New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-06-12
THE OHIO CAMPAIGN.
DEMOCRATS IN A DILEMMA.

COLUMBUS. Ohio, June S.-The Democratic State
Committee, of which John G. Thompson is chair
man, is in session here to-day for the purpose of
fixing the time and place of holding State Con-
ventiOn and also of agreeing upon some policy for
the party to pursue in regard to the taxation OF the
liquor traffic and the Sunday-closing law. The
Democrats are in somewhat of dilemma rs to the
best course to pursue upon these subjects. They
were expecting that the Republican Convention
would take extreme ground on the temperance
question in its platform ard thus leave it for the
Democrats to take moderate stand and secure all
the German vote. As the Republicans do not
follow the Democratic practice of laundering at the
critical time. the Democrats are, of course, dIsap
pointed and are cropping about for safe ground
to stand upon. They dare not oppose the Sunday
closing law, for Thompson and his associates ac-
knowledge that four-fhs OF the voters of the State
sustain il. They have therefore concluded to
ignore this question in their platform, and to de-
clare in favor of taxing the liquor traffic through
the operation o. jIdciOus license law" while in
the same plank opposing sumptuary legislation"
1t is doubtful il Thompson and his followers can
prevent the Democratic Convention from declaring
against the Sunday law Ex-senator Jackson
one Of the Democratic leaders, said yes
terday that unless the Democratic Convention
takes such course as TO invite the German Re-
moro the Sunday question and declare in favor of
taxing the liquor traffic it will not satisfy the Ger
man Republicans who will stay with their party
while it will drive many respectable Democrats in
10 voting the Republican ticket IN order to sustain
the law for the proper observance of the Sabbath
day. On the question OF free whiskey and no
Sunday" the Democrats acknowledge defeat to be
certain while if they declare in favor Of restrict
ing the liquor traffic in any way and for the proper
observance of the Lords Day they can hope to
gain votes that ground as it is against all the
traditions of the party and its record in the General
Assembly of this State.
In the last Legislature the party opposed the Sun
day-coslng act and the principle of taxing the liquor
traffic. which principle they now propose to sustain
in their platform. When the Republicans passed
local option BILL the Democrats repealed it as soon
as they got in power. In like mar ner they re-
peacd the Civil Damages act and every other YES
ge OF temperance legislation; that it is too late
in the day to expect to satisfy even the most mode
rate advocates of law and order on open issue of
this kind. Several of the Roman Catholic priests
and good many moderate Democrats have assured
Mr.. Townsend the Secretary of State who heads
the Republican ticket, that they will support the
Republicans this year account of the Sunday
law.
The discontented German element want the Sun
day law repealed and they are opposed to any tax
alton by license otherwise of the liquor traffic.
II is not the German Sunday they want, because in
Germany the beer shops are not permitted to open
until after the hours of forenoon church service.
All this stir is created by few wealthy brewers.
They control two-thrds of all the liquor shops IN
the large cities of the State They have amassed
great wealth. and naturally desire to keep the shops
open. careful investigation in Cincinnati shows
that ono dry goods dealer daily newspaper Of
flee pays more taxes than all the brewers and liquor
shops In tho city. It is this injustice in
the imposition OF the tax burdens that
the taxpayers cry out against, and no
party can succeed in this State that will
sustain it, As the Democrats dare not do it, their
hone of victory from the accession Of this German
vote is not well founded.
Governor Foster says that the Republican Ger
man vote in the State is largely ovcrestimated. IL
is about al in Cincinnati. Cleveland and Toledo,
and he does not think the loss on account of the
Temperance agitation will reach over 10000. The
Germans in the country who vote the ticket well
~ many Of those in the cities, will not leave the
marty because of moderate temperance laws while
the agitation of this question will give strength to
the campaign by awakening interest in it. OF
course the Republicans do not expect that victory
will come without work, but they expect to work.
The Democrats are loudly proclaimIng that the
mild plank IN the platform Indorsng the admins
tration OF President Arthur will cost the Republi-
cans at least 5000 votes. Governor Foster aud
other prominent Republicans say that there is no
truth in such an assertion. The Governor says that
if there were any such lines as Stalwartlsm and
Anti-Stalwartism drawn in this State. as has been
the case in New-YOrk, that the Stalwarts would be
in a small minority but the question has not en-
tered into Ohio politica The President has made few
changes in Federal offices here and III all but two
of these instances he has consulted the members OF
Congress in regard TO the changes and II was not
deemed Wise 10 fetlSe blOderate appro'ai ol MS
Representative Smith, of Noble County, the
thor of the Sunday law passed by the Legislature,
SAYS that while he thinks the platform does not go
Tar enough yet all will 20 well and the party will
win, because il IL right. good many Republicans
think il would have been wiser to speak more
strongly or the Sunday question: which wo uld have
been more accord with the spirit OF the conven-
uOn. .u,
same time rs the state ticket in October, this lends
additional interest TO the contest. The Governor
thinks the Republicans are sure OF thirteen,
and probably seventeen OF the twenty
one members which this State is en-
titled To under the Reapportlonnent act.
The Democrats feel sure of live districts. The lst
and lid Districts in Hamilton County are looked
upon as some what doubtful because Oh the large
German vote there. In the lst District Benjamin
Butterworth Will probably be renOmlnated as no
candidate so far has appeared against hlm In the
I'D District Thomas l.. Young has strong competi-
tor in Amos smith, whO at 1Oungs lnst ga, ION, was
removed as Internal Revenue Collector to make
room tor d Stalvart in the person OF Judge IatTs
son Good judges say that Smith will be nominated
as he is much The strongest candidate. The liid or
DAYTON District, has been changed under the Redls-
trlcting bill of last winter Ii IS Republican DIS
trict Emanuel schultz is a candidate Tor renolnlna-
tion, and mas Il strong opponent in l.. Is. GunckeL
former Republican member of Congress The lNth
District is Democratic. Benjamin Leieyre, " no Will
probably be reelected, resides IN this district Inc
Yth District, which ~ very much changed Is
democratic The With District is also com
paratively new one, and Is regarded as close,
though it was Republican on last years vote tx
Congrrssman W d. Hill will be the Democratic can
didate The Republican choice lies between State
Senator j. ii. Brigham, a leading Granger OF r. III
4 IL a. lieury. and L.. \. Alex