The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1876-07-06

German vote. II is well 10 receive WIN
caution all the stories that are told about
the German vote, East or West, Briefly,
the fact are these: The Republican Leg
islature chosen in the fall Of 1872 passed
the following winter what was called the
Baxter bill, otter the author Of it, an Eng
lish Quaker and earnest temperance
agitator, now settled in Indiana. The
principle of the measure is what is known
elsewhere as local option, and the effect
oft seems to be to give drinking COM
munities an opportunity to get all the
liquor they want, and to prevent tempe
rance communities from getting any
thing to drink. This bill Governor Hen
dricks signed. He did so professedly in
obedience to the will Of the majority In
the Legislature and the will ofthe people.
His approval was merely a matter OF
form, as his veto could be over ridden by
simple majority vote. His own convlc-
tons were in favor Of a rigid license
system, and in the State Convention OF
1874, at which he presided he set forward
the Democratic doctrine on that subject
in clear argument, Public opinion
had SO far veered around in the mean
while the Legislature chosen that year
repealed the Baxter bill during the fol-
lowing winter, the Senate, which was
Republican voting with the Democratic
House. Thus Mr., Hendricks course on
the liquor question may be summed up
by saying that he concured in popular
temperance legislation, which he could
not prevent, and after fair test urged the
substitution of better system than the
Baxter law, ......
Governor Hendricks is probably a
more genuine Hard money man than
Hayes, and would perhaps differ from
him on financial policy only in his OPP
position to national banks and his will
iingness to substitute Government notes
for bank circulation. His action in go
ing into the Ohio canvass in 1875 in sup
port of Mr.. Allen was based upon the de-
sire for the success of the Democracy.
He deemed the triumph Of the party in
that State essential, and threw himself
into the canvass heartily holding that
financial issue was not the overshadowing
one. Thegreat thing to gain was victory,
no matter whether some of the men in
the same ranks agreed with him on all
fine points in politics or not.
On question of State policy Mr.. Hen
bricks has shown mastery knowledge;
but there is one matter upon which he
has ever been especially solicitous, name
ly, the school system of Indiana. AS a
member ofthe Constitution Convention
he was active in securing ample provision
for popular education and placing its sup
port beyond the vicissitudes of politics.
Impressed with the value of the work
then accomplished, he has since repeat
edly insisted upon the most anxious
over the growth and per-
fection of the system and relaxed in its
favor his Democratic prejudices towards
strict construction and economy.
Gov. Hendricks is man of medium
heigh and symetrical form. Heis erect,
active and vigorous. His face is manly
and handsome. The features are large
and expressive, and while there is a soft,
good humored expression in large blue
eye and in the mouth and dimpled chin,
the brow, forehead and full heavy jaw
show wisdom and resolution. His COM
olexion is forid and his hair and side
Whiskers are yet untouched with gray.
He looks like one who has lived happy |
ife, encountered no great sorrow, and
Yielded to no great vices. His dispo.
'ition is as sunny as his complexion, and |
n social life he Is great favorite. 10
he is affable and easy, to
lose friends warm and dlovable, to polite
Il partisans courteous, but cautious. He |
would rather conciliate an enemy than
oblige an ally. His habits are such that
he found IS, 900 year ample for his ex-
oenditures during his Senatorial term at
He has always trusted to
loing the work which he he had in hand |
we'll as as the highest recommendation
n the long run before the people, and |
he many honors which have come to
lin seem to have been conquered with
,ut great effort. His voice is a rather
hin tenor, and has nothing imposing it
IS tones, but is audible to great distance
yhen he speaks with earnestness. He
appears to the best advantage before
,rowd, for then he kindles with the ex-
,itement of the occasion. and an inter
upton or jest from some dissenting
auditor is all that is necessary to make
lin forget his habitual deliberative cast
If thought, and fling himself into. dash
ng and aggressive argument. One of
he features Of his career has been the
ong rivalry between him and Morton
rivalry in which the bitterness was all
IN one side. -
Mr.. Henricks is an Episcopalian inre-
igion. His wife is woman ofgreat cul.
ure and force of character-on formed
o be mans comrade in the path of
lonor rather than source oftemptation.
They have no children.