, he wields a mighty influence.
He is in effect a car, who holds Boston's law
and order in his hand without being answer
able to any authority in Boston, not even to
the people whose liberties and beverages he
touches SO closely.
POLICE COMMISSIONER OSBORNE.
One of the first things Mayor Matthews did,
when he came into power. was to prefer charges
against Police Commissioner Osborne. Gov
Russell ordered an investigation and the ex-
ecutive council acquitted the commissioner,
with the single democratic member dissenting.
Gov. Russell. however, in face of his councils
vindication, ordered Mr.. Osbornes removal,
ard appointed Mr.. Stone his successor This
appointment the council would not approve
and so Mr.. Osborne's official life continues.
His term soon expires by limitation, and if
Gov Russell is reelected he will not be re-
appointed. If Halle is elected he will be- That
is what makes Gov. McKInley's cousin an issue
in Massachusetts politics. Mr. Osborne ap-
preciates the situation, and is in daily consuta-
ton at the republican headquarters 1t is charged
that he has promised 10 throw the liquor and
police vote of Boston for the republican ticket.
The democratic papers are after him; Mayor
Matthews has revived the old charges, and
altogether Mr.. Osborne is almost as conspicuous
figure as if he were running for governor
himself. He certainly holds place in the pub
lie eve second to no congressional candidate.
The unusual closeness of the contest this year
is teaching Massachusetts politicians that they
have never vet learned the art of getting out
the vote. There were 100. 900 more names on
the voting lists last year than there we're votes
cast for both party candidates. To be sure
that was an ''off year politically, but even in
1888 Massachusetts did not poll anywhere near
as many votes as other states of about the same
population. Compare il with Indiana for ex-
ample, a state that today has the same number
of electoral votes. Massachusetts, combined
vote for Harrison and Cleveland was only 1885,
900, while Indiana cast 263. 900 for Harrison and
26l. 900 for Cleveland, a magnificent total Of
wi fW elaptnral
votes than Massachusetts. polled $50, 900 in
1883, and Missouri, with two more, rolled up
497 600 for the two big parties.
To be sure Massachusetts, has some GO, 600
superfuous women, who count in the census,
but not at the polls, but that won't explain SO
great delinquency. Massachusetts, must 'gc
| west to learn real practical politics.
ANALYzING THE LARGE REGISTRATION.
They are trying to learn this year. The poll
tax has been abolished rs prerequisite fol-
voting. so that oil would-be voter need to dc
was to register. There never ives such regis
tration known in the state. Boston alone added
Is, 500 names to its voting lists. and if the same
average were carried out all over the state il
would mean nearly 100000 recruits to the vot-
ing strength Of the old commonwealth.
1t becomes a most interesting matter to
know how this additional registration is divided
between the parties. Naturally, both claim to
have the best Of it and will continue to do SC
until they are forced to revise their figures in
the cold gray light of the morning after cleo
ton. At the first blush it would seem that the
democrats would profit most by the new regis
tration. 1t must be remembered. however
that the democrats have been stimulated to dc
their best work for several years and there has
never been time when man who was willing
to vote their ticket need find 81 POLL tax an
| insuperable barrier in his path to the ballot
box. There we're plenty Of philanthropists
fa6y IN ms for here hav haay hon
ever, very many young men born In this coun-
| try who were too indifferent to pay % for the
chance to vote in state contests and too
proud to allow any else to pay 1t.
for them. 1t Is suspected that good many Of
these young men will vote for Russell, but that
a majority Of them will vote the straight re-
publican ticket. This view is borne out by the
remarkably large registration in the strong re-
publican wards of Boston. The same is true OF
the suburban cities whose people are the bust
ness men and clerks of Boston, and are largely
republican. There is certainly a very general
fear among the democrats that the republicans
have done as clever registration work as they
have. The indications that the republicans
have somewhat the better of it.
BOSTON TO DECIDE GOV. RUssELL's FATE.
Gov. RusselIs fate will be decided in Boston.
He carried the city in 1888 by 9,453 in 1880
by Is, 3i3. in 1891 by 1858. Last year about
Is per cent Of the vote Of Boston was not cast
in the state election With the 10, 500 increase
in registration the democrats, on the ratio that
held good last year, should have plurality OF
10, 4Oo. But Il much heavier vote in proportion
to the registration will Of course, be cast. Con-
servative democrats saw Russell will 60 out OF
Boston with IS 900 plurality enthusiastic ones
say 20, goo or even rs, 900.
IL Russell meets Halle at Charles river with
10000 plurality, where, the democratic leaders
ask can the republican candidate get the votes
to match him? The reports that are coming
into democratic headquarters are at variance
| with the idea that Halle can get any such plu-
| ralty outside Of Boston. The republicans, on
the other hand, not only claim handsome plu-
raiity FOR Halle In the state, but hint that sur
prlses are In store for Russell in Boston itself.
Boston Is becoming more and more cOsmo-
ponRn 1t Is not true that ninety men out OF
| one hundred are either Yankees or Irshmen.
| The old aristocratic North End in whose his
toric spire Paul Revere hung his lantern, is now
| occupied entirely by Italians Portuguese and
| Russian jews. There are 225 900 British Amer
lean residents OF the state, some born in Eng
| land and some in Canada, and of these 20, O0O
are voters. There are cities and towns COM
| posed almost wholly of French Canadians The
Scandinavian vote is something not to be ig-
nored- 1t Is q curious old world antipathy be-
tween most Of these nationalities and the Irish.
| and since all Irishmen are democrats these
other adopted citizens have . leaning toward
republicanism.
EFFORTS OF THE REPUBLICAN,
The republicans are making an especial effort