Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-07-04
THE OHIO LEGISLATURES,
It Is Not Certain That the Republicans VIII
Gain Control of 1t.

THE OHIO LEGISLATURES.
It is Not Certain That the Republicans Will
Gain Control of 1t.
THE ALLIANCE MOVEMENT LIKELY TO HELP THE
Observation-Disclosures FIGHT BETWEEN CITY
AND COUNTY MEMBERSHIPS CAMPAIGN Fon
CAMPBELL AND THE CINCINNATI ''ENoUIRER"
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
COLUMBUS, July 4.-For some reason it has
been commonly accepted that the new appor-
tionment for representation in the general as
sembly is sure to give legislature this fall
that will have decisive republican majority
on joint ballot, and this would. Of course, mean
that the successor of Senator Sherman is to be
a republican at least. On the basis OF the vote
for Ryan and Crowley for secretary of state
last fall the apportionment should give the
republicans majority on joint ballot Of 80
votes, but upon the basis of the vote for gov
ernor two years ago it will give a democratic
majority on joint ballot of % votes. These
estimates, of course. arc made with no regard
Tor the alliance influence, as the alliance did
not exist as significant political factor when
either Of the votes referred to were taken.
Thirteen counties that are set down as certain
10 elect republican representatives gave repub-
llcan majorities last fall of less than 500. ANY
one who knows anything about politics knows
that those margins are too close to rely upon.
Hamilton county. moreover, is not certain to
elect solid republican delegation to the legis-
lature, as is counted upon. In fact, it would
be surprising ii it did.
ALLIANCE LIKELY TO HELP THE DEMOCRATS.
1t is but fair to presume that the Farmers
Alliance will draw whatever support it gets
largely from the republicans, because the dis
contented farmers reason that the republican
party having been in power for the most of the
time in the last twenty five years is chiefly re-
sponsible for the present conditions of things
under which they believe the farmer is great
sufferer. They believe the tariff laws have
operated against them, and on this account
they are apt to array themselves against the
republican party, especially since Mckinley,
the author of the tariff law, is the leader of the
republican party in Ohio this year. II this
movement amounts to anything in Ohio in this
campaign it is very likely to result in the cleo
ton OF a democratic legislature and q demo-
cratic Senator to succeed Mr.. Sherman.
1t may be said against this that the vote for
secretary OF state last year is o much more re-
liable index of the political status of Ohio than
that for governor two years ago for the reason
that Foraker was unpopular and did not poll
the full party vote. Election returns will show
that Foraker was defeated in the large cities
and the counties referred to in the foregoing
as being republican by very slender majorities
are rural and in them the vote was a fair one
The Farmers Alliances in the counties are
for the most part obeying the decision and
order of the state alliance at its meeting here
last spring az to taking part In the political
| campaign.
As the fact becomes known that Col. A. T.
Harris. the republican candidate for lieutenant
governor, is q farmer only by proxy there is
some dissa tisfaction expressed, but he will not
be opposed by the farmers. As predicted in
these dispatches two months ago the work of
the alliance in the coming Ohio campaign will
be confined to the legislative and county cleo
tions. In some counties where the movement
is exceptionally strong the farmers have already
nominated complete independent tickets. The
plan of securing pledges from candidates for
the legislature Of the two great par ties that they
approve OF the state Farmers Alliance platform
and will labor if elected to carry out their de-
mands is being carried out now in counties
where no farmers ticket is being nominated
With this plan Of operation the farmers of the
state are likely to hold strong influence over
the legislation OF the next general assembly.
THE CITIES INDIGNANT.
Just now a storm of indignation is sweeping
over the large cities at the treatment of these
cities by the state decennlal board of eoualiza-
ton. That board is just completing the decen.
NAL appraisement OF real estate for taxation.
and that OF the cities was reserved to be acted
on last
The farmers have a majority in this board
and after securing a reduction on nearly ali
the farm land in the state of from to IS per
cent enormously increased that of city real es-
tate. Cincinnati and Cleveland was increased
20 per cent and Columbus and Toledo 10 per
cent, thus throwing the burden OF taxation in
greater degree upon the city property This
is all laid at the door Of the Farmers Alliance
and seems to foreshadow a conflict in the next
general assembly between city and county
members on matters concerning legislation
affecting them Int
rate 1t is creating intense feeling against the
alliances high-handed way of running things
when it has the power.
On the whole, there seems much more reason
to fear that the alliance movement may result
in the defeat OF the republicans in the United
States senatorial election than that their organ
iZation will do injury to Mai Mckinley, The
few ultra-radical leaders of the farmers party
who refused to abide by the decision Of the
state alliance will meet at Springfield next
week, 1t is said, to put state ticket in the field
but their numbers are SO few that no sig
nificance Is attached to 1t.
THE PCS TON OF THE ENQUIRER
Much speculation has been made as to what
course the Cincinnati Enquirer would pursue IL
Gov Campbell should be nominated. M IL
seems altogether likely he will be now. The
paper has made such an open and determined
fight against him for the past six months that
it was thought it could not with good grace
perform the part of democratic organ with
Gov. Campbell at the head Of the ticket. Az
the Enquirer is undoubtedly the most in
fuential democratic newspaper in the state.
the republicans have reasoned great deal of
assurance out Of the present state OF things But
there is in this city u private letter from John
K. Mclean. proprietor Of the Enquirer. in
which he says that if Gov. Campbell secures
| the nomination, the Enquirer will give him as
cordial and earnest support as was ever accorded
any candidate. He further says that he him.
| self will put into the campaign fund more
money than will be contributed by any one
member Of the democratic state central com.
| mittee. This statement lends some color to
| the story that has been circulated here for
some days to the effect that the Enqui,e,'s fight
| on Campbell was not genuine, but an arranged
affair, whose purpose WAS to interest the rural
districts in the campaign thus early and draw
out full vote in the fall. According to this
story McLean's Interior object in his support
| of Neal in the campaign for the nomination il
| to have him before the party in an uuenviable
| light In the event Of the election of demo
| cratic Legislature, 90 that he himself may have
Q clear Geld for election to the United STATED
senatorship. That il, he ID simply trying "a
''klll or Neal.
CAPTURE OF THE PIKE COUNTY DxLKaArEe.
| The capture Of the delegates Of Pike county
TO the state convention by Governor Campbell
was one Of the surprises Of this week in the
ants-convsntion skirmish, and indicates shrewd
| niUniu0 thA rayt of thu uovaru 49,.