Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-08-10
GOVERNOR FOSTERS LATEST
DODGE.

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DODGE.
II Gov. Foster could hold the Democrats
to the issues raised in his opening speech
in the Ohio campaign, he would have them
at a manifest disadvantage. A majority Of
the people Of that State uphold Sunday OBJ
seryance, to the extent, at least, Of setting
that dav apart for rest and recreation, and
do not believe that saloon keepers should
have the privilege, wisely denied to other
men, to prosecute their business on Sunday.
Neither do the majority Of people in that
steady-going State believe that one of
the inaliensble rights OF the American
citizen, native or adopted, is the right to
get drunk on Sunday and make himself
public nuisance. But the trouble with the
Governors party is, or at least the domi-
naDt temperance element in il, that ii did
not propose 10 tax saloon keepers as q ques-
ton of revenue, or even Of wise restriction,
but as measure of practical prohibition.
The Governor is temperate temperance
man in talk rs he is understood 70 bein
practice; but the so-called Temperance
leaders in his State are about as intemper-
ate as the regular soskers whose supply OF
tipple they seek to cut off-Boston Herald.
The Herald Is usually more accurate
and comprehensive in its grasp Of pub-
lie matters than it sppears, by the above
comments, to be in its view Of the situa-
ton in Ohio.
The issue which Gov. FOSTER seeks
to make between the Republicans and
Democrats of Ohio on the temperance
question, is a strained and exaggerated
statement of a contest which does not
exist, except in his own imagination.
He has fabricated an incorporate
Temperate issue with the Democrats
which does not exist, in order TO dodge
the real temperance issue which does
exist.
If Governor FOSTER were pinned
down to answer as to his position upon
the real issue in Ohio, he would dodge,
as he always has done. But he fabri-
Gates an issue with the Democrats, as
the Herald expresses it, in favor of "up-
holding Sunday observance to the ex-
tent, at least, of setting that day apart
for rest and recreation, and does not be-
Iieve that saloon-keepers should have
the privilege, wisely denied to other
men, to prosecute their business on Sun
day, or that it is one OF the
inalienable rights of the American citi-
zen, native or adopted, to get drunk on
Sunday and make himself public nui-
sanee."
Upon this statement of the case the
Democrats of Ohio make no issue with
Governor FOSTER. The majority of the
people of Ohio, irrespective of politics,
are in favor of such restrictions as Gov.
FOSTER thus presents, and he was run
ming no risk whatever, as he well knew,
of alternating any party friends or party
votes by making such an issue.
The Herald mistakes the real issue
when it says: "But the trouble with
the Governors party is, or at least the
dominant temperance element in it,
that it does not propose to tax saloon
keepers as aquestiOn of revenue, or even
of wise restriction, but rs a measure of
practical prohibition
1ue LItTuLJt 5cClIlS W DC " d1C va
the fact that the Constitution Of Ohio
contains now, a prohibitory measure;
that it was put there, as alleged, by
Democratic votes and influence; that
the liquor traffic in Ohio is carried on
in open violation of this prohibitOry
clause; that it is practically dead let
ter solely and simply for the reason that
Republican Legislature refused to
make it effective by the supplementary
legislation contemplated by the con-
stitution; and that instead of en-
forcing this prohibitory clause, they
ignored it and undertook to license the
liquor traffic by the passage of what is
known as the POND bill, which the Su-
preme Court declared was in conflict
with the constitutional prohibition.
If the record of the Republican
party of Ohio shows anything, it proves
conclusivcly that upon the temperance
question it is not after prohibition hnt
.snoI revenue. 1t had prohibition with
in its power, but it preferred revenue.
1t attempted to ignore and violate the
organic law by legalizing the liquor
traffic for the sake of the revenue it
would bring.
Ifpractice, instead of preaching, be
taken as the test of the position of the
two parties in Ohio on the temperance
question, the Democratic record is more
ultra and far more consistent than that
of the Republicans, who are now claim
ing to be the champions of temperance
reform.