The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-02-18
STiTE SENATOR'S IN 1900.
Little Likelihood That Upstate Democrats
VIII BE Able to Make Gains.

The first election for State Senators by districts
instead Of in groups was held in lSl7. and from
tina. time uniformly until 1898 elections for
State Senators were held in the o~dd-numhered
years Immediately preceding and next following
Presidential elections, but never simultaneously
with them. Under the amended Constitution,
State Senator's are now chosen in the same year
az the Governor, and this year for the first time
they will Re voted for in a Presidential election.
The present political division Of the Senate is Re
puhlicanS, twenty-seven. and Democrats, twenty
three, and although the upstate Democrats did
not show up TO very good advantage In the con-
test q two years ngo. " hen the present Senate was
chosen, they were able TO secure some representa-.
ton outside Of the metropolitan districts. A
Democrat represents the Suffolk county district
Of Long Island, another Democratic Senator
comes from Westchester county, a third from
Rondout, a fourth from Albany, a ffth from
Rensselaer, county, and two others from Buffalo,
making seven Democratic representatives outside
Of the city Of New York to sixteen representing
districts within its boundaries.
In an ordinary election in New York when
momcntous issues are not involved and the can
vaSs is either brief OF listless, it is a fact repeatedly
well established that the full Republican vote
does not come out ~ he polls, and this deartil
Of interest among Rep blicans furnishes the
Democrats with an opportunity nj Senatorial
elections which has enabled then in many pastcon.
tests to secure control Of districts in the interior
which are on political divisions ordinarily Ropub-
lican. Moreover, the number Of Senatorial dis
,ricts in the State in which Republicans FREEDOM
mate Is larger than the number in which Demo
Gratis have control. even In an election in which
the tVp na rites arr so evenly Divided that a q ~
small fraction separates them. The big Demo
cratic mniorilies are in the populous wards Of
New York city, whereas the Republican MAORI.
ties, more evenly distributed. Ee generally much
smaller, so that the chance n the capture Of A
Senatorship by the opposite party is greatest
In the Republican districts. But for this fact il
is very doubtful whether the Democrats would
at any time he able to secure n majority Of the
Senate even when tho popular majority was AZ
high, a. il has sometimes been, as ~, 900. But
the new arrangement, going into effect this year,
under which State Senators are for The first
time to he chosen in a Presidential election, de-
prlves Democratic candidates Of their two most
cherished opportunities for success in doubtful
or Republican districts-a shortage in the Repub.
lican vote OF minor factlonHl divisions favorable
10 Democratic success.
The up State Democrats can expect 10 gain no
moro New York city districts than they have al.
ready, for they control oil these with the exception
Of two in brooklyn, and two IN Manhattan borough
in which the Republican majority Is so large
az 10 make Democratic contests N q year when A
President IS TO he voted for, almost hopeless.
To get control Of the Senate, therefore, \ such
an effort should tc made seriously this wear
the Democrats would tc obliged e. hold the seven
seats which they have outside OF the city Of New
York and to gain, IN addition, three others, an
siderrd easy. II is for this reason that soma
Of the up State Democrats are doubtful Of the
yalu" Of a party nomination for State Senator
this year, though In most previous elections they
have considered that q Democrat had at least
a fighting chance in most districts Of the State.