The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1884-09-03
Is Ohio Reliably Republican !

/
| the result of the October and November
! elections in Ohio is natural. Though
the electoral vote Of this state has been
given for the nominee of the Republican
| party since it came into existence, the
state elections have been a series of sur
prises since "Risc Up" William Allen
broke the monotony of Republican vic
tories in 1873. Once the spell was brok-
en-, success for the Democracy was not SO
hard to obtain. Since Allen went in by
less than 600 votes. the once magnifi-
ficcnt Republican majority Of 100.N 900 has
dwindled to pitifill few hundred, and
occasionally the state has gone from TO-
Mm to 25.Oh the other way. In ten
years the Democrats have elected three
governors. Allen. Bishop and Hoadly.
BY maioritics ranging from 1000 to 25.-
0OG. They have likewise captured all the
other Offices oc,.isionally with the cX
,"pt;on Of state auditor. which until last
fall had been controlled by the Repnbli-
ran party since before the war. Las,
year. this office. too. came into the pos
session of the Democracy on the tidal
wave. For the first time in twenty-five
years the Democrats have entire posses
sion of the state house, with q DemMra
tie supreme court, and the usc of all the
state machinery and patronage. This is
backed by legislature with a tw"-thirds
Democratic majority and United States
scn.tor. How, in the face Of all this.
astutc Republicans can consistently
claim Obi" rs Il sure state for Blaine is
one of the political problems that can
only be guessed at. If they suppose for
moment that such experienced political
managers as Gilbert II. Barger, chair
man of the state executive committee,
backed by men Of the wealth and inf1u-
ence of John X. Mclean, John W. Book
walter and Henry B. Payne. will not uss,
this power to advantage, they are greatly
mistaken. To a careful stndent Of Ohio
! politics it looks ridiculous They cannot
think otherwise than that
OHIO Is \ DOUBTFUL
and dangerous state. An element enters
the campaign here this fall that is not
generally understood. 1t is the old issue
the bugaboo, that has disturbed both
parties for the last two or three years
the liquor question. This year it pre-
sents itself in new garb. 1t has not
been discussed. and probably will not be
because the papers and the politicians do
not care to ;gitatc it, uncertain for whom
it may be loaded. When Saint Smith
sunday law was adopted by the Repub-
lican legislature, four years ago, there
was Il clamor Of dislpproval. This
moved the same body, on rcassembling
the next winter, to pass Representative
Scott's bill, taxing dealers in spirituous
. liquors 5000 yearly, and in malt and vim
ol,s liquors 500 annually. The law was
resisted. Test cases were brought in the
supreme court, which tribunal it was
generally charged had been packed by
GOV. Foster to find the law constitution
AL 1t did 50, the liquor question was
made prominent issue in the next
campaign. As the result of that cam
: paign, GOV. Hoadley was elected, with
| the entire state ticket, bv majority of
nearly $4,000. A Democratic legislature
| was also chosen. At the same time a
prohibition amendment submitted to
the people received so many votes that a
genuine scare was given the saloon ele-
ment
Another effort was made I" test the
legality of the Scott law before the sl-
preme court during the summer. On
account of a tcchnacality the main part
Of the law could not be considered, hut
the "landlorl clause providing for Il
lien on the premises in the event the
tax was not paid. was found nnconstitn'
tiolal
There are in this state 1900 saloon
knepcw. In Cincinnati and Hamilton
county there are over 1000. Eighteen
hundred of these men failed to pay the
tax. aS advised hv well known attorneys
who claim that it is unconstitutional
County Treasurer Miller. of this city
brought suits against these men in magi
strates' courts. Taking advantage %
every legal quibblc, every one Of then
demanded a jury trial. As the prejudice
on both sides is great, it was almost i'm
: possible to get juries, and even wheI
: fully stated it was difficult to dispose "
: more than one case per day. The case
, tried resulted in favor of the county
! Both sides. however, saw where it wa
leading to. and that the eases could no
be finished in years, rs each one wa
promptly appealed. An a'misticc wa
finally agreed upon on the following
: basis:
-Four suits are to be taken through tn
intermediate courts to the suDrem
court as test cases. and b. the decision Q
the latter the saloonkeepers will abide
: This lengthy history is given t" ex
plain
THE,pt,sITInN At PRESENT.
: The suits will be brought in few dav
Il i'm the Hamilton county common plea
court. and will be worked up to the 81
preme court as quickly as possible. Bu
the question cannot reach that body an
be decided until after the October elct
: ton. This is the programme rs under
+ stood by both plaintiffs and defendant.
u and it will BE- carried out I" the very le
u ter. Now, the saloonkecpers of Cincil
; natl aui the state have never balonge
: exclusively to one or the other part,
= They have been divided as men in otht
occupations have been divided. b,
they are now united on the matter