The record-union., 1896-10-26
UNDER new CONDITIONS.
THIS PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
WILL DIFFER FROM OTHERS.
Circumstances That May Operate to
Keep the Result in Doubt For
Some Time.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 25.-The Presi-
Dental election Of Tuesday, November
Sd next, will be held under conditions
which have never before prevailed, and
which will render the official count
matter of difficulty and unusual delay
Since the last Presidential contest al
most every State which had not adopted
the Australian ballot system has by
State enactment prescribed some form
of secret blanket ballot, either based on
the Australian plan or closely resem-
bling it. The only exceptions are Geor-
gia, Louisiana, North Carolina and
South Carolina. In the first three States
named the old open ballot system pre-
walls, and the electic1 machinery is in
the hands of the State authorities. In
South Carolina there IS what is called q
reform ballot" the avowed purpose of
Which is to restrict the votes of illit-
crate negroes. In nearly all the other
States blanket ballots will be cast, and
IN may Of them the count will be COM
pllcated by the fact that State, legisla-
tive and county nominations are all
printed on the same Ballot with the
names Of Presidential Electors. Con-
necticut has an envelope system, and
New Jersey prints each party ticket
upon a separate ballot
Should the election be in any wav
close, it is therefore quite possible that
1t may be twenty-four hours or even
forty eight hours after the polls are
closed before the result is known with
absolute certainty. In States like Ne
braska, for instance, where by a con-
iua ar,in
margin of 5000 votes either way. it will
De impossible to arrive at any correct
judgment until all the back counties
are heard from. The polls in the cities
OF some States close at D. m but in
the country districts they keep open I'M
I'll O'Clock, and with Governor. Leg
lslature and county officials to elect on
one ballot, it will take at least TWENTY
four hours to complete the count.
Some idea of the general trend Of
votes in Ohio can probably be obtained
IN the result of counties in which Gin
cinnati and Cleveland are respectively
situated, and these results will probably
be known comparatively early The re-
suit IN the State, it is Anticipated. will
go pretty much as it has done in pre-
FlouS PRESIDENTIAL years. The doubtful
points are Hamilton and Cuyahoga
Counties. Chicago will control Illinois.
There will be no doubt Of the outcome
when the vote of Cook County is re-
corded. But in other doubtful States
like Indiana, Michigan and Kansas
where State and county tickets also COM
pllcate the ballots, there will probably
be no keynote from which the res,,lt
10 dnH Init tnIx Il
oay hlght unless the election should
prove a landslide. In that case mid
night may give a close idea who are the
Vlctors and who the vanquished. Other
wise there may be many hours of anx-
ious suspense
The last two Presidential elections
have been singularly free from uncer
tainty. 1t was known at 10 D. m. on
election day in 1888 that Mr.. Harrison
had defeated Mr.. Cleveland. and if was
known with equal certainty at IL u. m
on election day in 1892 that Mr.. Cleve-
land had defeated Mr.. Harrison. But in
the election of 1854, when Mr.. Cleve-
land defeated Mr.. Blaine, the official
result hung in doubt over the vote of
New York for days.
The fusion tickets will add a further
element of difficulty in the Presidential
count this year.
FuSlon has been arranged between tha
Populists and the Democrats on the
electoral ticket in every Democratic
State but Tennessee, Mississippi Geor
gia, Alabama, Florida and Texas.
In several of the Southern States
while there has been no formal fusion
between the Republicans and Populists
on State Legislatures and Congressman.
other arrangements have been made
that amount to fusion, and will have
more or less to do with the result.
Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho. Illinois
Indiana, Kansas, Massachusetts. Mich
igan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana
New Hampshire, New York, North Car
olina, North Dakota, South Carolina.
South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas. Wash
ington, West Virginia and Wisconsin
elect Governors
The following elect Legislatures. Cal
ifornia, Colorado, Connecticut, Della
ware, Idaho. Illinois, Indiana. Iowa.
Kansas, Kentucky (seven vacancies).
Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri Mon
tana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hamp-
shire, New Jersey New York (part)
North Carolina, North Dakota, Penn
sylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota.
Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia,
Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin
and Wyoming