Evening star., 1896-11-05
THE MARYLAND VICTORY
New Election and Registration Law an
Important Factor.
Both Parties Surprised at the Com.
Gratis Trying to Account for 1t.
Correspondence of The Evening Star.
BALTIMORE. Noyem'

BALTIMORE, November 5. 1896.
Now that the blare and turmoil occa-
stoned by the unprecedented sweep Of the
republicans in this state is beginning to
subside and voters are beginning to ana
lyze the situation, a new factor in local
elections is being fully appreciated. This
new element is the election and registra-
tion law which the republicans passed dur
Ing the last session of the general assem-
bly,. BY its operation the old-time demo-
cratic majority. and the opportunities of
sustaining it which the late democratic
ring enjoyed so long, have been entirely
wiped out, and Maryland can no longer be
claimed as sure democratic state. In
deed, republicans today assert that 1t is
not even doubtful, but that 1t has swung
into the republican column for all time to
come. and that in future elections under
normal conditions, 1t may be expected 10
give from 14WO to 5000 republican ma
Jority. In making this claim the republic
cans readily admit that yesterdays impos-
Ing victory was largely due to the substan-
tlal aid they received from sound money
democrats. They realize that in no sense
was 1t party victory, but they con-
vlnced that the purging of the registration
list and the loss of the election machinery
by the democrats in 1895 have so weakened
the latter that it will be years before they
can hope to regain the aScendancy in local
political affairs.
Effect of the New Law.
The effect Of the new law was at once
evident in the registration In some of the
lower democratic wards especially the lists
of qualified voters this year showed a fall
ing off of thousands, as compared with a
year ago. and the expunging of fictitious
names. the statements demanded as to a
definite description of the applicants resi-
dence. thus preventing colonization, and
the otner precautions against possible pad
ding all proved most effective and went far
in pulling down the props which have sus-
tanned democratic majorites in the past
One very striking bit of testimony to the
value Of the new law was the absence this
year of the throngs of repeaters whose ad-
vent in the bar rooms and about the streets
always indicated the near approach of cleo
ton day In the past.
The result here Is great surprise, for
while the majority of the business and pro-
fessional men of the city expected to see
the Mckinley electors chosen, they never
expected such an immense majority. Dur
ing the last two weeks prior to election
there was a decided undercurrent of anx-
1ety In evidence. and much quiet specula-
tion as to the possibility of the labor vote
being cast for Bryan. The general senti-
ment expressed in the street last week was
undoubtedly for Bryan, and the cheers for
the chicago nominees which were given
by the sound money and wage earner'
paraders, and the tremendous enthusiasm
at the Daniel meeting in the evening, were
prise for those whose estimates of the out
come were more than vindicated by yes
terday'S result.
Democrats Trying to Account for 1t.
There Is no question that Senator German
and the other regular democrats were con-
WINGED that Mckinley would be defeated in
the city and state, and old-ire democrats
who stick to the party through thick and
thin are utterly dumfounded at the result
Various reasons to account for it are ad-
vanced.
The defeat of Congressman Miles in the
first district is one of the individual SEN
sations of the hour, and democrats all over
the state are wondering what has become
of the great majorities which Worcester
and Wicomico counties have rolled up in
the past The shrink in these democratic
stronghods is perhaps the most remark
able evidence of the comprehensive char
acter of the republican tidal wave, and the
fact that the shore is to be represented at
Washington by republican is destined to
be discussed in political circles for some
time to come.