Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1885-07-23
From the Enquirer.l
THE DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.
The Views of Honorable W. ID. Hill.
Some Things that He Favors More
Than others.

1t seems to be foregone conclusion
that the old ticket, from the Governor
to the bottom, will be renominated at
the Democratic State Convention, with
possibly one or two exceptions, and as
the campaign will be short one, more
than ordinary care should be taken
with the platform. The hasty manner
in which party platforms are made, or
rather thrown together in Ohio by all
parties, it is wonder that there are not
more blunders, shams and absurdities
in them than there are. A committee,
composed of one from each of the Con-
gressional districts of Ohio, twenty-one
in all, many of them strangers to each
other, meet after the convention takes
a noon recess, and i'm three or four hours
are expected to prepare platform COW
ering all the live issues before the peo-
pie, and to be so perfectly prepared as
to withstand all criticisms and assaults.
This is the manner in which the Spring
field platform was drawn.
For the purpose of eliciting discussion
and bringing out the views and thoughts
of the leading Democrats of Ohio on the
platform the Enquirer has addressed
letters to large number of prominent
Democrats throughout the State, ask
ing them to express themselves as to the
platform. General A. J. Warner, Gen
eral Durbin Ward and others have been
heard from, expressing willingness to
do so. The following suggestions are
from Congressman w. ID. Hill:
DEFIANCE, Ohio, July Is, 1885.
Ihave given the subject of the State
platform but little thought. l think
we should demand of the next Legisla-
ture some well-devised plan by which a
well-regulated license law can be Sc
cured. Think that is the best way to
settle the liquor question in Ohio.
The State Administration of Governor
Hoadly ought to be indorsed. The last
Legislature did good many good
things. That Legislature ought to be
commended for that, and it ought to be
condemned for not promptly repeating
the unconstitutional Scott law, as the
Democrats implicitly promised to do in
the State campaign two years ago. 1t
would have saved all this litigation
about getting the money back; saved
the Germans who were formerly Re-
publicans last year, and would have
ended the Presidential fight in October.
I believe it is the sense of the Ohio
Democrats that the Republican office
holders ought to be turned out and good,
competent Democrats turned in.
The charges were filed at Chicago
when Cleveland and Hendricks were
nominated, and the people of the United
States sustained the charges by their
verdict in November. The Civil Service
law and the bungling way it is managed
by an incompetent Commission ought
to be condemned, and. Ohio members
of Congress who voted against it ought
to be commended, and Ohio's present
Representatives in Congress ought to
be requested to vote for its repeal. The
appointing power ought to be placed
where the Constitution places it, in the
President and the heads of the depart
ments, and then they should be held
responsible for the abuse of it. Assess
ments for political corruption funds
ought to be prohibited, and voluntary
contributions ought to be literally made
and gratefully received. The President
and his Cabinet should be held respon-
sible for what they do, and not for what
Civil Service fraud will not permit
them to do.
The President. and his Cabinet should
be warmly indorsed for the vigorous
manner in which they are cutting down
expenses in the departments, and for
discharging useless clerks and super
numeraries. They are carrying out the
pledges of the party for retrenchment
and reform, and they ought to be en-
-cOuraged in it. We should express con-
fidence In the President for his laudable
efforts to give the country pure, hon
est Government. / don't believe it
would do any harm. to politely request
him to give all good Democrats a chance
to help him administer the Govern
ment. They are more liable to be true
to him than thousands of Republican
office-holders who slandered him last
fall, and gave their money freely to
beat him. The present Commissioner
of Pensions, General Black, ought to be
thanked for his efficient and vigorous
management of the Pension Bureau in
the interest of the disabled soldiers.
The Internal Revenue taxes on chew
ing and smoking Tobacco ought to be
abolished with proper rebate. 1t
should remain on whisky and cigars.
We should resolve to nominate good
ticket and carry the State, whether we
get Federal offices or not. If we can't
get all we want from Washington, let
US hold all we have in Ohio and wait
for the good time coming with the same
patience that we have waited for twen-
ty-five years. In other words, our
Democracy and patriotism can be as
we'll shown without Federal patronage
as with it. But it is not pleasant to win
victories and see the other fellows enjoy
the fruits of them. And we ought to
say so. Yours truly,
w. d. HILL.