The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1884-07-31
THE OVTEF ISSUE .

The friends of prohibition won de-
cided victory IN the recent Republican
state convention, but II they suppose
that ends cha contest for this campaign
they are making fatal mistake. The
struggle for the mastery is now transfer
red to the election of members of the
legislature and county attorneys. After
the election two years ago much sur
prise was expressed at the large num-
Der of anti prohibition or Democratic
county attorneys who had been elected.
This year the Republicans and prohibi-
tIonists will be more surprised than they
were then at the number Of re-submis-
the legislature, unless they are extreme
ly watchful. j
There are two points the Democrats
want to make in the present campaign.
These are TO elect enough Democrats to
defeat the election OF Republican sue
cessor to Senator Ingalls,. and TO take
the inltiAtorY steps for the resubmission
of the prohibition amendment. A gentle
man who has travelled extensively over
the state, and who has made close obser-
vAtions OF the political situation, told US
this week that 1t was really surprising
what an effort was being made quietly
to unite all the opposition in an effort to
defeat Republican nominations for the
legislature.
In conf rmation OF what we say we
quote from the LeSyenworth Standard,
one of the ablest and fairest Democratic
papers in the state: ~ ~
With Kansas IN the Republican pres
idential column, without reasonable
doubt, it Is the part of wisdom for the
people here to turn their attention TO
state affaiSs, and those affairs are very
important. The people are going to be
call ed upon to pass on prohibition. To
be sure the matter IL NOT directly before
them as to whether the constitution and
purged of the political heresy
that has grown into curse, yet there Is
an avowed prohibition ticket in the field
and there will be an avowed anti-prohib-
ition ticket against IL. This Is the chief
issue offered to the people, and party
lines cannot be drawn upon 1t. There
are Republicans aud Democrats for it,
and Republicans and Democrats
against it. The contest will probably
assume the form of whether the people
shall be allowed TO pass by their ballots
upon prohibition, or whether they shall
be deprived OF that privilege-In other
The difference between the vote that
John A. Martin receives and the vote
that Blaine and Logan receives in Kan
sas will constitute that portion of the
Republican party of this stale that
stands upon the Republican National
platform and not upon the aeto heresy
tchieh has been Incorporated into ne
Republican state platform.
The opportunity is q favorable one "a
eliminate that heresy from the politics
OF the state. IfJohn Martin Is beaten
We warrant that no future state Republi
can convention will indorse prohibi
ton.
OF course this means that an effort
will be made to beat the Republican
nominee for governor, but the Democrat
ic and anti prohibition leaders hardly
hope to accomplish this. They do hope
though, in the degree OF INSTRUMENTATION
which they expect to create among Re
publicans, to elect majority OF the leg
islature, and to get control o
at least large num
Der Of the county attorneys, who can d
such efficient work against the enforce
ment Of the prohibition law. The pro
hibitIonists made gallant fight to &c
recognition in the Republican platform
and succeeded by large majority, bu
because Of this success they must no
conclude their work Is done. Thst wa
= mere skirmish. The battle is to b
fought at the election. and if the Demo
Gratis can carry a majority OF the legii
lature, and elect the county attorney
they will efectuAlly spike the prohibl
ton gun.