The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-11-01
Politics of New York State in a
Chaotic Condition.
OHIO WILL BE CLOSE
DEMOCRATIC SUCCESS IN LEGIs-
LATURE PROBABLE.
Strong Efforts by New York Demo-
Gratis to Garry Lower House
Germans Interest in Maryland
Kansas Fusionists Gonhdenr-The
Tiger Claims Greater New York.

Albany, N. Y, Oct. S1.-Twenty-four
hours before the practical closing of
the campaign finds condition as cha
otto as has ever been apparent in the
politics of New York state, and this is
due, not to any lack of well-deflned
ideas Of how the vote would run if
state issues alone and the election of
an assembly were the prevailing fac
tors. but to the injection of some of the
most bitter municipal contests that
ever prevailed in the history of the
state.
In Greater New York, in Albany, in
Rochester, in Syracuse and in Buffalo,
the five greatest cities of the state,
there will close tomorrow campaigns
upon local issues that have been no.
tably bitter. That these local affairs
will have a bearing upon the vote for
the only state office in controversy
the chief judgeship of the court of ap-
peals, must be conceded, and that they
will have a still greater bearing upon
the assembly district contests, is also
apparent.
The indications at this writing are
that, while the contest for the chief
judgeShip of the court of appeals will
be a spirited one, the chances are dis
tinctly in favor of the election of the
Republican candidate The belief is
general that the Republican vote in
central and western New York, that
has for the past two or three wears
been abnormally large, will be in some
measure reduced, but there are no in
dications that it viii fall below it's
own normality, which is to brign down
to New York City a plurality of $780,
with which to meet any plurality
which the Democrats below there can
show. In the past TWO years the plu-
rality in the cities that make up Great
er New York has been a Republican
one. and the best computation of Dem
ocrats of their expected plurality in
that district is $4,000, so that, upon
their basis OF figures, unless a land
slide occurs, the Republican candidate
for judge of the court of appeals must
be elected. The Democratic candidate
has some advantage, however, in be-
ing placed twice upon the ticket, and in
newspaper endorsement, and these
things may prove of greater aid than
has been anticipated. 1t is of no adj
! vantage to remember that to elect z.
Democratic state officer after the ire
mendous Republican pluralities of the
past three years. would be an almost
unprecedented event.
In 1894 the Republican plurality in
the state was $4,000; in 1895 it was go
900, and in 1896. a presidential year, it
was $4,000 If any one of these ire
mendous Dlur2lities is cut in half, it
will be a partial victory for the Demo-
Gratis.
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 fNit
who was carried in by the Tilden wave,
and Hill and Murphy, elected by the
Democratic body that succeeded in
what was known as the Hill appor-
tionment. Throughout the state the
Democrats have made strenuous efforts
this fall to increase the number of
Democratic members of the lower
house, and it is evident that success
will crown their efforts Indeed, the
Republican managers have at all times
believed that this was not only posi-
bic, but highly probable. The next as
senbly viii, however, be still Repubn
can by very good majority, but the
Democrats viii accomplish one thing
for which they are striving-the reduc-
ton of the Republican majority to such
an extent that in such reduction they
may see hope of Democratic house
in 1899, when a successor to Senator
Murphy is to be elected. The Repubii-
cans profess to believe that it will be
| good thing for the party to have a
smaller proportion of Republicans,
while still retaining a majority within
their party. The localities where the
Democrats expect to gain most largely
are New York and Kings counties.
No contest in politics of a purely 10
/ cal nature has ever created such inter
! est in the upstate counties as has the
/ Greater New York contest for MAYOR,
and the death of one of the foremost
candidates has but added to that inter
est From carefully gathered opinions
/ of Republican leaders, outside of the
/ confines OF the municipality where the
contest is occurring, it is apparent that
! the general expectations are that Tam
many viii win, and that Mr.. Low and
( MI Tracy will have to fight for second
place These representations are
/ based upon the theory that the normal
Republican vote IS very much more
/ evenly divided among the candidates
/ than is the Democratic vote, and the
! information comes from such reliable
sources that it is hardly to be ques-
/ toned. In the other cities it is be-
! lieved the Republican candidates for
mayor will be universally successful.
with the possible exception of Albany,
where q Democrat may succeed the
| present Democrat.