Daily Kennebec journal., 1898-11-08
The Election, Today.

have already held their elections fo,
1898. In all three of them the Republi
cans were successful. Ten states will
only elect representatives to Congress
but 80 of the commonwealths viii
choose state officers of more or les.
importance, and Il of them will cleo
governors In 81 states legislators will
be chosen, and 90 of these bodies will
be called upon to elect United States
senators.
While in some of the states the cam
paigns have been nearly as dull and
listless, yet in others the canvass has
been as full of life as presidential
contest. In the East this is especially
true of New York and Pennsylvania,
where red-hot campaigns have been
going on, and where even now it is no
easy task to predict the result. There
is also an unusual campaign in North
been made the paramount issue, and
the Democrats will carry the state by
the shot gun method. In other South
ern states the election will not be of
special interest, and no changes from
former results are to be expected.
There are, however, in the West a
Of local issues which may have
an important bearing upon the future
government of those states. In two of
them-California and Washington-the
question of the single tax has become
an issue. The Democratic candidate
for governor of California is a disciple
of Henry George, while in Washington
the voters will pass upon a constitu-
'tional amendment providing that mu-
inequalities determine for themselves
what classes of property shall be taxed.
In the same state and in South Dakota,
too, the question of woman suffrage
will be voted upon. South Dakota will
also pass upon proposition to run the
liquor traffic on the South Carolina dis
pensary scheme. Other constitutional
amendments of different kinds will be
passed upon by several of these West
ern states.
Possibly the most novel of them all
is the amendment submitted to the
voters of North Dakota. This, if it re-
ceives majority of the suffrages, will
require the Legislature to prescribe
penalties for failing, neglecting or re-
fusing to vote at any general election.
1t will mean compulsory suffrage
something new in this country, but at
the same time an experiment it may do
no harm to try. The same amendment
will fix an educational qualification for
the suffrage and the privilege of voting
will be extended to civilized males of
Indian descent, who have not been in a
tribal relation for two years preceding
an election.
The great struggle. of course, is for
the control of the next Congress. 1t
seems well assured that the Republic
cans will make substantial gains in the
next Senate and have a good working
majority over all in that body. The
present large Republican majority in
the House, however is likely to be cut
down, though the party managers are
confident that the continued control of
the House is assured. A number Of
Eastern districts, normally Democratic,
which were carried by the Republicans
in '96 in the tidal wave which over
whelmed Organism, will drift back to
the Democracy; but on the other hand
the Republicans will gain seats in the
West and Northwest. Here in New
England the Democracy is having 4
struggle to re-elect it's solitary Demo-
cratic representative congressman
should be elected on national, not local,
issues, but the Democracy's only hope
of gaining control of the next House is
by binding the voters to this import
ant truth. The welfare of the nation
at this critical time depends upon the
election Of a Congress which will sup
port the administration in settling the
war so successfully waged. The cleo
ton of a Democratic House would be a
national calamity. 1t would shake con-
fidence and create confusion at home,
and encourage our enemies abroad.
Outside of the struggle for. the con-
troll of Congress the most interest CEN
ters in the election in New York, where
Croker, having the city in his foul
grasp, is making every effort to cap
ture the state. Colonel Roosevelt
famed for his services to his country
in war and peace, heads the Republi-
can forces and has waged one of the
most vigorous and picturesque cam