Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-07-23
Chairman Prohibition State Ex. Committee
ONO REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE Rooms, !
ia +. State St., opp. Govment Build'g, !
COLUMBUS. o. July 2l 1888

iAf Is Sat NJ opp. uOV meDt BullQ x,
COLUMBUS, o., July 81, 1885.
r. 5. Thompson, Esq, Chairman Prohibition state
Executive Committee, Springfield, Ohio
DEAR Sill have your letter, dated July
IS inst You say, al would take pleasure in
arranging with you for one or more joint de-
hates between Judge Foraker and the Rev.
Dr.. Leonard on the question at issue between
your parties and ours, viz: the taxation vs.
the prohibition of the liquor traffic. II this
is agr able to you, will be pl- red TO me Il
you pc -onally at you ca liest convenience to
complete arrangements for dates aud places"
As Chairman OF the Republcar State Ex.
ecutive Committee, | answer that in the first
place there is no such issue as you suggest
Many Republicans favor prohibition OF the
liquor traffic, while many are opposed to pro-
hibition. The party as such, is neither for
nor against; on the contrary, it regards that
question, and has so treated it, ss purely non
political, to be settled by the people irrespect-
i've of party affiliations.
1t has accordingly, by its platform declsra
ton, recognized the peoples right to so change
| the Constitution as they may see fit. But in
| asmuch as 1t is necessarily unknown when or
how the Constitution is to be changed, OF
| whether il is to be changed at all, and because
|
ton in the NEE nv lille, the Republican party
has declared in favor OF two things, both o.
which are prsr icsl and in i,s Judgment cal
culsted to promote the public welfare, viz.
The taxation OF the liquor traffic, and such
regulation of it es will most eifectually sup.
press and prevent the evils arising therelrom
This position Of the Republican party AIN
quire sure Judge Foraker will be ready at any
time or place to msintan. But inasmuch 2,
you do not invite discL ssion of any of the
issues so arising, but only Of an issue which
you seek TO make, should for that re. or
decline to enter lin your pro- osition.
| But there is another ree 'on why | camp,
| urder any circums' noes enter'liu a PROPOSE
| tion for a joint deb, te tetwcen Judge Foraker
and the Rev. Dr. Leonard, and that is this
| The Rev. DR.. Leonsrd he's declared in public
| speech that "the first step toward prohibition
is to kill the Republican party" thereby an
| neuncing that he is not much the head an 4
| chief reprc sentative OF third party, as he {.
| the open and avowed ally OF the Democratic
party. Consistently with this idea, he hf;
taken occosion, wi never opportunity has al
forded, to go further than to simply present
the claims of his own party, and to denounce
and defame the Republican patty.
In other words, the so called Prohibition
party Of Ohio has openly lcagued itse'f with
the Demo cratic party of Ohio for the purpos,
OF helping it "to kill the Republican party.
To have a discussion, therefore, between
Judge Foraker and the Rev. DR.. Leonard
would be to have the candidate OF one of tn,
great parties OF the State debating with tb,
NOMINEE Of whst is only an attempted diver.
sion in favor Of the other great party of the
State. If you will have the Democ attic party
promote the Rev. Dr. Leonard to the head OF
| its organization and thus make him the &C.
| knowledged lesder,as he is now the acknowl.
edged ally OF the Democratic party, Judge
Foraker will, am sure, be glad to discus.
| with him any or all Of the issues arising be,
tween the parties 90 respectively represented
Very respectfully yours, &C.,
A. S. BUSHNELL,
Chairman Republican State Executive Com
mittee.