Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-08-07
sRIFTING ON THE LIQTOR CUES
TION IN OHIO.

Ohio, or the liquor question.
THIS change has been working since
the result of the election in Iowa.
CHARLIE FOSTER and other shrewd
politicians have been studying that re-
suit and think they have got an inkling
of a tidal wave.
FOSTER has "flopped." At last he
has defined himself on the liquor ques-
ton. He has carried liquor on one
shoulder and cold water on the other
through series of campaigns, but now
the foxy Governor has come to the con-
clusiOn that it is polite to throw the
whisky over his shoulder instead Of
down his throat, and to lead the Repub-
Iican hosts in the next campaign on q
straight-out temperance platform.
By so doing they hope to make q
kind of politieo-temperance campaign,
which will hold the bulk Of the Repub-
Hcan vote and draw from the Demo-
Gratis more than they lose Of the Repub-
licans.
We say that the result of the vote in
Iowa is, doubtless, largely the basis Of
the increased courage shown by the Re
publidans in Ohio, as it is the stimulus
for prohibition campaigns in other
States.
And we do not deny that an analysis
of the vote Of Iowa furnishes good
ground for the belief that temperance
boom is abroad in the land.
When it is remembered that Iowa
has large fOreign-born element, which
is generally assumed to be hostile to
sumptuary legislation, the large majority
for prohibition in Iowa, is very signifi-
cant fact. Thirty per cent. Of the roting
population Of EoIrd is 5OreigR-6Orn; and
One-third of the foreigners are from
Germany, and the Germans are relied
upon to cling with tenacity to the Gus
toms Of the atherland.
This is an important fact, which has
not escaped the attention of the poll
tician and the students Of social science.
They are studying it, We say, over in
Ohio.
Moreover, there is no reason to be-
lieve that the vote in Iowa was all
drawn from one political party. The
total vote on the measure was PSI, lib,
of which l55, 1876 was in favor of prOhi-
bitiOn, and the majority in favor was
2O9,753.
This large aggregate vote shows not
only the earnest and engrOssing interest
in the question, but that it pervades all
parties alike. The total vote was greater
by 5000 than at the last general cleo
ton for State officers. At the last Presi-
dental election the vote for GARFIELD
was lSS,9O4; HANCOCK, lO5,S43;
WEAVER, S2,327. Thus it will be seen
that good many Republicans must
have voted against it, and good many
Democrats for it, there being 1851
votes recorded against it, whereas HAN
COCK only polled lO5.S45 votes, or, in
round numbers, there are 10000 votes
more than were polled in 1880 for the
Democratic candidate for President, and
when the aggregate vote for the amend
ment was Il, 900 less than that east at
Presidential election of 1880.
1t would be interesting to know, il
we could find out, what the nationality
is of those who cast the 1857 votes in
Iowa against the constitutional prohi-
bition. The conclusion is that very
large proportion of the foreign-born
population voted no.
But will the result be similar in Ohio?
Can the German element, or any con-
siderable part of it, in Ohio, be relied
upon to vote with the advocates of pro-
hibition?
We have not the statistics ut hand,
but we suspect that the money invested
in the liquor business in Ohio is much
larger than in Iowa. In the matter Of
beer it Is unquestionably so. Six hun
dred and ninety million glasses of beer
were brewed in Ohio last year, accord
ing to the figures of leading brewer.
This amounts to two hundred and
twenty-five glasses to every citizen. The
capital invested in this business is thirty
million dollars. 1t is estimated that the
capital invested is returned as profits
every three years. From these figures
the immensely of the business is realized
ana the power of the brewer in Ohio is
felt.
Foster may be polite in his latest
flop" on this question. We do not
doubt that, at least, he and his party had
better stand for one thing or the other.
But since he has taken the prohibition
horn f:the dilemma it may be noted
that some heads as long as his and
equally well posted in the politics of
Ohio, don't regard it as the winning
ticket. In an interview, the other day,
Senator Thurman said, when asked
what the principal issue of the Ohio
campaign would be:
1.-THE temperance issue mainly. OF
this question the Democrats have taken
a broad and liberal view. While deplOr-
ing the curse Of intemperance as much
rs anybody, they are of opinion that re-
strictiye laws such as the temperance
fanatics advocate would only increase
the evil instead of remedying it, The
Republicans, on the other hand, are
fayoring this temperance element.
think IL will prove disastrous to them.
AT any rate, they will lose the German
vote, for the Germans, while not addlc-
ted as rule to the consumption OF al
coholic liquor, are opposed In principle
10 any restriction in their sale. iaey
will therefore probably vote with the
Democrats"