The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-09-27
THE OHIO CANVASS.

From the time of the nomination of Gov
ernor Hayes for the presidency, down to
some four weeks ago, it seemed to be con-
coded, on all hands, that Ohio would elect
the republican state ticket, in October, by
reasonably large majority. AT about the
latter date, it began to be whispered around
that the result, in Ohio, was doubtful, that
there was great discomfort among the Ger
mans. and that while they were known to
be friendly to Governor Hayes aud almost
an unit for hard money and civil service
reform, they were wavering, and rather in
clined to vote the democratic ticket. The
tide seems 70 have turned again, and Ohio
is now considered Reasonably safe by the
republicans, while the democracy are fast
loosng all hopes of Gny success in that
quarter.
The situation in Ohio may afford a sea-
sonable Lesson to politicians, and one which
they cannot afford to disregard at any time,
especially in the year OF a presidential
election. If we understand civil service
reform, it is simply this, the selection of
non political officers without regard to pol
itics, and simply for their efficiency, capa-
city and integrity. For a states attorney,
for instance, we care not whether he is a
republican or democrat, in favor of, or op-
posed to, railroad taxation, if so be he will
make sn honest, capable, efficient prose-
cutting officer.
In n1A
things are equal, we would not think o.
selecting one particularly obnoxious to the
people upon some subject outside Of the
sphere of bis duties. If we were anxious
to have certain political party succeed.
and that success depended upon the elec
ton of a states st'orney, we would not St
lect man so obnoxious TO either railroa'
or anfi-rajlrond men, that he could not Sc
cure their vote. and, consequently, woulc
run the risk of defeat. In making
lection, or nomiDafion and having due
regard to This matter of availability, W,
should show our practical belief in civ,
service reform and, at the same time. ex.r.
else that ordinary prudence which ough
to characterize every man, whether he tie
politician or simply man OF business.
The republicans of Ohio, in making a
nomination for secretary of stae--the Of
fice that heads the ticket-bave disregard
ed this ordinary rule of prudence. Tn,
office is essentially non political one, bu
in presidential year, it assumes an extra
ordinary importance, as his election or de-
feat seems to indicate the success or defeat
of the party whose candidate he is; and
therefore, one Of the qualifications for the
Office is taken to he his politics No one
has any fault to find with the fact that po
litical nominations are made for this or any
other non political office-for we all prefer
to vote for man of our own political
faith; and, moreover, we have noticed
that it is extremely difficult to make men
believe that their party candidates. not the
beet in every respect.
If the office is non political, so it has
nothing to do with the enforcement of pro-
hibtory liquor laws, or Sunday laws. Not
withstanding this, the ultra temperance
men of the party insisted upon forcing up
on the ticket, as a candidate for secretary
OF state, one Of the most pronounced and
ultra temperance men of the state; pro-
nounced prohibltionist, one who has la
bored and contributed, in season and out
of season, in that direction q believer in
the most stringent kind of Sunday laws +;
and one who had made himself particularly
conspicuous in the temperance crusades for
which Ohio has been so notorious.
1t may be urged that this is no valid OBJ
lection to him as candidate for tecretary
of tate. This is true, but neither was IL a
sound reason for nominating him; and vet
his nomination was urged and forced on
that ground. The reason NaI not urged
publicly-but II was one Of those "stlIl
hunts" which are Often more effective
than m open canvass, But whether the
objection 10 valid or not, unfortunately the
Germans, who hold the balance of power
in Ohio, have regarded the nomination as