New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-07
INDEPENDENT TOTTYG.

A large number OF split tickets were cast in
this State at last Tuesdays election II was
surprising number, considering our ballot law,
which does not encourage independent voting.
Years ago trading in elections was a common
industry with a certain class of politicians. and
not infrequently thousands Of votes would be
thrown by local leaders Of one party for some
particular candidate Of the other. The official
ballot interfered with that CUSTOM and, with it
In use. tickets have rarely failed TO so through
as whole except in small districts where a
comparatively few votes would change the re-
suit. We believe the last instance before now of
a man being elected to Office by the people Of the
whole State when his associates on the ticket
were defeated was the choice of Robert 4. Max
well, Democrat, for State Treasurer, in 1881,
by 10000 plurality when the Republican candi-
dates for other offices won by from 5000 10
14000 plurality. About fifteen thousand voters in
New-York and Kings who generally supported
the Republicans failed to vote for Hustled. That
was under the old voting system. Now an as
tonishing number Of intelligent men who know
how they want to vote frankly say that they are
afraid 10 split tickets as they wish lest they
should spoil their ballots. Yet we see Governor
odell reelected by nearly twelve thousand plu-
rality, while the defeat of Judge Werner. his
associate on the ticket by about fifteen thou
sand, is conceded at Republican headquarters
Likewise in the With Judicial District every
county Of which was carried by OdeIl, Attorney
General Davies, the regular candidate for JUS
tice Of the Supreme Court, was badly beaten
This shows that in spite Of general timidity in
marking ballots, the independent voter is a
quantity to be reckoned with. Politicians are
prone TO forget II, and the lesson OF Tuesdays
vote may be studied by them with profit Judge
Werner was well qualified for the bench. and
r,~aaV,-
eumstances, he might have been chosen without
opposition. 1t is obvious, however that his nom-
ination this year was mistake, due to a recur-
renee among party managers of that failure 20
understand popular sentiment which has hith-
erto sometimes sadly initiated against both
party success and public welfare It is evident
that thousands of citizens in general sympathy
with the Republican party believed that the
Court Of Appeals should be let alone. and that
the services OF both Judge Gray and Judge
Werner should be retained there by the choice
OF Judge Gray to succeed himself, leaving his
opponent 70 sit in the Court of Appeals. as he
has done hitherto. by executive designation for
such period as the congestion of the calendar
may require.
1t is also clear that tine nomination ~ Mr.
Davies must have been due to external pressure
rather than internal demand. Otherwise no such
uprising among the rank and file of the party
could have taken place no matter how much
expert engineering was done to secure it. SINH
lar independence might have been expected from
the voters for Justices Of the Supreme Court In
this judicial district, but it did not materialize
Evidently, Tammany count better than the
Republicans on its voters standing without
hitching.' Justice Keener ran 5000 ahead of
the Republican ticket and Justice Steckler
10000 ahead Of IL, but their names were in other
columns Of the ballot and commanded Demo-
cratic votes cast as such. Justice Hall, who was
equally entitled 10 independent support, merely
ran along with Governor Odell Republicans in
large numbers independently voted for Judge
Gray, but the Democrats who were shouting
for his retention did not practise their own
preaching when il was question OF retaining
Republican in the Supreme Court here or add.
ing TO the number Of Tammany judges.
The Democrats have solid Tammanv vote
as they have a solid South, with which thew can
do anything. The Republicans of this State can
bank on no such reserve. not even in the coun-
Try. where they are strongest Their leaders
must at all times be sensitive to the feelings
and ideals OF their natural supporters. and thev
must be increasingly sensitive, for the voters
grow increasingly independent and increasingly
accomplished in the mysteries Of the ballot law
and the art Of splitting tickets