The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-05
THE LESSON OF OHIO.
Gov. Foster Tells How the Republicans Were
Beaten by The Prohibition Question.

Beaten by The Prohibition Question.
Washington Special to Philadelphia Times.
II tremble for General Beaver and the Repub-
can party of Pennsylvania in the coming cam
paign,n said Ex-Governor Foster, of Ohio. to-
night
Republicans are confident of winning this
time"
II am glad to hear it, and sincerely hope they
will know Beaver and like him, but see by
the platform adopted last Wednesday that the
Republican party of Pennsylvania is going to
wrestle with the prohibition question. The Re-
publicans of Ohio tried it in 1882 and got wiped
out, but the fight had to come some time. For
aker, when candidate for Governor the first
time. was defeated through the organization of
the liquor interests in the State against prohibi-
ton. There was large and increased Prohibi-
ton vote, nine tenths of which came out of the
Republican party. The Democrats threw out
certain promises which drew the strength of the
liquor interests to them and they won. The
second time Foraker ran we won The Demo
Gratis had chance to fulfill their pre- mises to the
people. They failed to keep them, tine State
went back into the hands of the Republicans
and is likely to stay there"
What has become of prohibitionY"
ut is not party issue any more in Ohio.
On that issue now the Democrats would gain
nothing. The Republicans have tried to handle
the subject fairly The masses begin to see that
they are the chief sufferers from the growing
evils of intemperance. The statistics of the
State of Ohio show the enormous sum of $40, 600.
900 expended in one year on rum. OF that sum
not less than fifty millions were spent by people
who had not the money to spend in that way,
and therefore kept themselves in poverty aud
their families in restitution and want It was
also shown that the taxes of the people of tho
State were increased five millions OF dollars from
the direct consequences of Incorporate use of
alcoholic stimulants. The people must be edu-
Gated up to a knowledge of these facts. When
they understand the enormity OF the conse-
quences, direct and indirect, upoE themselves
and their families they stop to think"
1.-The contest of the liquor interest In 1882 was
formidable
"More SO than we ever had In Ohio politics
Every liquor-seler in the State contributed his
quota TO a campaign fund. This was rated accord
ing to his business. The aggregate ran into the
hundreds Of thousands. Every liquor saloon
from the Ohio to che lake was electioneering
post. The liquor men did not come out openly.
but the work done. Young men, forgetting
the lessons of the horrors Of drink taught them
at their mothers knees-old men, forsakng the
interests of their sons-voted, at the behests of
these men, with the Democratic party"
1.-THE prohibition vote is not as large in Penn
sylvania as in Ohio"
"That may be true. 1t is the Republican vote
carried over to the Democratic party by the in
huences mentioned which did the damage in
Ohio. The margin of majority is so large in
PENNSYLVANIA that the party has more room to
work in. And the people may the example
of Ohio, and profit by it, The main point is that
Wneud party ventures INTO CnlS prOnlDlLlOQ move
ment as a party, it assumes a certain factor
of uncertainty which may may not give it
trouble. The liquor interests do not conduct
campaigns with brass bands. After this cam
paign in Pennsylvania. the people will know
more about the subject as a factor in politics.
Public sentiment will then take shape, and party
leaders will be prepared to meet the ques-
ton in the interests of the party well of the
people. There is no question that public senti.
ment, properly educated, will not hesitate long
between unlicensed manufacture and sale of
liquor, and regulated control of the liquor traf-
fic bL; with all Difference to Colonel Quay's
shrewdness as politician. solcitude for the sue
cess of the Republican party and regard for the
welfare of the people of tae great commonwealth
| read his proposition with fear for the party"
1.-THE question must be met in Pennsylvania,
as in Ohio"
THAT Is so, and should be- It must come In
every State in this Union before many years.
but refer to the time of making the test We
tried it on Governors election. 1t crowded
on u.s. and we were sorely beaten, The result in
Pennsylvania. as in OHIO, will depend upon the
Prohibitonists. If the liquor interests organize,
their duty will be with the party that opposes
them, not by separate action. That beat US.
In Ohio to-day a large Democratic sentiment
favors prohibition; therefore, the vote now. as it
was formerly, is not all one-sided."