Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-11-04
Three Things Involved in the Elec.:
ton Result Tomorrow.
WHAT TEE OUTLOOK Is At PRESENT
Tammany May Win in the City
but Democrats Lose the State.
THE SITUATION SUMMED UP

Special From a Staff Correspondent of The Star.
NEW YORK, November 4, 1896.
Three things are involved in the election
in New York tomorrow. They are whether
the municipal reform, which was started last
year in New York city with the approval of
an overwhelming popular vote, shall be per-
manent; whether Mr.. Hills successor in the
Senate shall be Hill himself or a reoubli-
can, and whether the democrats may have
any hope Of carrying the empire state at the
next presidential election. The immediate
issues are varied. but these are the things
OF consequence involved. 1t is curious. too,
for neither of these questions is noninally
at issue. If Tammany should win all there is
in sight, the reform government would still
be in control Of the city's affairs; the legis
lature now elected does not choose Mr.. Hills
successor, and the presidential contest is
year away, with inconceivable possibilities
between.
But it Is the remote consequence of the
election which renders the result of the Sc
lection or an otherwise comparatively I'M
important set of officers matter of con-
Germ. not only locally, but to the two national
parties.
The Most General Opinion.
Obviously the most general opinion
among those who make a business of
watching politics is that Tammany will
win in New York city; that the republicans
will surely have the legislature and prob
ably carry the state by a majority very
greatly reduced from last years. and that
In Brooklyn the result is extremely doubt
ful, but somewhat in favor of the repub-
leans. This Is beyond question the pre-
valiing opinion among experts" but 1t
does not necessarily follow that 1t is cor
rect.
nr,a 60 to-
ing a judgment is that the reaction, both
| in the city and in the state. is favorable
| to the democrats. The question is how far
the impetus will carry it. For the past
two or three years the politicians of both
parties have lost their reckoning, and their
calculations are not to be relied on to even
small extent. The Independent spirit
| which is SO manifest in the cities of New
| into the country.
There are enough entirely free from
boss" control whether the boss be Tam
| many. Platt or one who speaks ex cathedra
for reforms to turn the election either way
when there is a controlling motive to hold
| them together. Plat cannot account for
all the republicans. Sheehan cannot ac-
| count for all of Tammany. Neither Strong
nor ParkhurSt can account for all reform
| ers. The 'reformers do not recognize au-
| thority in their own organization, any more
| than they recognize that of the party lead
| ers when they belonged to the democratic
| or the republican party.
Inst Year and This.
Last year the reformers of all the pris-
matte shades united in the rainbow of hope
| which arched over the city of New York.
The tabled pot of gold was at each end OF
the rainbow. and that has. in a way, been
| their undcing. Last year the reformers
and the republicans were united in the city
| and the Independent voters throughout The
state dissatisfied with the condition of af-
fairs, voted with the republicans. -,
This year the republicans have part on.
| ly Of this vote. The ticket in New York
! city Is a fusion ticket, republicans and re-
| formers; but there is also a good govern
ment ticket. The reformers are divided
| most of them, perhaps. Joining with Plat
people as a matter Of expediency: many OF
| them standing to their original proposition
| of reform as a matter of principle. No man
| on earth can tell where this dividing line
| will fall. 1t is perfectly plain that votes
cast for the good government ticket will
be so many drawn from the fusion ticket
| and thereby aid Tammany. Therefore II
Is presumable that only the most stubborn
| and fanatical Of the reformers will vote
| that way.
The republican state ticket-secretary Of
| state, controller, treasurer. attorney gen
| eral, state engineer and surveyor, associate
judge court of appeals stands alone. The
| democratic state ticket Cor the same of
| fices) is the same for Tammany, the demo
| cratic party reform organization and the
|
Endorsed by the state democracy. The Tam
many ticket for New York city stands
alone. against all the rest, except the indie
pendent citizens ticket. The good govern
| ment ticket comedies only to a small ex
| tent with the fusion ticket.
The condition Is, therefore: First, as at
fecting the state ticket, that all the demo
| Gratis are united and all the republicans are
united; and, second, as to the local tickle
| and the legislature in New York city ane
Brooklyn, there is partial fusion of thu
anti-Tammany forces with the republicans
The Opponents to Fusion.
The anti-Tamms ny men who refuse t,
support the fusion ticket do SO. not becaus
they are not sincere in their opposition t.
Tammany but because they think that
reform or good government ticket If sup
ported by all the good government club
would be strong enough to win alone, AM
they refuse to make choice between wha
they consider two evils when they nigh
have what they regard as unqualified!
good. The difference of opinion on this sub
tect divided them and thereby destroyed al
hope of electing their ticket, but the firm
among them still hold out, with the idei
that the only way to get lasting reform
to be incorporating. taking temporar,
were all harmony and enthusiasm; they di
| marvellous work. Now they are divided
| rot as to their desired end, but as to tn
method of attaining 1t. and there is a cor
l
concentration of effort. DIR. Parkhurst
somewhat slowly, but probably not les
earnestly comes to the support Of the fusio
| ticket as better than allowing the tiger
grab something to feed on to keep it aliv
| to attack reform at a more critical time
In deciding upon this course his good politl
cal Judgment measured by the purpose h
: has in view has turned the scale On tn
other hand, Bishop Potter spurns the fusior
declaring that base alliance Is not justif
able even for the accomplishment Of a goo
| end.
There may be enough OF the good govern
ment advocates supporting the fusion tickle
to defeat Tammany, but II it takes all thei
| votes and their united effort to accomplis
that result Gas seems to be the case), Tam
many will win. 1t is argued. OF course. tina
Tammany is disintegrating, and that tn
organization will be defeated by desertion
from its own ranks, but this Is no more tina
t a theory which it will take the election t
, test. Undoubtedly many who have long bee
connected with Tammany would abandon
, il convinced that its power was permanent
gone The Indications are, however, that
will take another defeat to MAKE this COZ
e yiction general enough to cause serious d.
) fections. Tammany has found too much Ell
| couragement in the situation during the pas
few months for any considerable number
| ;,fo fIxyo or,