Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-11-01
SLIGHTLY MIXED.
Various Estimates as to the
Result in New York.
State Fight Lost Sight Of in Bitter
Municipal Contests.
Each Side as Confident as Ever in Greater
New York.

Albany, N. Y, Oct. 31.-Twenty-four
hours before the practical closing of
the campaign finds condition as chao-
tic, politically, as has ever been ap-
parent in the politics of New York
state, and this is due, not to any lack
of well-defined ideas of how the vote
would run if state issue alone and the
election of an Assembly were the pre-
vailing factors, but to the injection of
some Of the most bitter municipal con-
tests that have every prevailed in the
! cities of the state
In the Greater New York, in Albany
and in Rochester, in Syracuse and in
Buffalo, the five greatest cities of the
state, there will close, tomorrow, cam
paigns upon local issues that have
notably bitter and even virulent. That
these local affairs will have a bearing
upon the vote for the only state office
in controversy the chief judgship of the
court of appeals, must be conceded, and
that they will have still greater bear
ing upon the Assembly district contests
is also apparent.
The indications at this writing are
that while the contest for chief judge
spirited one, the chances are distinctly
in favor of the election of a Republi-
can candidate. The belief is general
that the Republican vote in central and
western New York, that has, for the
past two or three years been abnor-
mally large, will be in some measure
reduced, but there are no indications
that it will fall below it's own normal
ity. which is to bring down to the Har-
lem river a plurality of $1,000, with
which to meet any plurality which the
Democrats below there can show. In
the past two years the plurality below
Harlem has been a Republican one and
the best computations of Democrats
now in that district of their expected
plurality is $4,000; so that upon their
basis of figures.
Unless a landslide occurs, the Republi-
can candidate for appeals judge must be
elected. The Democratic candidate has
some advantages, however. in being
placed twice now upon the ticket and in
newspaper endorsement and these things
may prove of greater aid than has been
anticipated 1t is, however. of advantage
to remember that to elect a Democratic
state officer after the tremendous Repub-
-iican plura.ities of the past three years,
In 1894 the Republican plurality in the
state was 10000, in 1895 it was $4,000. and
in 1886. a Presidential year. it was 1871, 900.
If any one of these tremendous pluralities
is cut in half it will be a partial victory
for the Democrats.
Within 80 years. the Democrats have
controlled the Legislature but four times
in its two branches, and in that time have
elected by joint ballot but three United
States senators. Herman. who was ear
IN,
and Murphy, elected by the Democratic
body that succeeded what was known as
the Hill appointment. Throughout the
state the Democrats have made strenu-
Gus efforts this fall to increase the num-
Der of Democratic members of the lower
House, and it is evident that success will
crown their efforts. Indeed. the Repub-
lican managers have at all times believed
that this was not only possible, but high
ly probable, being naturally aware that
last years immense majority of so in the
lower House was due to the national
The next Assembly will. however. be
still Republican by very good margin,
but the Democrats will accomplish one
thing for which they are evidently striv-
ing. the reduction of the Republican ma
jorty to such an extent that in such re-
duction they may see hope of a Demo-
cratic House in 1899, when a successor to
Senator Murphy is to be elected. The Re-
puDllcanS profess to believe that it will
be a good thing for the party to have a
smaller proportion of the Republicans,
while still retaining majority within
their party.
The localities where the Democrats ex-
pect to gain most largely are New York
and Kings counties. In the former they |
expect to capture the 10th. 30th, 33d, 34th |
and 35th. and the 1st Westchester in ad- |
dition to those they now hold, and this |
will give them q members out Of 81. In |
Kings they are claiming to be able to get |
II of the q districts at least.
No contest in politics of a purely local |
nature has ever created such interest in |
the upstate counties as has the Greater
New York contest for mayor, and the |
death of one of the foremost candidates |
las but added to that interest. From care
FULLY gathered opinions of .Ae leaders out
side of the confines of the municipality,
where the contest is occurring. it is APP
parent that the general expectations are
hat Tammany will win and that Mr. Low
and Mr.. Tracy will have a fight for Sec
md place.
These representations are based upon
the theory that the normal Republican
vote is very much more evenly divided
,mong the candidates than is the Demo-
cratic vote. and the information comes
roll hl hat n &c har d