Fergus County Democrat., 1915-10-28

Eight states, New 1oTh, MdSSa
chusetts, Mary Land, New Jersey,
Pennsylvania Kentucky, Ohio, ana
mississippi will hold elections on
Tuesday, Nov. 2.
In four of these states, Massachu-
setts, Maryland, Kentucky and Mis-
sissippi governors are to be elected,
in six states, New York. Massaehu-
sets, Maryland, New Jersey, Ken
lucky and Mississippi the state legis-
latures, in whole or in part, are to be
elected, and in five states, New York,
Massachusetts, Maryland, Pennsyl-
vanai and Ohio, important constltu-
tional issues are to be deCted.
With few local exceptions, IN
fact, these constitutional questions
VIII be the dominant issues on cleo
ton day, including as they DO sucll
fundamental matters as woman SUI
frage, municipal home rule, proh'bl
ton, state income taxes, referendum
plans, and some lesser reforms.
The woman suffrage question VIII
come up for decision in New York.
PENNSYLVANIA and Massachusetts,
which states will furnish, in point OF
frage issue has ever had in the Uni
ted States. New Jersey. the first
state in the east to vote on equal
suffrage, defeated the proposition at
a special election given over exclu-
sively to the suffrage question on
Oct. 19. While it has been held ~
some political observers that the re-
suit Of the test in New Jersey would
lie reliably indicative Of what might
He expected in the three bigger
neighboring states, the suffrage lead
ers have not been discouraged by the
big majority with which the issue was
defeated- f11 New Jersey. and look ftr-
ward to the, bigger test with conf
dence
The importance of this test is indi-
Gated by the fact that, in point OF
population, the states Of New York.
Pennsylvania and Massachusetts.
which will vote on suffrage Nov. 2,
include over 2O,000,000 people-a fifth
Of the population OF the entire Uni
ted States-and these 20,o00,000 are
practically double the population Of
the states in which equal suffrage has
as yet been fully achieved.
New York State.
In New York state, in addition to
the suffrage issue, a dominant fea-
ture of the election will be the ques
tion OF adopting a new state consti-
tuition as revised by recent state
constitutional convention, presided
over by Elihu Root. The new consti
tuition, at the request OF the suffrage
leaders, has not been made to in
clude the suffrage amendment, hence
the constitution and the suffrage is
sue will be voted upon separately
neither question having anything tc
do directly with the fate Of the other
The features Of the revised consti
tuition are measures designed to give
the cities of the state greater latitude
in the management of municipal al
fairs, and coincidently to relieve the
legislature of a vast amount OF loca
matters; to make the governor q
more responsible individual by max
ing the numerous executive arms oil
the administration more directly re
sponsible to him, to reform the judic
iary so as to eliminate some OF the
red tape that is declared to handicai
the prompt execution of the laws
and among other provisions the shor
ballot and the budget system. two
important articles, relating to taxa
tion and reapportionment will be sub
mitted to the voters, separate from
the general constitution question
Two other separate amendment
would provide for $27000,000 bon'
issue to complete the Barge canal
and to permit the legislature to alte
the rate of interest on certain stat
olp 1xr II bnnUh th
republicans were in a majority in TIL
convention, they are not a unit il
supporting the new constitution no
are,xthe democrats standing solidl
against it.
n personnel, the New York electio
cA3ls for the choice OF a full assembl
oE450 members, eleven supreme cour
jFEfices and three congressman. a
WaN as county and city officials i
spIhe sections OF the state.
Aongressional successors are to b
ch0sen to Joseph A. Goulden, deEs
ctat of the Twenty district, an
Edwin A. Merritt jr., and Serene |
Payne, OF the Thirty-first and Thirt,
sixth, respeetiv 9ly, who d ed Will
serving in the last congress. I'll
candidates are: William S. Bennet
republican, and Ellsworth J. Heal.
democrat, both of New York, in til
'TWenty-third district; Bertrand
Shell of Potsdam, republican, Willial
Il. Allen, of Malone, democrat, an
Howard d. Hadley, of Plattsburg
progressive, in the Thirty-first di
tfict; and Norman S. Gould, Of Sc
ecG Falls, republican-progressi ar
Louis ]. LIGHT, of Geneva, democra
in the Thirty-sixth.
Massachusetts.
massachusetts, in addition to Il
suffrage amendment, will vote on Il
Proposition of giving the. legislata
authority to impose a tax on income
and similar authority for the takiI
oyer of land in country districts f
the purpose of establishing HON
steads for those who may wish to c
qape from the more congested qual
afs of the cities.
Al succecsor to Gov David l. Walls
democrat, is to be elected and t
candidates including Gov. Walsh, ar
Nelson B. Clark, progressive, Samu
N.fMcCall republican; William Sha
Ifohibition; Walter S. Hutchins, Sc
Hist, and Peter O'Rourke, social
l4bor.
IA lieutenant governor and vario
C2hay state officials together with