The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-05
NOTEMBER ELECTIONS.
Tho Adoption of Uniform Voting Day
Iia. Been Attained slowly.

The agreement now general among the States
with very lew exceptions on the ACCESSIBILITY Of
accepting the Tuesday after the first Monday In
November as the day OF general election has been
gradually secured against obstacles which seemed
u many persons at first almos, insurmountablc.
Climatic conditions In the United States vary ~
much that n period favorable 10 a campaign In
one State may not suit the requirements OF another
Until recently the State elections in Kentucky
were held In the month Of August and the cam
paigning there was done during tho months Of
June and July before the gathering OF the chief
harvest Of the State in October. Nebraska and
Iowa both Of which States have elections this year
formerly chose their State officers in October
which left the farmers OF these two corn States
the greater part of tina, month and the whole of
November W care for their crops In disregard oi
politics Ohio. Indiana and West Virginia were
States holding their elections In October and until
the adoption Of the present Constitution in Pennsyl-
vnnIa It Was included among the October States,
Cuhously enough. II is in the Southern States
in which the climate is unfavorable 10 summer
campaigning that the most marked unwingncSs
10 comply with the uniform date selected else
where has been observed. Alabama, one OF the
Gulf States continues 10 hold its local elections
in August which Is a very hot month usually.
In Alabama. and month during which many
OF the farmer voters OF the State are prccluded
from participating in tho contest The neigh
boring State of Georgia stll adhercs 10 October
elections rs the elimination Of a canvass which
includes usually the two months Of August
and Sc tcmbcr Arkansas is another state
which has withheld its support from the plan
Of n uniform election day, choosing its Governor
and other State officers in the month OF Sep,em-
Ter. Louisiana under tho terms OF the new
State Constitution hol Is its State election In the
month Of April Whcn il by far more desirable
than August SCI tcmber or October,
There are no longer any summer elections
in Texas, and few years ago the State Of North
Carolina, where elections were held in August,
Joined those having their elections in Novcm-
her. West Virginia changed from October 10
November some years ago and among the States
~ the North there now remain but four which
have not adopted the November date. These
are Rhode island, which votes in April Oregon.
which votes In June, and Maine and Vernon.
which vote In September. The reason for the g
teniion Of the September date In Vermont and
Maine is TO DO found In the determination Of the
voters Of these two States 10 senhratc local and
State elections even al tho added expense of two
separate elections Rhode Is and is not farm
ing STATE" its voters being nuch more Ia ~
concerned In textile manufactures. and q 'Cetions
Of climate and tho care Of crops do not enter.
therefore into the question in that State. but
some changes are slowly made In Conservative
New England, and thus II happens that three Of
the six New Enrland States have their local
elections at other times than November