Northern Ohio journal. [volume] (Painesville, Ohio) 1872-1896, 1873-10-11
THE SITUATION.

SHA
Generally it Is considered that what is
called the ''off year" in politics, is one
great national issues. a comparatively
small vote of all parties is to be expect
ed. The present campaign has, how
ever, developed so much of local inter
est in Lake county, that it is quite prob
able the rule will not hold true here,
and that a full vote will be polled. With
no less than five candidates before the
people-four of them the nominees of
regular Conventions, and one an inde-
pendent candidate-there is every pros
pect that the field has been too thorough
ly worked to allow very large percent
age of absent voters. Thus far the can
vass has been carried on with an unac-
customed activity by all the parties and
candidates. Although with Ii tile or no
hopes of ultimate SUCCESS, the PrOhi5i-
tionists haye nevertheless preserved
their organization, put full ticket in
the field, and are using every exertion
to bring their entire strength to the
polls, without allowing any to be drawn
aside through promises held oat by
others whose views are less pronounced
than their own, upon the subject which
forms the basis OF their platform. Ex-
cept for the presence of three Republi-
can candidates, the Democrats would be
laboring in an equally hopeless cause.
But encouraged by what they look upon
as split in the ranks of their only real
opponents, there is every probability
that they will cast solid vote
| for their ticket in the hope of
profiting by outside dissensions
which may sufficiently divide
the Republican vote to ensure them the
election. We doubt whether there is any
substantial ground for such belief, al
though the effect of its existence will
undoubtedly be to prevent as many
struggling votes as might otherwise be
counted upon. The principal interest,
however, as also the principal contest
self and that too, practically, over the
one office of Representative-for which
Mr.. Branch of this place, Mr.. Tryon OF
Willoughby and Mr.. Harmon of Kirt-
land are the three candidates. The
nomination of Mr.. Branch by the regu-
lar Republican Convention appears to
have Leen repugnant to at least por-
ton of the members of that party and
more particularly so to certain others
who, while outside of that organization,
yet felt that advantage might be taken
of that feeling to advance their own in.
terests. Against the ability of Mr.
Branch to fill the Office we have hear(
no word but have noted that the mair
objections centered around certain
grave charges concerning his privat'
and moral character. Admitting thes'
true there can be little question but tina
Mr.. Branch would be totally untitled t.
represent the people of this County. Blu
Mr.. Branch denies them, and although
espousing the cause of no particula
g candidate in the field, yet simple jus
tice requires the assertion that tn
charges have not as yet been substanti
ated by such tangible, incontrovertibl
proofs as ought to have been brough
! forward by Mr.. Branch's opponents an
!. could have been furnished had they dc
sired to place the question fairly upol
its merits before the people. The circu
lation of the reports, however, resulte
$ in the calling of what purported to be
t ''Farmer's and Workingmen's ConveI
: ton" and the nomination of Mr.. Tryo
of Willoughby as a candidate opposed
Mr.. Branch. AS we said at the tine c
the Convention its action in nOminatin
a candidate for but one office and tn
u endorsement of the entire remainin
Republican nominations showed
/ to have been rather the expression {
ls the personal opposition above referre
to, than legitimate outgrowth of til
new political Farmers Movement
And the subsequent management of til
campaign has proven this view correc
= OF Mr.. Tryon, we have heard but or
!. expression, and that of commentator
i so far as fitness and ability are cOncerl
u ed--but there seems to be feeling TIL
C. the prestige of a regular nomination
Is too great to give much chance for b
/ success. Urged by several of his frient
le and believing that the occasion demand
ie ed the man, Mr.. Harmon, subsequent
ie to all other announcements, publishs
IL an address in which he placed his nan
VI before the people, as an independel
Oh candidate and at the same time explain
n ed at length the reasons which induc'
e him to take the step. AS that addre
has been published i'm full
our columns, extended comme
ce here is unnecessary as probably all
Il our readers are fully aware of its co
CT tents. Mr.. Harmon is well known
nc our citizens and would have undoubte
~ ly received a large majority had
vi name been brought forward throu!
=" the regular machinery of party conve
~ tions. Whether his support will
equally large as an independent cane
date remains to be decided on Tuesd
next. So FAR as We are able to judge, [
no three candidates are equally compete
az and able to fill the Office with credit
themselves and their constituency a
les the result may therefore fairly be look
lat upon as an expression of personal p
ne ference.
.y WRITER'S AND WRITINGS.
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