The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-10-09
NO LONGER THE STORM CENTRE
Ono Political Glory of Montgomery Among
New York Counties Has Departed.

Ono Political Glory of Montgomery Among
New York Counties Has Departed.
Montgomery county. one Of the smallest ter
rtorially In the State OF New York. enjoyed for
many years the distinction OF being not only
the most uncertain. but also the most decis-
lively uncertain Of the sixty counties OF New
York In its political judgment. Montgomery
was taken In 1I72 from Albany and named In
honor of William Tryon. then the Governor Of
New York. The name was changed to Mont
gomery In 1874. 1t embraced all that part Of
the State lying west of a line north and south
nearly through the centre OF the present coun-
ty Of Schoharie. This area has been reduced
to comparatively small dimensions.
Once upon q time Montgomery was regard
ed as the stormy petrol among counties. As
Montgomery goes. 80 goes the State. came to
be a saying among politicians. For years
back the successful ticket in that county for
President has been the winning ticket In the
State. In the Gubernatorlal elections since
1870 there has been only one exception to this
rule. In 1888. when Hill lost the county by q
narrow majority. but carried the State. Flower
carried the county for the Democratic ticket
publican G ticket by by'i 1.a6G W Votes in oiissan4Y' nm In
the tSs'o county QUE R0S was i.S66 Ga and last e? :y eEse tRhoopueiRR
the state vent pemn90cratic, 1t gave a Republic
f fore. m Tssar4eG d. ether ii6hSg' as y the Il P sRo l9nge Pet sasr or
political weather vane. for 1t seems to have
come securely into the Republican column to
stay and the reason of this altered condition
H. not hard TO find.
There are ten towns in MONTGOMERY county. OF
which originally Ave were usually Democratic
and Ave Republican, In the number OF Republic
can towns was usually Amsterdam and among
the Democratic towns were Mohawk, Canajo-
harie and P~alatipe. Amsterdam cast the larg-
est vote. n voto larger than any two OF the
other towns. but not large enough to domi-
nate the politics Of tho county. The even d.
vision OF the other towns between the two par
ties made MONTGOMERY, uncertain, and as 1t
was a part OF a Senatorial, a Coneressional and
n Judicial district. all OF which wero uncer-
tain. u good fight for control Of Montgomery
was made In all hard contested elections. OF
late years, however. the voting population OF
than that OF the other owns, At last years
election more than 40 per cent. Of. the Re-
publican vote OF Montgomery was cast in
Amsterdam and nearly 40 per cent. Of the
Democratic vote. The industrial interests. Of
Amsterdam, which Is one OF the thriving In
connected with manufacturing. especially In the
line OF carpets. and the tariff agitation has had
the effect OF, greatly strengthening the Ropub-
Leans in that county. This has deprived
Montgomery Of its former distinction. as an
uncertain county. and in recent elections II
has not been very vigorously contested by the
ity for such contest has been taken away by
the fact that the neighborinE counties. par
ticularly Otsego and Schohare.s are more In
clined 10 the Republican party than formerly.
Schoharie, though still :Democratic. gives now
only 2 small majority. and qtsego has :beeome
uncertain and decisive constituency In New
York Estate is now the Greater New York,
made up OF five counties.