The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1905-11-16

Bridgeport and Ansonia, in COnnec-
ticut, defeated their Democratic admin
istrations.
The DISTINGUISHING amendment in
Maryland was defeated.
The States are gradually abolishing
the "off-year" elections, regarding
them as so much waste of energy and
money. AS a rule the people are apa-
thetic in such elections and the vote is
small. This year, however, was a
striking exception. The State and local
campaigns just ended aroused the
keenest interest, chiefly on account of
the prominence of the issue Of good
government versus corrupt boss rule.
1t is a remarkable fact that directly
or indirectly every local election turn
ed on the question of graft, while The
State elections involved issues that
afforded unusual scope to the exercise
Of independence.
Governors were elected in Massachu-
sets, Rhode Island, Ohio, Virginia and
Georgia. Some States elected new
Legislatures. Maryland voted on the
German constitutional amendment de-
signed to disfranchise colored men,
but which was SO drawn as to threat
en- tens of thousands Of white citizens
The notable county and municipal con
tests were those of New York, Phil
adelphia, Cincinnati, Cleveland and
San Francisco.
Interest was almost wholly centered
in the struggles made in the munich
palities. There party lines were not
closely drawn, but graft, bossism, mu
nicipal ownership and other kindred
issues which have absolutely no rela
tionship to national party platforms
were put to the test. The principal
fight, which attracted more attention
throughout the country than any sim
liar contest in this generation and
which almost approached a presiden
tial election in interest, was that OF
Jerome In New York, with the Hearst
effort to get into the mayoralty upon q
semi Socialist platform scarcely sec
ond.
In Massachusetts the leading issue
has been tariff revision, though "cor
poration influence" in legislation ha:
been a prominent charge banded by
the candidates.
In Rhode Island constitutional re
form. and popular versus corporate rule
were the issues. The Democratic can
didate for Governor was DR.. Garvin
former Governor, and the Republican
nominee was Governor Utter, who IA
vored conservative organic changes.
In Ohio Governor Herrick was op
posed by John NJ. Pattison, and eacl
appealed to the Independent voter
Boss Cox of Cincinnati has been al
issue in the campaign, but Taft ant
other influential Republicans advises
scratching.
That the Republicans would poll
much smaller vote than usual in Obi
had been known for several weeks, bu
the extent of the decrease is a sur
prise that will keep the politician
busy explaining for some time to come
Last year Ohio gave Roosevelt a plu
rality of 255,OOO. It's plurality for Nc
Kiniey in 1900 was about 10000 an
for Herrick two years ago 114,00(
This year this stronghold of Republican
ism was first placed in the doubtfr
column on the strength of early re
turns. The Democrats, however, wo
Pattison's election by good plurality
Tom Johnson has been reelected i
Cleveland. and in Cincinnati, the HON
of BOSS Cox, a Democratic mayor
| elected.
In Georgia and Virginia corporatio
/ control has been made the issue, Blu
the reciprocal charges have bee
vague and general. In Maryland man
Democrats opposed German
In Philadelphia the City party, r.
enforced by the Democratic organiz'
ton. fought the Durham ring and goV
crnnaent for and by hooters. In Clev'
land Mayor Johnson ran for anotils