Evening journal., 1901-01-12
NEWSPAPER OPINION
New ADportionment

new nppOIuOnmenl
The Washington correspondent of
the New York Evening Post. discuss
ing the electoral college of the near
future, says:
III the Burleigh Reapportionment
Dill becomes law, as now seems prob-
able, the electoral college will contain
if6 members. OF which number 239
woud be necessary for a choice. in
stead OF 224 as now. The important
political question suggested in these
lgures is the number of the Northern
states whicn would be necessary. i'm
addition to the solid South for Dsmo-
cratc success. 1t appears that the
states Of the South, including Mary
land, West Virginia, Kentucky. Mis-
souri, and Delaware, would cast 16e
electoral votes, or 40 less than a ma
Iority, NV York and Indiana which
was the rallying cry in Tilden's time
might contribute 54 of these votes
Which would be considerably short of
me number necessary. The remaining
10, New Jersey with - and Connecti-
cut with z electoral votes, might sun
ply. Thus the condition necessary in
1872 for Mr.. Cleveland's success
combination of the solid South. New
YORK, Indiana, New Jersey and Com
nacueut, or their equivalents-remains
operative.
This would be true under the Bur
ielgh apporuonment, or probably anvil
other that might be arranged. The
trouble with the combination is that II
mas SO many weak points The Dem
Ocrais Wlll have TO lCOk elsewhere forl
reserves, II they are to make q vigorous
contest Connecticut would seemingly
pc hard State for the Democrats toI
carry, and the old solid South has been
much invaded notably in Maryland.
West Virginia and Delaware. 1t isl
obvious that the Democratic electoral
problem mas been rendered rather
more difficult by the census returns oil
lsVO' IN spite Of the great gains which
Texas and Missouri have made. InI
Tlden's time the sixteen Southern
States cast 1873 out Of 369 electoral
votes New York and Indiana wonIdI
have made the 1856 necessary.
The present returns point clearly
10 Illinois as the fighting ground of
the future. Under the new Burle. oh
oil it will have twenty-seven electoral
notes; the solid South New York. III
inois and almost any other small State
would do the business. to saw nothing
Of Indiana But without Illinois on
It's equivalent it will be very hard for
the Democrats to carry the country
and no discernible equivalent Is i'm
sight Democratic prospects in Iui-
ncis depend largely upon the ctv Of
Chicago. IL doubtless contains a nat-
ural Democratic majority. which If
effectively organized, might give the
country sections of the Stats quite as
much of task as New York city gives
It's counties up the State. There is no
such Republican backing ia rural Illi-
nois, moreover, ready 10 meet a c.tv
Democratic majority as the interior of
New York State supplies. Outside of
Manhattan Island, New York State is
a Rupublican stronghold. the percent
ages between the two parties in its
northern counties being net unlike
those across the lake Ia Vermont In
the years OF greatest Republican re-
verses upper New York sends some
thing OF majority down to the Bronx
river. In Illinois a different situation
prevails. It's lower counties are natur-
ally Democratic, largely on account CT
their Southern sympathies and Nilsson
| ri connections. The State, therefore
may become a danger point to the Re
publicans, and without it, under the
new apportionment, Democratic chan
ces in the Electoral College appear
slim
In the reorganization of the Demo-
cratic party it is evident that plat
forms and candidates will be selected
with a view 20 carrying Illinois. but
none Of the Northern States West Of
It, With the overthrow of Bryan they
may be expected to develop a strong
third party movement. perhaps led by
him, but at all events enlisting the
support of many Of his ole follow
ers- They will not consent to Eastern
gold standard leadership"
Francis NJ. Walker is i'll with an at