Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1884-09-25
A ADISGRACEFUL BARGAIN
Desperate Democrats EndeavOring to
Prostitute the Supreme Court
TO Political Ends.
The Scott Law to be Declared UncOn-
stitutiOnal.
The Taxpayers to Refund the Two
Millions Already Assessed
and Collected

COLUMBUS, O., Sept. 16-The Democra-
cy of this State are moving heaven and
earth, as it were, in order to carry Ohio
in October. They fully realize the fact
that if they are not successful then the
defeat of Cleveland in November is
fOrPgone conclusion. In their despera-
tion they are resorting to all manner of
schemes to assist them in their canvass.
They feel their support frsm the liquor
interest gradually slipping away and are
endeavoring to arrest it. This seems to
worry them more than anything else just
now. In order to devise ways and means
to circumyent the departure of their late
allies they have called in their sachems
and wise men for counsel Several meet
ings of this kind have been held here re
Gently. The subject is found to be one
on which the doctors disagree. The same
element of the party that demanded of
the Legislature last winter the repeal of
the Scott law is now pushing the Demo-
cratic State Committee TO accomplish by
other means what then proved failure.
This is nothing less than the Supreme
Court, which convenes on the 22d inst,
shall
DECLARE THE SCOTT LAW UNCONsTITC
TIONAL.
At the first meeting of the Democratic
committee and advisers, held at the
rooms of the committee at the Park Ho-
tel recently, the subject was discussed in
all its bearings. Gov. IIoadly and Chair
man Bargar opposed the scheme, but on
different grounds. The Governor was
afraid of the effect that it would have
in the rural districts; that it would cost
them more votes there than they could
hope to gain in the cities. Chairman
Bargar was opposed to it for the reason
that he did rot like the idea of prostitu-
ting the Supreme Court and using it as
machine to accomplish practical and par
tisan ends. The result of the conference
was disagreement. But this did not !
satisfy the movers of the project and an
other conference was called and held |
At the second meeting the pressure was |
put on and Gov. Hoadly and Chairman |
Bargar finally consented that the Supreme |
Court should be bulldozed into declaring |
the Scott law unconstitutional.
HOW THE DEFICIENCY WILL BE MADE UP. |
The Democratic Committee therefore |
stands pledged to the liquor interests |
that the Scott law shall he declared null |
and void that there shall be no straddliDg |
this time 1t stands pledged that the |
Supreme Court shall be prostituted for
political purposes. The committee will /
be careful, however, to play a double
game. 1t will preach one doctrine to its
friends in the cities and another to its
adherents in the rural districts. But
never before in the history of Ohio has
party gone 20 the court of last resort
and demanded a decision in accordance
with the dictates of a party caucus
Further than this, the Democratic Com
mittee pledges itself to the liquor inter
efts that the S2.O00,000 already assessed
and collected shall be refunded. In or
der to do this the tax duplicate will be
numbered to that extent and the taxpay-
ers will be required to go down into their
pockets for the money.
THE PLAN
is that the Supreme Court on reassem-
bling on the 22d inst. shall take up one
of the cases now pending and render
a decision at Ms early date as possible,
declaring the law unconstitutional. To
do this partisan work the court win have
to violate its long established rules at
the dictatiUn of political committee
and hurry Rough Under whip, and spur
a decision that ut lr. II should require
murh thought and research. The action
required by the Democratic State Com
mittee can be taken in ten days or two
weeks, and there is plenty of time to do
the work before the October election.
This is the plan, the edict. The only
question Is, will the Supreme Court sub
init to such die alton; will it suffer itself
to acquiesce in the behests of political