The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-09-21
The Present Outlook in Ohio.

Although the election in Ohio is to como
of within few weeks the canvass thus far
has been without any animation In gem
cral sense and the dulness has only been
slightly relieved 10y joint discussion he
tween 3lu.,nlatc- for the senate. Mr.. WEST.
the Republican nominee for Governor, has
been stamping the State ON his own ac-
count. without producing much impression.
Mr.. BISHOP. the Democratic nominee, Is II
merchant. and makes no claim to be Il pop
ular speaker.
The only real activity thus far exhibited
Is 10y the promoters of the labor movement.
who. in the main. are not workingmcn. but
politicians. lawyers, doctors, and others,
who have taken advantage Of the dlsordcrcd
condition and apathy in both Of the old or
CARNATIONS. in order To build up Il new par
IT, the basis of which is to be the laboring
masses. if they can he detached from their
former political associations.
This new movement has embarrassed the
Republicans and the Democrats seriously
for it l. secretly organized upon the plan of
the Know Nothings which. though not cal
culatcd to recommend it To any lasting IA
vor among people accustomed to open and
manly controversy, may render 1t effective
and dangerous for present purpose. 1t Is
undoubtedly strong in the large cities and
in the mining and manufacturing districts
of Ohio In some scattered localities it may
be- able to elect members of the Legislature
directly. or candidates on the Democratic or
Republican side, pledged to the cause Of the
workingmen.
The numerical force Of this organization
cannot be we'll estimated because there is
no basis of calculation in the past. All fig
urcs must necessarily be speculative, espe-
cially "a the clubs are sworn to secrecy, and
all their meetings are held with closed
doors The leaders of course magnify their
numbers, rs an incentive for acccssions, and
as a means Of alarming the parties from
which they expect to draw recruits. But ii
is easy TO see, in closely balanced state
like Ohio. where less than one per cent. of
the aggregate vote would have given the
State to Mr.. rILDES. that only a few thoa-
sand drawn from the Republicans would
defeat thcm if the Democrats could hoi |
| their own.
The Prohhitionsts and the Grcenbackcrs
are also elements Of Distraction but to
| what extent cannot be assumed with
any confidence In this off year, when
a full vote cannot be called out 10y the most
urgent partisan appeals, or forced out by
threats Of political accommodation these
fractional factors will count up beyond their
intrinsic value, and may possibly become
important in determining the result. The
aspect of the canvass has greatly changed
since the regular parties put their cmdi-
dates forward; and now, when the test OF
their strength is near at hand, both are
confused from the Introduction of distract
ing clements. which neither can control.
Supcraddcd TO these causes OF internal
vcXaton, the Republicans have to confront
a schism in their own ranks, which Is not
identified with either OF the new organiza-
tions, and Processes t. act INDEPENDENTLY.
This opposition will not be manifested by
support of the Democratic ticket, but by re-
fusing TO 20 to the polls. The men compos-
ing it are radical Republicans, OF the stamp
Of those who reprobated the corruption IN
Congress by turning the State over to thcii
opponents in 1874, by staying away from
the ballot box.
To sum up. from the present indications II
may be said that the party which suffer-
most by the labor movement and tho other
organizations will surely bc defeated, an,
perhaps largely, by its chief adversary
Whichever Of the two has the better disci
Illuc, and can hold its followers. will win
The managers on both sides claim, witt
equal confluence, that their opponents vii
lose most by "a drain into the outside ranks
1t Is part ~ the business Of proir- ,iona
politicians to zoe sunguinc and boa-tful. A
This iuucturo their Assurances have littn
Valuo for thnV urp grnpinlr i'm the dark an.