Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1881-05-13
1.-THE SITUATION"


Republican politicians are sorely
troubled just now in regard to the
coming election Of state officers
They recognize the fact that then
representatives in the legislature o.
last winter in attempting to play fast
and loose with the temperance men
and the liquor men, have forfeited
the respect and confidence of the
people. The members of the re-
publican legislature by disregarding
the petition, signed by more than
two hundred thousand people of the
state, asking that the question of an
amendment to the state constitution
be submitted to vote of the people,
have silenced the moral element
in the party from claiming il
to be the party Of religion and
morality. Notwithstanding the fact
that the legislature afterwards threw
sop to the temperance people, by
enacting the anti-treating law, it
failed to have the intended effect
upon the non-drinkers; but instead,
arrayed the liquor men III bitter hos
tility to the party.
The temperance people have called
a convention to meet in Madison at
an early day, when the leaders of
the movement will demand that the
party which hopes to receive their
support shall not hereafter spurn
their petitions.
On the other hand, the liquor
men declare that they are deter
mined to defeat the party which has
played false with them. Not only
did the legislature, which was almost
solidly republican, play a double part
with the temperance men and the
liquor men, but its by action upon
nearly every question of importance
which came before it, earned for
itself the well deserved title of being
the biggest fool legislature ever con
yened in the state, and in the next
election the party will be called upon
to answer for its sins.
***
A few of the leaders of the dem
ocratic party met in Milwaukee a
few weeks ago to devise ways and
means for bringing the party out
III darkness into light. Various
methods were suggested for reorgan-
izlng the party; and although no
definite plan was proposed or agreed
upon, the general feeling among
those present appeared to be that
the democracy should continue to
fight it out on the same old line if
it takes another quarter of cen
tury. 4 number of the unterrified
hooted the idea of disbanding or of
changing the name of the party, and
declared themselves in favor of run
q straight democratic ticket next
fall.
Unlike the republican party, the
record of the democratic party is
clear on the temperance question.
Although the latter has never
claimed to have monopoly on the
morality Of the country, it can point
with pride to good temperance men,
rs well as to good drinkers within its
ranks, and while it has done its
full share towards giving a moral
tone to the nation, it has by con-
sumption, done fully as much
toward helping the country raise a
large liquor revenue as the re-
publican party has done in the
same manner. Had it possessed
the power in the last legislature, it
would have passed law prohibiting
protested temperance men from
voting for liquor men when run on
the republican ticket, and prohibit
ing liquor dealers from selling to
total abstinence men" and COM
pelling the former to keep only one
door to their saloons; the party would
have placed itself squarely on the
question; and if the issues of govern
are to be decided upon the temper
ance question, it could proudly ap-
peal to the people to vindicate its
course.
Another cloud considerably larger
than a mans hand has appeared in
the political sky, and shrewd poll.
ticans verify believe that it has every
appearance of being tornado cloud
The new political organization, the
Farmers Alliance, is determined to
make its power felt in election:
hereafter, and threatens to uprooi
and destroy the evils of monopoly