THE lot of a U.S. Governor today, like that of Gilbert and Sullivan's policeman, is not a very happy one. Much of his former power has been usurped by the Federal Government. Prison riots or fiscal failures can tarnish his reputation. The Senate in recent elections has become the farm club of presidential succession, rather than the Governors' mansions, as in times past. Still, the job has compensations, and everywhere in the 18 states where gubernatorial campaigns are under way this fall the battles are vigorous. Some of the more interesting:
> DELAWARE. During the first two-thirds of his initial term as Governor of Delaware, everything was breaking right for Republican Russell W. Peterson, 56, a research chemist and former Du Pont executive whose sideline interest in politics had led him into a full-time career. Peterson revamped the state administration, successfully sought an open-housing law, liberalized abortion laws, and capped it all with a coastal zoning law last year that barred polluting industries from establishing waterside plants.
Then came the deluge. On the same day he signed the zoning act into law, Peterson had to admit that his fiscal planners had miscalculated state revenues; tax increases were necessary to overcome a huge deficit. Disputes arose over welfare, prison riots embarrassed the Governor, and Democrats receiving late income tax refunds charged that the delay happened because the state treasury was nearly bare. Ultimately Peterson was denied routine party approval for a second term and had to beat off a Wallace supporter.
In the general election Peterson is opposed by Sherman W. Tribbitt, 49, minority leader in the state house of representatives. The Governor's plight would be worse if the lackluster and malapropping Tribbitt were a better campaigner. As it is, the Democratic candidate leads narrowly.
> WEST VIRGINIA. They look a little Appalachian as they tramp the West Virginia hills: the gangling 6-ft. 6-in. man (who gulps three burgers and three Cokes at a sitting), his uncomfortable six-months-pregnant wife, and occasionally his little sister. But the man is John D. ("Jay") Rockefeller IV, 35, great-grandson of the Standard Oilman, Democratic nephew of New York's Republican Governor Nelson Rockefeller. Wife Sharon, 27, is the attractive daughter of Illinois Senator Charles Percy. Sister Alida Rockefeller recently graduated from Stanford.
To offset Jay Rockefeller's name, fame and wealth—his $1.5 million campaign fund is largely family money—Incumbent Republican Arch A. Moore Jr., 49 (who has a substantial fund himself), is getting personal appearance plugs from six G.O.P. Governors (excluding Nelson), Vice President Agnew and President Nixon. In addition, twelve Illinois Republican Congressmen recently visited West Virginia to diminish the Percy charisma.