The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-25
UPSTATE POLITICS
The Fight for Control of the Assembly VIII
he sharp ut Many Points.


The Fight for Control Of the Assembly VIII
he Sharp at Many Points.
ALBANY Sept 1e-There are no vacancies
in the State Senate to be filled this year. and the
Republicans retain their normal majority OF four
but arc without the power to assure the enforce
ment OF party organization measures unless the
slender majority in the Senate is reinforced by
larger Republican membership in the Assembly
In that event. the refractory Republican Sena-
tors, face to face with determined Republican
Assembly having the power not only TO pass meas
ures favored by II but also TO stall any measures
favored by the Senate. would very soon, accord
ing to all past political experience, bring the Sen
ate TO terms and restore harmony between the
two branches Of the Legislature and the Governor
The last Assembly was elected under conditions
far moro favorable to Republican success in the
doubtful upstate districts than Is the at pres
emit Governor and other State officers were
to be chosen and in addition to these, members
Of Congress In every district There was vigo-
rous and active canvass throughout the State,
eliminating In the speaking tour Of Mr.. Roose-
welt and the vigorous support OF his candidature
by many independent voters and by some Demo
Gratis This year. incident TO the natural reaction
following an important State election the Repub-
lcan vote seems likely to fall of in many Of the
interior counties not through any lack Of sup
port Oh tepuDnCan prlnClpleS ana pOnCleS Dut
through dearh Of political influence in
a year when most OF the contests are entirely
local. and most Of them for members Of Assembly
and county officials SO onesided TO be with
out any OF the elements Of uncertainty. In an
interior county for instance with o normal Re-
publican majority Of 1000. which may be in
creased in Presidential election to 1900, tho
necessity for full vote last year, In 1885, was
urgent for tho county may be In a Congressional
or Senatorial district In which Of the other
counties wero Democratic, and for success in
the State election the Republicans required the
support of tho voters in each county and thor
ough canvass was prosecuted to secure in each
the largest possible majority. In on ordinary
local contest without Presidential electors, State
officers Congressman State Senators To be voted
for the extent Of tho Republican lead, whether
1000 or 500 or even 100. is unimportant, and
II is this lack Of interest the part OF the ma
orty which gives, in the interior counties OF New
York, the minority party such an opportunity
as II enjoyed two years ago In the contest fol-
lowing tho Presidential election. when It carried
on Assembly such strong Republican counties
as Clinton. Cortlandt, Schenectady and Niagara
for Democratic nominees and left the org anization
Republicans with a margin Of three votes only
beyond constitutional requirements
Times throughout tho State are good. Tho
harvests, especially in western New York. are
decidedly better than usual. Railroad business
is large and there are moro men away from home
on business brands and unlikely to vote on
that account than has been the case for many
years The demand for farm labor in the West
has withdrawn from New York very consider
able number Of those whose homes in this
State, and, attracted by the larger pay OF Western
farmers. there has been a considerable exodus
from the farming districts of the State, though
In.,
is not likely to decrease from this cause. For
the causes stated there seems almost certain TO
be comfortable falling of in tho Republican vote
all through rural New York this year. and II
there was a commensurate lack OF interest among
the Democrats party control by tho Republicans
of the next Assembly would not be put in any
peril
This however is not the case A considera bic
number Of Silver Democrats, TO be found in some
OF the farming counties did not vote at last years
election and considerable number of rural Dem
ocrats not Silverites rendered hostile or
lukewarm to the Democratic State and local can
didatcs on account OF what they considered to be
the undue prominence of the metropolitan or Tam
many Democrats in the nomination of the Van
Wyck ticket Recent events have modified
temporarily at least these fractional aspcrities and
present indications point to practical harmony
among the upstate Democrats this year and TO
a smaller net falling off in their total vote than in
the Republican vote Of the same districts.
clear majority of the counties of New York are,
and have always been. Republican, and in the
election of year ago the Republican lead outside
OF New York, Kings. Queens and Richmond
counties 105, 900. Should the Republican
vote outside of the four metropolitan counties fall
of 10 per cent. compared with year ago and the
Democratic vote in the same territory fall off per
cent only, the Republican lead would still be in