Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1882-09-28
Are You Getting Ready?

The oyershadowing question in Ohio
this year is whether the brewers and
their followers shall rule the State or
whether the State shall rule the liquor
traffic. In other words, the question is
free beer and no Sunday on one side ard
taxation and Sunday closing on the 9th
er. There is no middle ground. There
is no fence for anybody to sit upon.
Whatever people may say or think, and
regardless of mental reservations, every
vote cast for Mr.. Newman for Secretary
of State will be counted on the side of
free beer and no Sunday. and every vote
cast for Mr.. Townsend will be counted
for taxation and Sunday closing. The
Legislature will SO resd the vote. 1t will
he construed as the expression of public
sentiment.
1t may be taken for granted that eve
ry brewer and every citizen vino can be
controlled by the brewers will vote for
Newman, and Democrats who follow
their party right or wrong, and who
seldom stop tO think, will vote the same,
and many of those without meaning it
will help to swell the vote that is to be
counted for free beer and no Sunday.
The brewers are fully ready. because the
pocket interest is always quick to move.
The brewers have also infused life into
the Democratic State Committee by a
contribution in cash of $4,000.
Are the supporters of the civil Sab
bath of the fathers and of taxing and
restraining a traffic that fills our aims
houses, our asylums, and jails ready, or
are they getting ready? 1t will not do
to sit down andNsay it is all right, and
rest upon the supposition that. because
an overwhelming majority of the people
of Ohio are in favor of taxation and Sun
day closing, they will vote accordingly.
1t will require votes to make it all right,
and these must not only be counted
around the fireside or in the counting
house or workshops, but they must be
cast. Good resolutions are well enough,
oct these alone will not swell the vote
for Townsend, and will not count in the
returns on the side of law and order.
If, therefore, the friends of law and
order would succeed they must be up and
doing. There should he earnest men
enough in every neighborhood to make
thorough CANVASS, to explain tho ques-
tions at issue, and to see that every vote
that can be found is placed in the ballot
box.
There is no easier or surer way to lose
an election than through default, and
those on the right side of question are
most likely TO neglect to 60 to the polls.
In this city, last spring, when the brew
ers carried the election by 1000 or 5000
majority, there were $4,000 votes not
polled, and three-fourths of these, had
they been cast, would have been against
the brewers. The latter were ready.
They are always ready upon days no
tice to strike for their pockets, while
those who are governed by principle or
public policy are slow to think, and
slower to act.
This should not be the case on the
10th of October. There has been time
for discussion, and the people ought
now to be ready, irrespective of party. to
60 to the polls fully armed with the
courage of their convictions, and vote
on the side of law and order. They
ought to be ready, furthermore, to work
from this time until the day of the elec
ton, as individuals, to secure full vote.
Citizens should not leave this matter
wholly to the press, or public speakers,
or committees. There is a great deal of
work that individuals can do better than
the press, or speakers, or committees,
and if the friends of law and order will
do this, there can be but one result-a
sweeping victory for Sunday closing
and against free trade in intoxicating
liquors. Cincinnati Gazette.