The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1898-07-16
Elections in 1898.

The elections Of 1898 present some points
of peculiar interest for an ''off year in polit,
ical movements. New York, Pennsylvania
and New Jersey will elect Governors, Il CO.
incidence worth noting because of its rarity.
New York elects a Governor biennaly: New
Jersey, every three years, and Pennsylvania.
every four years. The recurrence of an cleo
ton for Governor in the contiguous States on
the same day will not happen again for many
years.
Governors will also be elected in Alabama.
Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut,
Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Michigan. MINES
ota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire.
North Dakota, South Dakota, South Caro-
lima, Tennessee, Texas, Wyoming and Wis
consin. The States in which the terms of
United States Senators end March 4, 1899,
will this year elect, or have already elected,
Legislatures that will select successors to the
outgoing Senators, the New York Sun draws
attention to the fact that New York in No
vember will elect members of both branches
of the Legislature simultaneously with the
election of its entire Congressional delega-
ton, coincidence which has not taken place
for fifty years. Successful warfare invariably
strengthens the party in power If Spain
should acknowledge herself beaten, and II
treaty of peace should be signed before No
vember, the elections in many important
States would doubtless be powerfully infu-
enced thereby.
The States have been gradually adopting
November as the month of their annual cleo
tons. 1t is only Il question of time when all
OF them will observe uniformity in the matter
A few States still adhere to an earlier date
for the holding of their State elections. so
that they may enjoy the distinction Of test
States, forshadowing the drift of opinion be-
fora hn NpyaDohnr
Rhode Island voted on April 6; Oregon, on
June 6, and in both States the results indi-
Gated the rising tide of Republican success.
The next State election will be that of Ala
bama, August s, when State officers, includ-
ing Governor, will be elected Arkansas
will follow on September s.. electing a Gov
ernOr and other State officers. Two State
elections were held in January, 1898, those
of Kentucky and Texas. Vermont votes on
September and Maine on September u.
The States holding no State election this
year are Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, Mon
tana, North Carolina, Utah, Virginia, Wash
ington and West Virginia. The next Presi-
dental election will occur on Tuesday. No
vember 6, 1900, and the following States will
hold no State elections until that date: Hi
nois, Montana, North Carolina, Utah, Wash
ington and West Virginia. One of the States,
Virginia, will not hold State election until
December l. 1901
The annual election Of Legislatures is rap.
idly going out of vogue. At the beginning of
this year the only States adhering to annual
Legislatures were Massachusetts, New jersey
New York, Rhode Island and South Caro-
lima. Much greater diversity exists as to the
Governors term, but the tendency is toward
four years term. In one State, Utah, the
term is five years. Only two States have one
year term for the Executive. In some of the
States the terms of the State Senators and
members of the House of Representatives are
the same length, but in the majority the Sen
ators have the longer term. In one case.
that of Louisiana, the members of the Legis-
lature enjoy four years term. Two States
limit the Senators to one year. The "off
year. contests of 1898 are highly important,
nasmuch as more State officials of the var-
Gus grades are to be elected than have been
elected at one time for many years. The eff
feet of the war on the destiny of parties in the
United States adds another element of singu-
lar interest to the elections this year.