New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-03-24
CAUGHTIN THEIR OWN TRAP.
DEMOCRATIC SHARP PRACTICE IN RHODE
ISLAND.
REPUBLICANS PROFIT BY THE BLUNnrps AVN
TRICKS OF THEIR oPPoNENTs-FEATUREs
OF THE PENDING CONTEST
IFRohA srAFr CORRESPONDENT OF rHK KrRrsvyy

VI I'M TLND4NT CONTEST,
lFRoaA s,AFF CORRESPONDENT OF rHE TRIBUNE,
Providence r. L., March 23-Tbe oneniro s,...
Of the Rhode Island canvass has been brouobt
10 close oy the ming OF nomination papers under
the Australian Ballot Law At the stroke OF 10
iast nlght the time for presenting these lists Of
candidates expired, and the Republicans uorn
delighted this morning to find that they had
scored several important gains Owing to the
vigilance and painstaking care of Mr. C;ood,v;n
chairman of their State Committee, their nomina-
tion papers were filed in good time from cvorv
rlty and town. On the Democratic side there
was less careful supervision OF details No lists
were filed for Midd1etOwn Little Compton and
portsmouth, so that the SIX Republican candidates
from those towns for the General Assembly will
be virtually unopposed. As the clock was stril
ing l2, the Democratic nomination papers for the
town of Lincoln were laid before the Secretary
Of State. Upon examining them. be ascertained
that the signature of the secretary of the caucus
was missing, and that the papers consequently
void. The secretary was reported TO have been
found at late hour at a dance While he had
sanctioned the presentation of the lists. he had
not signed them AS the result of his neglect, six
Republican candidates for the General Assembly
will be unopposed from town which is ordi-
parily closely contested The technical diff
culties be overcome by the passage of
special act by the Legislature, which is now Re-
publican in both branches This would be an
act of magnanimity of which a Democratic Legis-
lature would be incapable if the conditions were
reversed and Republicans prevented from voting
by the carcessncss Of of their caucus officials.
Twelve unopposed seats were regarded by Re-
publicans this morning as great gain for the
party In two towns there are double lists of
Republican candidates. But these conflicting in
teress will undoubtedly he harmOnized before the
election. Another advantage gained by the Re-
publicans is the filing of list Of candidates for
the Peoples party, which has nominated straight
ticket and an Assembly ticket for Providence.
This party is expected to draw of considerable
number of votes from the Democratic side and to
offset in that way Republican losses from the
Prohibition vote. The third and fourth parties
had last year over 2,200 ballots, or less than
per cent of the total vote As plurality does
not elect a candidate in Rhode Island, this small
percentage sufiiccl to throw the election of the
State ticket into the Republican Legislature. As
the Republicans have a better chance OF carrying
the Legislature than their State ticket il is
markedly for their advantage 10 have fourth
as well as a third party in the field, since, If
clear majority he lacking on the popular vote. a
Republican Governor can be elected by the Cen
eral Assembly.
1t is of the highest importance, however, that the
Republicans should elect their State ticket this
spring by majority of the popular vote. All the
local leaders agreed upon this point, while
the defeat of Senator Aldrich through the loss of
the LEGISLATURE would be most deplorable re-
suit. Clear-sichted Republicans here the great
advantage which the Democrats would receive
from the election their State ticket at the OPEN
ing of tie Presidential canvass Since the elect
oral vote of the State in November will depend
upon the popular vote and not upon the Legisla-
tive majority joint ballot, the election
of the Republican candidate for Governor IN
April will possess critical significance as
Indicating the general trend of political tendencies
Of New England States in the Presidential year
As the aggregate vote Of the third and fourth
part1cs is likely 10 be lighter than il was last
wear, the Republican leaders are convinced that
they cannot anoid 70 take tie risks Of plurality
vote without a majority. They are determined
70 elect their candidate for Governor by majority
OF the popular vote, 50 that the Democrats shall
have no preteXt for misreprcsenting the polluca!
bearings of the spring election upon the Pre'i-
Dental contest The Republican candidate for
Governor. Mr. Brown. is one OF the best known.
most upright and thoroughly capable business men
Of Providence. His associates the State ticket,
with one exception, like himself, young men.
j is strong and popular ticket and will probably
lc elected, although hard work and systematic
canvassing will be required.
The voting lists for Providence show an in
crease Of 1885 over last year The qualified
votes number 25021, with the gain about equally
divided between the Republican and Democratic
wards The Democrats, on the basis of eX-
Governor Davis's vote which exceeded cY-
Licutenant-Governor Wardclls by 400, argue that
they will have plurality OF 1000 in tie city.
Even if they do. plurality will not be
majority, and it is a majority that counts in
In place Of Davis. as the Democrats are likely
10 learn TO their cost early in April If Brown
ran 20 out Of Providence on even terms with
Wardwell, be will be elected by the people.
lie can give Wardwe 900 plurality in
Providence and still have plurality in
the State There Will be undoubtedly
shifting Of pluralites in WOOnsocket. Lincoln and
other large manufacturing towns which viii as
tonish Democratic election calcuators. While
The Ncw-York World is claiming every
thing in sight, wc-advised Democrats here admit
that the Republicans will secure the necessary
ffty-fve members of the Legislature. The Dem
ocrats are directing all their energies toward OBJ
tainIng a majority for the State ticket.
The Republicans, while confident of their ability
to carry the Legislature. are not relaxing their
efforts. but are determined that the State shall
be Rcpublican in administration by virtue Of the
nopular vote the New-York World" in the
effort TO enlarge its varied assortment OF misihlor
nation respecting Rhode Island politics. allows
its Washington bureau TO concedc Republican
LEGISLATURE, through what il describes as an out
ragcous gerrymander in favor Of the Republcans'
Therc has not been, nor there be. gerry
mander. no matter which party may be in power
The apportionment is regulated by the cons'i'u.
tion. In order TO prevent undue exercise ol
political power by the City of Providence 'ne
constitution provides that the Senate shall ihciuae
one member from each city and town Int
House of Representatives is composed Vi
seventy-two members, no town h"NinS '
than one, and no city more %a
twelve. This constitution mas o'oO ,.,ioaI