Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-21
THE LABOR PARTY IN OHIO
Its Fusion With the Populists Of the
State.
The Most Interesting Events fn Buck
lures Adjournment.
Special Correspordence Of 1he Erenlnr Star.

Special Correspondence OF The Evening Star.
COLUMBUS. Ohio. August 20. 1894.
The organization of the members of the
labor unions of the state into a political
party by President John Mcbride of the
United Mine Workers. and the fusion Of it
with the populist party. is the most inter-
esting event in the politics of Ohio since the
adjournment of the legislature. Politicians
are now trying to estimate the strength OF
the new party. 1t is generally conceded
that Mcbride will be able to carry to the
aid of the populists a very large element of
the union labor vote of the state. That
they are with him in this movement was
shown by the general response made to his
call to send delegates to the convention.
There are about 10000 union labor men
in this state. These are McBrides own
figures. or these 1900 belong to his or
ganization-the United Mine Workers Of
America. He will he pretty certain to draw
with him into the populist party practically
all these miners, and there is little room to
doubt that the union labor people of the
state have quite generally made up their
minds TO vote the ticket of the new party.
The populists are likely also TO receive the
votes of quite a number of farmers who
have been voting heretofore with the demo-
Gratis, and not few who have been affiliat-
ing with the republicans and have become
dissatisfied with the results. So that 1t
would be G fair estimate of the vote likely
to be cast by the new fusion party to say
that II would not be far from 100000. This
increase in the vote of the party coming
from the old parties in pretty nearly equal
proportions, 1t is not likely to materially af-
feet the general result in the state in an
''off year. like this.
The movement is likely, however, to have
some effect in the congressional elections.
1t is not at ell improbable that the popu-
lists will elect a member of Congress or
elect more Congressman than the demo-
Gratis. In several districts where the demo-
Gratis know there is no chance for them to
elect a Congressman they are about to ef-
feet fusion with the popul.sts, and this
movement promises to succeed In defeating
the republican candidates.
The republicans are ridiculing the idea,
but the fact is that Coxey is very likely TO
be elected in Gov. McKinley's old district
the eighteenth-by this sort Of a movement.
and the scheme is about to be worked in al
least two other congressional districts.
The Steubenville Gazette, the leading
democratic newspaper in the sixteenth dis
trict. has placed the name of the populist
candidate for Congress at the head Of its
editorial columns, and Is urging the demo-
Gratis to indorse him, or at least not to
nominate any candidate against him. This
course will probably be pursued This dis
trfct embraces a great coal mining region
and was the principle seat of war in the
trouble growing out Of the recent miners
strike.
There is great disco intent among all the
voting population. They are dissatisfied
with both the old parties. Living Just
across the river from the scenes Of the
great Homestead troubles. they were in
fected by them, and two years ago showed
their discomfort by defeating the repubii-
can candidate for Cor gress-Col. Poorman-
though the district had been overwhelming
ly republican. The democrats know there
Is not the ghost of a chance for them to
elect one Of their party there. and conclude
hat ha hast fnr
prevent the election of a republican, IL pos
sible.
If the new movement is strong anywhere.
It will certainly be where John Mcbride is
strongest-in the mining districts of the
state. As would naturally be expected a
similar movement is now being planned in
the eleventh district. This district lies in
the heart of the great mining region of the
Hooking valley. and is estimated to con-
tain about 1900 miners. besides several
hundred other union labor men.
The republican candidate is Gen. c. H
Grosvenor. the present Congressman from
that district. The normal republican plu-
rality is about S.O00-much less than the
number Of union labor voters in the dis
trict. The democrats have not nominated
candidate for Congress there, and the
best Information Is to the effect that they
will not do so.
The populists have Just announced that
they will open their state campaign at
Jacksonville, the great mining town. This
indicates that they expect to make a con-
centrated fight In this district. With the
aid of the democrats 1t would be a COM
paratively easy thing for them to defeat
Mr.. Grosvenor under the circumstances
that exist.
There is some talk among undergraduates
OF electing a populist Congressman in one
Of the Cincinnati districts. but IT is scarcely
possible. They could not hope to do IL with
out the aid OF the democrats, and that is
out of the question in Hamilton county.
The Democratic COnEressmen.
The democrats Of Ohio are sure of send
ing only three Of their party to Congress
this fall. These are F. c. Layton, In the
fourth district; J. A. d. Richards, in the
seventeenth, and D. d. Hare, or whoever
gets the nomination. In the thirteenth dis
trict. They may elect Sorg In the third IL
he is a candidate. but he has not vet an
nounced his willingness to make the race
again. and many predict that he will not
do so. 1t is very doubtful whether any
other democrat could be elected there or
not.
1t is possible that johnson may be return
ed in the twenty-first district and Outh-
waite has something more than a fighting
chance In the twelfth. This will be the
first time the latter has ever had a fight
for the congressional election here. His
contests have all been at the primary cleo
lions to secure the nomination, which until
now has been regarded as equivalent to
election.
A family row was narrowly ayerted at
the meeting Of the democratic state central
committee here last week to prepare the
call for the state convention. A number of
the members. snarting under the defeat of
the House tariff bill. and blaming Senator
Brice for II, came with resolutions in their
pockets reading the riot act to the Senator
for his stand against the President In this
matter.
But Senator Brice's friends heard of IT.