New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-04
MR.. BRICE'S "STILL HUNT"
THE HIDDEN SPRINGS OF THE OHIO DEMO
CRATIC CAMPAIGN.

cAMPBELrIs GRoTEsoUE CANVASS OF DEFAMA-
TroN ONLY MAsK-MR. BRIcE's SUCCESS
WILDLY IMPRoBABLE-THE sITUA-
TON REVIEWED.
frRoM A STAFF CORRESPONDENT OF rRIBuNE.l
Columbus. Nov. 3.-There is time at this late
stage Of the Ohio canvass only for word or two
on the fight TO-. the Senatorship Unquestion-
ably the vital interest OF this campaign has GEN.
tired around the struggle for the seat in the Sen
ate which is TO become vacant on March 4. 1897
On the Democratic side Mr. Brice's eager desire
to succeed himself at Washington has certainly
been the compelling force behind that sudden re-
cuperation of party strength and sudden return
TO party discipline which have converted the ONO
Democracy in the last six months from thor
oughy routed and disorganized mob into COM
pact and well-dred army hopeful Of victory.
For though Mr. Campbell has generously been
allowed to pose before the Ohio public this fall as
the nominal savior of the Democratic organiza-
ton and its leader in the effort to regain Its lost
authority in the State. II Is impossible not to
trace the inspiration Of the present Democratic
revival to its genuine source in Mr.. Brices I'M
perious craving for another six years lease OF
personal and political power. On the Republican
side too the vacant Senatorshp has offered an
incentive TO partisan zeal and partisan activity
of peculiarly tempting and tantalizing sort BY
q strange fatality the Republican leaders have
seen this coveted prize-Ohio's second seat IN the
United States Senate-slip from their fingers at
every opportunity offered them in recent years
10 grasp it. In 1877. in 1888 and again in 1889
Democratic Legislature has intervened to bestow
this fugitive honor on some opposition leader: so
that Ohio has been represented at Washington
for more than twenty years. in spite OF It's In
dubtabe Republicanism, by perpetually diVloeo
delegation in the upper house or Congress. NO
fairer chance to break this line OF Democratic
succession could we'll be asked than that offered
this year. and Republican, as well as Democratic
interest has naturally concentrated on this over
shadowing issue Of the campaign with aDsorDhg
Intensity.
BRICEs REELECTION PARAMOUNT.
The whole Democratic canvass has been shaped,
indeed go as best to second Mr.. Brice's effort to
compel reelection from the reorganization
programme Of the Springfield Convention down to
Mr. Campbells latest grotesque var on the stump
against the evils of "bossism"-in the other party.
AT SPRINGFIELD the way had to be cleared for MT
Brice's denomination by repudiating the free-sil-
yer coinage platform on which Mr. Campbell ran
Tor Governor in 1884, and the convention meeKly
declared free-silver coinage party heresy ana
Endorsed without stint or limitation the fnanciai
policy Of Mr. Brice and Mr. Cleveland. To inspire
marty enthusiasm and distract public attention
10 new issues Mr. Campbelrs active participation
In the campaign was indispensable, and he was
forced from retirement by Mr.. Brice's importuni-
ties and started canvassing as the head or a
"forIorn hone" state ticket. The extraordinary
methods Of personal abuse and defamation
adopted by Mr. Campbell have had no other pur-
pose than TO draw iIe from Mr.. Brice's candidacy
10 his own. and to serve as convenient cover be-
hind which the real leader of the party would be
able TO prosecute more securely his still hunt
canvass for Legislative votes. Unlike Mr. For
aker who has made an open fight for the Sen
atorship before the people accepting the piatlorm
of the GAINESVILLE Convention as a definite In
dorsement Of his candidacy. Mr. Brce has sought
70 avoid any frank acknowledgment OF his pur-
pose 10 seek denomination and reelection Mr..
Campbell has said ostentatiously on the
stump that he neither favored nor opposed Mr
Brice's Senatorial aspirations although no one
has been deceived by this transparent piece of
Subterfuge.
NO VOTES IN HIS RECORD
There are unfortunately. public grounds on
which Mr. Brice can either defend his past record
in the Senate or aIreal to discriminating con-
stituency for a continuance Of political favor. 1t
was evidently the Democratic candidates orig
ina intention to ask reelection on the ground
that he had done an invaluable service TO the
manufacturing interest of the State by helping
70 "Gormanize" the Wilson bill. But his refusal
70 assist In replacing a duty on raw WOOL had so
deeply offended the agricultural interest IN ONO @
that he was speedily dissuadec from atte"spt1ns
n sock . vindcaton ard reelection as friend
Of the deserving industries threatened win rum
BY the reckless tariff expeIinentallsts VINO uEew
the original Wilson bill Abandoning .o that s,.e
claim to the partial gratitude Of his constituents
Mr. Brce following In Mr.. CampDeiis leau mas
allowed his whole canvass 10 turn on s tHe mp ~
dent and impotent 'hurrah' Issues conJured up
By the fertile but impressonable Democrdtlc can
didate for Governor. Denunciatlon OF COA, an
alleged local boss" in Cincinnati OK foraher as
friend Of Cox's, and wealth or Vrtuous III
6ignstion launched at the boss system gen
rallv-outsde OF the Democratic party-,hese
have been made the whole burden OF me me DTne g,het
era,ic campaign for the last four weeks ma,
such r,dIcujous utilities should fail to be accept
ID as serious political discussion by people VINO
Are stil smarting under the too practical eH H
seriencs Of Democratic incompentency and folly
In National administration Is NOT 10 De ,p.ors mor
ared at Nor viii It s 3e suTpplIls bnilY negative can
ddacy for reelection al Its face value anu ,t,
BOTH him and Mr. Campbell TO labor eXciusNelS
hereafter In their favorite Vlhe!aiu u ''"
municipal reform
OPPOSITION IN HIS OWN PARTY
~. p.,oo Aos nod two clements within his own
PARTY to contend with during the present canvass
o,o 60 81. o,.er onnosition of the remnant OF the
free-silver forces led by the younger IhurHiah'
and tho editorial writer's Of THE Cincihha'i I'll"
quirer" The free-coinage propagahails,as and "~ nm
been greatly weakened by the coihpIese oihpa a ~ the
CONDITIONAL repudatior Of their programme az . .
springfeld Convention They will pro%pany, % ~, IN
be able to control more than han1lut ta 10 Semon
the next Legislature. The other hos.i 'oti,e "Tor''
stratjon has been led by Representative nnd io
l. Johnson. Of Cleveland. who mas 10 aemUu nawse Of
Brlce on the stump as traitor 10 'o,inal snn nnrty
free trade and corrupter OF the OF & IRENE
Of the Wilson bill The crusade ol the eN price
free traders has not greatly alarmed MI nn al,
however and. he remarked .s1t M I,eeisla-
most cvnically few weeks ago. II tne '-eo
ture is Democratic, it will he for me ro,,ocratic
But that the Legislature VIII De DeensiSiiitv
seems now a rather remote po.i.loaI P1iohlr in