Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1884-02-27
THE LIQUOR QUESTION IN OHIO.

CLEVELAND, Ohio, Feb. 19.-The
liquor question in Ohio politics and Ohio
law-making just now is source of end
less embarrassment in several directions.
The Democratic State platform of last
summer was built on the express agree
ment that an accession of the Democracy
to power meant an open declaration for a
license system and the immediate taking
of steps to secure such system. On that
understan ding the liquor interest gave
itself to the Democrats, and made their
triumph possible Naturally the saloon
men and brewers are now demanding
the wages they were promised. They
gave their day in the vineyard and ex
pect their penny. The Democratic ma
iority of the General Assembly would be
glad 10 pay the debt promptly, but can
hardly see their way to it, In the first
place license law cannot be passed
without change in the constitution.
which contains a clause declaring that
DO liquor licenses shall ever be granted
in Ohio. The repeal of the Scott law
and the substitution of nothing in it's
place would suit the saloon men, and it
would be free liquor in fact as in name.
| But they dare not take this bold step. It
| would mass against them not only the
entire prohibition and temperance power
of the State, but would call severe oppo.
sition from thousands who care little for
the temperance regulation of the Scott
! law, but who care a great deal for the
reduction it causes in their taxes. AnOth-
err difficulty in this direction lies in the
| e, Al Of - 4
Assembly, although Democrats, repsesent
counties in which the temperance ele
ment is very strong, and in some of
which it has coutrol. For these gentle
men to 90 over to free liquor, would be
expeditions method of political suicide.
The result is that the Legislature is in a
delempa, and the very evident impa-
tience of the liquor men for some sort of
aid adds to the embarrassment of the
situation-especially as the spring cleo,
tons are approaching. and presidential
year" looms up just beyond.
Meanwhile another cause of irritation
is being skillfully prepared. The Ohio
woman's Christian Temperance Union,
which contains 500 local organizations,
| and has a membership of over 10000,
| was the power that obtained the petit n
fer the late prohibitory amendment and
its submission by the last Legislature.
This organization now takes the ground
that the amendment had clear majority
in the ballot-boxes and was beaten il
the count Rather than take the uncer
tain and unsatisfactory method of redress
to be found in contest, the Union has
determined to ask for resubmission in
the fall election of 1885, the earliest
date on which such vote can be consti.
tutionally bad. Petitions are being
circulated al over the State. The
present plan of the women is to present
TIE request for a resubmission 70 the
Legislature during its present session.
Nothing will be done with it. The
work of securing names will still go on,
and during the second session CT next
winter a general and persistant raid OF
Columbus will be made The Legislature
will find itself hemmed in on both sides.
The liquor men ask for legislation in
their aid, while the temperance people
demand action in their direction. The
lot of a Democratic lawmaker just now
cannot, therefore, be looked upon as an
altogether happy one.