BEGINNING with triumphs in the cities half a century ago, the Democratic party has now become the dominant political organization of Rhode Island. Today the Democrats usually control all state-wide elective offices. In the General Assembly, only the Senate is normally Republican, and then by the smallest of margins. Of great importance is the fact that the political trend in Rhode Island has been reflected (but by no means duplicated) in the other New England states. While less Democratic in presidential elections than Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut have increasingly turned from the Republican party. New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont have, in general, given an increasing percentage of the two-party vote in presidential elections to Democratic candidates since 1896. An explanation of the reasons for this long-term trend in Rhode Island may, therefore, throw light on the causes of similar tendencies in the other New England states. Like the rest of New England, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, as it is officially called, had a long tradition of Republicanism. Some idea of the magnitude of the change during the last generation can be gained from a glance at presidential elections. From the period of national party realignment following the era of good feeling until the Civil War, Rhode Island went Democratic only twice. These occasions were the elections of 1836 and 1852, when the state supported Van Buren and Pierce, respectively. In 1912 the voters gave Wilson a plurality of the vote. It was not until 1928 that the state again supported a Democratic presidential candidate. From 1928 through 1948 the Democrats have enjoyed, in general, increasing majorities. After the election of 1920, the Democrats-the second major