New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-04-11
THE REsPOHSIBILITY OF THREE SEM
TORS

The Republicans in the Senate yesterday
postponed action upon the High-License bill
until tomorrow in order to allow doubtful Sen
ators further time for consideration. We trust
that they will use the interval to such good ad-
vantage that the bill will have votes to spare
Senator Van Colt is no longer counted among
It's opponents in it's present shape, and If even
but one of the five Republicans who are now
counted as standing out on the amount OF the
beer license fee should decide to yield to the
Indictment of threc-fouIths of the party men,
bership in the Senate, the bill can 60 to the
Governor
The five Senators now classed as doubtful or
opposed to the bill in its present shape are
Messrs. Coggcshall, Laughln, Russell, Sweet
and Worth. There is no hope apparently, OF
Senators Worth and Laughlin, whose obliga-
tons to the liquor-dealers of Brooklyn and
Buffalo, respectively, are too great, probably
TO leave them really free. 1t is unfortunate
that the Republican party should be embar-
rassed and hampered in its course because such
men are able, at times, to secure legislative
nominations but we must expect that some
black sheep will get into the Republican ranks.
OF the three remaining Senators, from one OF
whom the vote must come that is TO pass the
bill, Senator Sweet stands in position OF pc
cular responsibility. He represents rural
district in which the temperance sentiment Is
undoubtedly strong, as it is in all rural COM
munities In the four counties composing his
district, Cayuga, Seneca, Tioga and Tompklns'
more than 1000 votes were cast at the last
election for the Prohibition ticket. Does SEN
ator Sweet think he can bring these votes back
to the Republican party by voting against a
bill because it requires saloon-keepers to pay
at least the enormous sum of so week for the
privilege of selling beer? The figures we
printed yesterday showed that the sum liked
for beer licenses is not excessive, although 4
contrary impression has been carefully spread
abroad by the hquor-dealers and their friends.
We shall not believe, unless Senator sweet
himself forces us to do so, that he is one OF
those timid politicians who can see nothing IN
this question but its possible effect on the
LIQUOR dealers. This is poor craftsmanship and
poorer politics The passage Of High-License
law in Pennsylvania, which is far more strln-
gent than the bill pending at Albany, was fol-
lowed at the next election by the largest Re
publican majority, with one exception In fifteen
years, and the practical disappearance OF the
Prohibition party. hero arc poiiVlcdi ch"n0O' III
this State just as good, which Senators Sweet
Russell and Coggeshall will deprive the Repub-
Hcan party of if they vote against this bill.
| Do they want to take that responsibility Ii
we cannot look for help in solving this liquor
problem to the representative of such an intel
| igcnt. educated, moral constituency as that
which Senator Sweet in particular stands for
| "a constituency embodying the best clements
! in American civilzation-wheIe are we to
turn? The same thing ought to be true of the
other two Senators named. Are the citizens OF
the Albany and Utica districts who elected
these gentlemen willing to see their votes cast
against temperance and good order?
| Have the men who fight against the beer
license fee thought this matter out? Suppose
the bill becomes a law. What will be the re-
suit? Agitation will cease. The law will be
given several years trial There will be a
period of tranquility. If the bill is defeated
what then? The agitation will be renewed as
soon as the campaign begins. Candidates Will
stand or fall by their records on this question.
The result will probably be sitter High
License bill next winter than this one. This
is the secret Of the brewers willingness that
this bill should pass.