The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-10-13
OCTOBER ELECTIONS.

OCTOBER ELECTIONS.
Few mere state elections in tins country
at which the issues were claimed to b
purely local, ever excited wider lnteres
than the recent state elections in Ohio an
Iowa. In Ohio the claim is that the ques
tons really involved related wholly to tn
subject of temperance and the liquor trat
iic. In that state, 1t will be remembered
the constitution, adopted some years ago
forbade the granting Of licenses to sell in
toxcating liquors of any kind, the fran
ers OF it supposing that thereby the entire
retail trade in liquor would be banished
from the state, The outcome, however
was, that the inhibition was never cnforc-
ed, and Ohio became the only really free
whisky state in the Union. Then the leg
islaturc passed law levying from $500 to
$500 bonus on each saloon keeper, and
this law the supreme court of the state de-
clared null and void, as equivalent to a
license law. Then what was known us the
"Scolt law" was passed. levyIng tax" of
$500 to $500 on each saloon keeper, and
this law the supreme court sustained. This
legislation was followed last winter by
submitting two constitutional amendments
to the people on the subject Of liquor. The
one known as the second amendment"
empowers the legislature ''to regulate the
traffic In intoxicating liquors." while the
third amendment" proposed by the pro-
hlbitlonists, forever prohibits "the manu-
tacture and sale OF intoxicating liquors"
within the state
In Iowa, also, there was a prohlbitory
constitutional amendment submitted to the
people, which the republicans generally
supported and the democrats opposed, and
there too, it's therefore claimed, the liquor
question, rather than general politics, con.
trolled the result
But both the conduct of the canvass and
the outcome in those states shows that the
essential issues voted upon were not local,
and that the wide outside interest on the
ground of the elections involving general
politics and national issues, was justified
Both in Ohio and Iowa the questions pre-
sentcd by the nominating conventions were
national, not local, and during the canvass
the speakers discussed not temperance or
local questions, but general politics and
national issues. The tariff question espec.
tally, was made prominent in the discus
sions IN both states, and while the demo
Gratis universally arraigned the shortcom-
'ngs and corruptions of the party in power
The republicans defended the party.
Then the vote in OHIO shows that the
lecision was on general politics and not
on the liquor question, for while the Demo
cratic Ticket with Judge Hoadley at the
head as candidate tor Governor, is elected
by uniform majority of from 10000 to
1000, and the legislature elected is decs.
lively democratic, the second amendment"
S adopted by apparently nearly as large a
majority, showing that party lines were
lot drawn on that question, both demo.
'rats and republicans IN the cities voting
argely against the amendment, while
throughout the country both parties large
y voted tor it. The outcome in Ohio Is !
therefore fairly and justly regarded as u
pointer" showing what may be expected |
If Ohio in the great presidential contest
If 1884
In Iowa the outcome is equally 10 be
accepted as indicating the political situa-
ION on general politics. The state nam
ans its place in the republican ranks, by
reduced, but yet sufficiently decisive ma.
ority, variously figured at from ID 600 to
Ii, 900. X. b. Sherman is elected governor
'vcr l.. G. Kinnic. The balance of the
epubIcan state ticket IS elected. and the
'arty has a handsome majority IN both
branches of the Legislature.
AS further indication that the tidal
wave" Of last year In favor of the demo.
rats Is not going backward, it may be
that at the city election in New.
rk, N. j., on Tuesday, where general
'olitcs were made the sole issue, the demo.
rats elected Joseph +. Ialnes mayor by
35 majority over Henry Lang, republican,
Tho was elected by 900 majority year
G., ~, LII Z. sd cl-nl, ai.s,.t.I