Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-08-14
From New York Times, IIth.1
Free Whiskey in Ohio.

Ercc WuISkcy III O0lOs
1t is just as we'll, perhaps. that the whis-
key-sellers of Ohio, should force into pol
tics the liquor question. The democratic
party managers. while conscious that the
dram-shops should be with them, have
been afraid to declare boldly in favor OF
'.free rum" The republicans by the pas
sage of the Scott tax law and the submission
to the people of two amendments to the
Constitution concerning prohibition and
the regulation Of the liquor traffic, have
provided law which taxes the liquor
traffic for the benefit of the State treasury.
While matters are thus in allegiance, wait
ing tor the verdict Of the people. to be
brought out at the polls at the next cleo
ton, the Ohio Liquor dealers Protective
Association frankly pronounces in favor of
the democratic party. The democrats
have coquetted with the whiskey-sellers,
but have been disposed to deprecate any
open alliance. They were not prepared
to have the banner Of Free Rum" borne
in front of their army. The liquor-dealers.
not having much practical politics" to
serve them, stand on no such tribes. They
have agreed to 60 into the democratic par
ty. Perhaps they are already there.
Lest there might be some uncertainty as
to the attitude of the whisky-sellers. their
chairman who presided over the conven-
ton. yesterday. said that their hopes
rested with the democracy and their sue
cess depended on the defeat of the repub-
lican party. The vision of the speaker
reached beyond the local issue now pre-
sented in Ohio, He de clared that demo
cratic governor OF Ohio in 1888 meant a
democratic president in 1884" The work
and duty of liquor dealers. accordingly.
was plain. The platform of the whisky
men. however. is sufficiently explicit. 1t
denounces the Scott law. taxing beer and
liquor dealers, as unjust, pernicious, I'M
warrantable, and tyrannical. and it de-
clares that, in consequence OF the action
of the republican party in relation to this
measure. "the association [of liquor-deal
ers should act with the democracy po-
litically in the coming campaign" OF
course, the liquor dealers are opposed to
having the people vote on constitutional
amendments concerning prohibition and
the regulation of the liquor traffic by the
Legislature, They complain that the de-
cision of questions like these by the peo-
pie at the polls will exclude great and
vital questions Of government that should
be determined at the ballot-box." The
Whiskey men are deeply concerned about
the great problems of government.
The issue then is pretty clearly drawn,
so far as free rum" is concerned. The
republican legislature of Ohio enacted
law taxing the vendors of beer and whis
key under the operation of which money is
poured into the treasury without increas-
ing the burdens OF the general taxpayer.
1t has been asked that the people may de-
termine at the polls whether there shall
be added to the State constitution an alb
solutely prohibitory clause, and whether
all control OF the liquor traffic shall be
vested in the Legislature. If its action
signifies anything, it means that the re-
publican party in Ohio favors the regula-
ton of the liquor traffic-nothing more
The whiskey- dealers. however, are not
willing that the traffic shall be regulated
or curtailed in any manner. If the Ohio
democrats are ready to cast in their fortunes
with the liquor-dealers. (and it is evident
that they must,) the campaign is to be
conducted on these lines from this time
forth. 1t Is too late IN the history of tenn
perance legislation to declare that traffic
in intoxicating drinks shall not be taxed.
There was large and imperative demand
that the people should have an opportuni-
ty for declaring at the polls whether the
constitution shall prohibit dram selling.
The republican party of Ohio has listened
to this popular demand. In sitting the
petition. the democrats and the rum-sellers
are at last openly and formerly united.
Which shall