The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-04-02
The Rhode Island Campaign.

The current state campaign in Rhode
Island, which was opened on Thursday
by the republicans in the nomination of a
state ticket, as detailed in our dis
patches, viii be a short and interesting
one. The election will be held on April
4, ensuing, under a new plurality election
law which will simplify matters consider
ably and prevent Rhode Island from
being so exasperatingly and continuously
doubtful.
Rhode Island holds a state election ev-
cry year; the terms of her state officers
are one year. Heretofore elections have
been held under a law requiring that
candidates, to be successful, should re.
ceive majority over all. In the election
of last year the democratic candidate for
governor had a plurality of 1855
over his republican opponent, but
lacked over 5000 votes of
majority over all. None of the candidates
for minor state officers had majority. In
the legislature after what promised at
one time to be almost interminable bal
loting, the republicans secured a majority
OF nine in the Senate and the democrats a
majority of eight in the House. There
were contests over two House seats, in
which the results depend upon the ire
gular marking of certain ballots. The
republican governor referred the question
Of the disposition of these ballots to the
supreme court for an opinion, and got an
opinion resulting in giving both seats to
the republican candidates.
Meantime the former republican state
officials held over, and are holding over
still. For the Official result of the cleo
ton of 1898 has never been declared. owing
to the deadlock in the legislature, the
houses of which are of different political
complexiOns Had the houses come to-
gether and counted the popular vote and
announced the result, it would have de-
volved upon the grand committee of the
legislature TO elect the state officers The
constitution provides that the legislature
shall elect in case OF the failure of the
people to do so. In the event of an cleo
ton by the legislative grand committee
the republicans would have won, electing
Brown, who was the hold-over governor
and who is again the candidate.
The wisest thing Gov. Tillman could
possibly do would be to call the South
Carolina legislature in extra session and
have the obnoxious dispeusary law modi-
fed The law has proved a most dis
astrous failure, from both the moral and
financial standpOiuts. 1t has reduced
municipal and county revenues, has
brought about numerous conflicts of
authority, and finally resulted in blood
shed and the imminent danger of inferno
cine war. The Darlington tragedy was
not the first one due to the dispensarv
law. \ month or six weeks ago black
man in Greenville county, who resented
the searching of his house, was shot down
by a constable as he sprang out of the
house and ran for his life. The repeal of
the law might have good effect, as it
would take away the necessity for the
governor to grip the citizens with his
famous mailed hand" The dispensary
law could nst possibly accomplish in fifty
years good enough to Offset the evil that
has resulted from it since the adjourn
meut of the last Legislature
A negro has been appointed a choir
singer in St Georges church, New York
The Springfield Republican says, how
ever, that this is not the first instance of
installing black singers in white choirs 4;
there has been two blacks in the choir of
Holy Trinity church, Middletown, Conn,
for two years.
At Sioux City, Ia, saloon keepers
openly violate the prohibition law, and
are fined $50 month for disturbing the
peace. W That answers very well in place
of a license and amounts to the same
thing mndnr tho mcmillan administration.