New-York tribune., 1888-03-26
CALLING THE ROLL.

Incrc is ONLY one udHkCT III ohS ""S Va N''~
High License bill at Albany-that few he
publican members may become detached IRON
tho great body of the party. either by inc
threats of the salOon-keepers or more per-
suasiye arguments. The Republican press is
unanimous in support of the bill. The senti-
ment of the party is earnestly for it. The
ablest and shrewdest leaders are sincerely
anxious to see it pass. Unfortunately tho Re
publican majority in the Assembly is Of such
moderate figure that it Is in the power OF
few men to defeat, by detection. this comprc-
hensiye movement and overthrow the work OF
a twelvemonth. Such result would place
the Republican party in an unfortunate po-
sition. 1t could still appeal to the voters OF
the State as the only party In favor of High
License. and the only party through which
there was any hope that High License could DO
obtained and this question could be made
test in the next campaign by which all candl.
dates for legislative nominations should stand
or fall The fact would remain. however. that
the party had failed to carry through law to
which it's good faith was pledged, and while
we hope the voters Of the State would be in
tclligent and fair-m'nded enough to SEQ that
the failure was not due to any lack of sincerity
or earnestness in the great mass of the party.
but only because few of its members chose
to turn traitors, nevertheless the Republicans
would have to begin the Presidential campaign
with an explanatiOn-whi is a very bad be-
ginning indeed.
We hope and believe that no such situation
will arise But one thing may as well be
distinctly understood at the outset: That ii
any Republican member of the legislature sup
poses he can vote against the High License
bill at the cost only of temporary hnbbub,
which will die out in few days. he will find
himself grievously mistaken. II he decides
to vote against this bill he should be shrewd to
do It for other than political reasons. for there
will be no political future for him except III tho
Democratic party. Does ANYBODY suppose that
even the Sixth-ave liquor dealers can re-elect
Mr.. Morgan for example, if he persists in his
present coursep IF he should secure renomi-
ration. a revolt of the better class of citizens
would be almost inevitable. and Mr.. Morgan
would be obliged to withdraw. or the Republi-
cans would lose the district
careful examination of the list of Republi-
can Asscmblvmen shows that the following arc
considered almost certain to vote against tho
bill:
EDWARD GALLAGHER, of Erie.
BANKSON T. MORGAN, of New-Yorh
JOHN REITz, of Kings.
The following are classed as doubtful:
GEORGE BEATTY, 1r., Of Oneida.
T. FL. DAVIS, of Wayne.
EDWARD r. EMERY, of Erie
G. F. GOERSS OF Niagara
HENRY MABIE, OF Putnam.
NJ. A. SMITH, Of Sullivan.
If all of these members vote against the bill,
IL will be lost. If two of them vote for it, IL
will pass. There is little hope of the three
frst-named, bnt we cannot believe that all
those named in the doubtful list will VOC
against it. 1t is no credit to any of them. we
may as well say frankly, that their position
should be doubtful, after all that has been said
They should get out of such an equivocal po-
sition as promptly as possible. Those who do
finally range themselves with the Democrats on
this question may as well make up their minds
to stay there for we think we can promise them
that the Republican press of the State. includ-
ing THE TRIBUNE. will do its best to prevent
their ever receiving another Republican nonii-
nation.