The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-11-15

line But for these last thirty-two years
they have not been able to resist Repub-
lican management and the unsurpassed
prosperity of the country 10 the result OF
their inability to check the tide OF progress
and of individual and national wealth
under Republican management. Neither
now are they able alone. and whoever takes
the late vote as verdict against the tnrin
or any other distinctively Republican
measure. does not study the situation in
the light of facts so near to the surface
that every intelligent American should
recognize them.
The Republicans were defeated this year
by the solid saloon and the solid South.
and by nothing else. As to the solid South.
that must remain perhaps another half
century. 1t must remain until. by the IN
flux of new blood. by immigration, and by
the better education OF the masses 1t shall
reach the plane of intelligence whlch per-
yades the North, and free men shall be per-
united to vote as their judgments dictate.
But what of the cold saloonf 1t is IN the
saddle now, and il is tberc to stay hun
dred years unless sooner displaced by meas
ures not yet agreed upon. Take the situa-
ton in Indiana as sample. For forty
years OF more it has been able to strike
effective local blows now and then. but
never until now has 1t been sufficiently or
ganlzed TO control nearly every Northern
State, and thus, with the solid South, con.
troll the Nation. In Indiana there are. ac-
cordng TO their organ. 2, 500 licensed saloons:
These are ofganized into o Licensed
Saloon keepers League" and presumably
every saloon-keeper belongs TO 1t. Ger
taInly every one MARCHES IN the process
sion 1t has at it's control millions of
money, and IL Is Officered by men OF great
ability and wealth. AT It's annual meeting
May z, 1892, which was feelingiy and SYM
pathe,ically addressed by our own Mayor.
q committee of fur was appointed TO taxe
oharge of it's political maneuvers This
committee issued, early In the campaign. g
confidential circular Ito saloon-kespers
and persons who deal with them" 1t
starts out by asserting Our only remedy
10 the ballot box,n and speaks of the pres
emit laws as unreasonable aud oppressive
to the saloon.keepers." and demands
their repeal. IL then publishes in full the
resolution in the Democratic State plat
form upon the subject. and ridicnles
the failure of the Republicans to say any
thing at all upon the question, adding that
eff majority OF the next Legislature SHALL
be composed of men who have not an
nounced their principles your fate Will be
doomed to everlasting destruction" Ii
then denounces Governor Hovey for hav-
ing recommended local option and high IL
cense. and Governor Chase for being In
sympathy with him, ana MIR. Shockney for
voting in the Senate for temperance
measure. and Mr.. Haywood for having
prosecuted liquor-sellers at Lafay cite. and
then advises. if it does not or
der, oil licensed saloon keepers
and persons who deal with them
to vote the Democratic ticket.
What this plies need not be stated.
Every saloon has from two 10 five voters
employed in it. and these all have their
personal friends who deal with them, SO
that il Is not extrsvagant tn estimate that
the 800 licensed saloons control not less
than 40 900 votes. This is the force that
carried Indiana for Cley Gland and his party,
and similar forces exist in every State. IL
was not the tariff that carried Illinois and
New York or any other Northern
State; it was the Liquor League, which
Is to-day the most formidable
political organization in America
1t votes the Democratic ticket every W here,
and it always will. and any attempt on
our part to obtain n share by silence IN our
platform, or putting men of their kind on
our ticket only makes us ridiculous. What
with 10000 saloonists voting against us on
suspicion that We are too much prohibition
for them. and 10000 Prohl bitionists. be-
cause we are not prohibition enough
where does the tariff come in! There is NJ
tariff in 1t: it is the solid saloon. What We
| are going to do about it is not for me Il
say. 1 am only humble layman in the
| ranks; nevertheless. have opinions on Thu
subject. For one. / am unwilling to let
this country be- run by the saloon, II it can
be helped; and it can be.
T. A. GOODWIN.
INDIANAPOLIS, Nov. IA. y