The Prohibition state convention met on June 26 at the Alhambra Rink in Syracuse, New York. Frank E. Baldwin, of Chemung County, was temporary chairman until the choice of W. Martin Jones as president.[1] The convention re-assembled on June 27. W. Martin Jones was nominated after the second ballot (first ballot: W. Jennings Demorest 398, Benson J. Lossing 389, Jones 249, Guy C. Humphreys 26; second ballot: Lossing 466, Jones 417, Demorest 178). George Powell for lieutenant governor; and Charles W. Stevens, of Steuben County, for the Court of Appeals, were nominated by acclamation.[2]
The Republican state convention met on August 28 at the Skating Rink in Saratoga Springs, New York. Benjamin F. Tracy was temporary chairman until the choice of Gen. George S. Batcheller[3] as president. Warner Miller was nominated for governor by acclamation. Stephen V. R. Cruger was nominated for lieutenant governor on the first ballot (vote: Cruger 409, John B. Weber 180, Cornelius R. Parsons 72, Norman M. Allen 32). William Rumsey was nominated for the Court of Appeals by acclamation.[4]
The Democratic state convention met on September 12 at Buffalo, New York. George Raines was temporary chairman until the choice of D. Cady Herrick as president. The incumbents, Governor David B. Hill, Lieutenant Governor Edward F. Jones and Judge John Clinton Gray,[5] were re-nominated by acclamation.[6]
The United Labor state convention met on September 20. The convention endorsed, with a vote of 124 to 103, the Republican candidate for governor, Warner Miller, because his party was "committed to ballot reform."[7] Then the convention voted 131 to 67 to nominate a separate ticket, and John H. Blakeney[8] was nominated for Lieutenant Governor and Lawrence J. McParlin for the Court of Appeals.[9]
The Socialist Labor state convention met on October 21 at the Labor Lyceum in New York City. J. Edward Hall was nominated for governor, Christian Pattberg, of Brooklyn for lieutenant governor, and Dr. Frank Gereau, of New York City for Judge of the Court of Appeals.[10]
^The ballot reform was a highly controversial issue at the time. The Ballot Reform Law was proposed by Republican Charles T. Saxton three times. It passed the State Legislature in 1888 and 1889 but was both times vetoed by Governor David B. Hill. It was finally enacted in 1890.
^John H. Blakeney, Secretary of the Typographical Union in Binghamton
^Dr. Francis Gerau, MD (ca. 1826-1896), of Brooklyn, President of the Labor Lyceum Association, ran also in 1890, 1893 and 1894; and for chief judge in 1892; see: TOO OLD FOR HER in NYT on September 11, 1886; DR. GERAU'S TRIALS in NYT on November 25, 1886; His funeral in NYT on February 24, 1896
^Lawrence Jermain McParlin (b. Nov. 14, 1848 Lockport), lawyer, ran also in 1881, 1886, 1893 and 1896; and for chief judge in 1882 and 1892
