The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-03-18
cry .tND COTyTRY POLITICS.
The Line Of Cleavage In This state Con
stantly Craving More Marked.

stantly Growing More Marked.
The fourth section Of the third article Of the
present state Constitution OF New York pro-
viies that no county shall have four or more
Senator, unless 1t has a full ratio OF inhabt-
tanrs for each. and that no county shall have
more than onc-third Of all the Senators ard no
two counties adjoining. or which are separated
only by punlic waters. shall have more than
one-half OF all the Senator'S The purpose OF
this provision. which can only be altered by q
formal amendment Of the Constitution APP
proved bv two successive Legislatures and
ratified by the voters. was. and 10. to
preclude tho city OF New York. made
up chiefly 81 the counties OF New York and
Kings. from ever gaining political control In
the State. for although through growth OF
population Il majority Of the members OF the
Assembly NAV be elected from these two
counties which now have a representation OF
only ~ out OF a total OF $50. and although on
a popular vote in New York a Brooklyn man
may be chosen Governor. the Senate IL to re-
main an obstacle against the adoption OF any
Legislation which the country counties OF New
YORK, acting collectively do not approve.
Whatever may have been the intention OF the
Constitutional Convention which submitted
this provision 10 the voters Of New York tor
their acceptance or rejection six. years ago. II
II a fact. which is unirniabla, that its adop.
tiOn has aided IN bringing about to a greater
extent than perhaps might otherwise have been
the rase. the POLITICAL segregation Of the metro
poIitan from the rural. counties ~ the state. a
condition ~ cleavage. in political matters. fur
thar added to by the setting up OF the GREATER
New York IA a distinct civil division In 1927.
There are 10 be held two state conveptions for
tons Of The Republican Party in June In .Phila-
delphia aud otthe Democratic Party In July In
Kansas City The R"puhlcan State Copyention
will be held on April II Mt the Grand Central
Palace. Lexington avenue and Forty fourth
street, and will comprise r1l delegates. The
Democratic. Convention. the date ior which
has NOT yer been fixed. but which will probably
for zach Assembly DISTRICT in the State, or 450in
all, In IN" Republican Convention New York
dix %isiricts vii have G5S', In the Democratic
Convention this city will hays 1870 delegates
and the country Assembly districts. 21O, the
Democratic Party adhering to the Assembly
district divisions AS the basis OF representa-.
tion, whereas the Republicans aiopt "a their
s'aniard the mum Der OF votes cast a. the last
preceding general election for Republican
Formerly the politics OF many New York
counties, especially those along, the. Hudson
notably Westchestrr. Duchess. Columbia and
lister. make common political cause With tho
other up-State and. Interior counties. Albany
has a Republican Mayor. and such counties as
tnrmung. seneca. Lewis, Clinton, Schenectady
and Niagara. which were ormerlyd doubtful or
wavrrinG, are row securely Republican (:
whereas Queens AMI Richmond. within the
metropolitan district. ARE more strongly
Democratic than before, and suffolk, out
side If the METROPOLITAN, boundary, line.
* moro strongly Republican. Though
the business r%ela'lons OF upstate tn New York
dist ricts are ~ Int mate as ever before, there
ha- been a very marSed tendency IN recent
wears fOr tha state voters to separate on famll-
lar geographical lines. the Republican pro-
pondera 90 In the Upstate counties increasing
TO the sam" extent. and In about the same
ratio. a. RI" democratic prOpond"rance In tho
METROPOLITAN counties. The. provision OF the
State Contributor limiting ths power of New
York and Kings over legislation NAV, there
fore. have a lust i~ilratiOn IN utility which was
not discerned 10y its projectors when adopted.