The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-10-12
EMPIRE STATES MIDDLE
The Politicians Are All at Sea with
Reference to 1t.
THE SUNDAY LAW IN POLITICS
Careful Observers Are Unable to Form
Any Intelligent Estimate OF the
Probable Result Of Next Months
Elections What Some Fear.

study of the political situation In TINS
city and in the state, William r. Curtis
writes to the Chicago Record that there
has seldom been a political miX-up so
bewildering, and while the candidates
to be elected are not for offices OF inn
portance. the municipal reform move
ment that was so successfully begun IN
New York city last fall may or may
not be paralyzed by the result and the
effect upon the presidential election
next year cannot be overestimated. 1t
Is campaign of issues and struggle
between factions In both parties for
the control of their respective organiza-
tions.
Nobody Is making speeches upon the
stump. There have been few pubic
meetings held thus far, but the discus
sion is carried on wherever people
gather, in the Sunday school room. and
the saloon, in the Christian Endeavor
convention. and at the meetings OF the
Liquor Sellers association. Both OF
the big political parties appear to be
shattered into a bewildering number
of factions representing the point of
view from, which the members of each
regard the questions involved. and the
personal ambition of leaders who are
working not for success at the polls at
the approaching election, but for the
control of the party machinery next
year, inspires their adherents with un-
usual zeal.
Roosevelt Gets the Credit.
Theodore Roosevelt forced the issue
by closing the drinking places in New
York odty on the Sabbath, and Warner
Miller. In the recent convention, with
out warning or consultation, proposed
= p.ahh M .nv p''tlo' ~ ~ i,.ai, T. hv
RepG'oiIc'h p"ty a. ia -, Savaro,
iotelhs w ,,,,,. n,no ION
.eals aSo -ni. M'ei ltsa,o snr 80
upoi 'n,s 'saue al Sasootaa ~, an o,,er.
elhot anu VS. % -
.,aei n,nJ ,.,,r,. ~. tho raforr, ro,ica
hoara be demands that the naople of
the state shall declare their sentiments
on this subiect-yes or no.
The introduction of this issue has
galvanized Tammany hall into some
thing like its old activity, although
that famous organiza ton had been in
a comatose state since its crushing de-
feat in November. 1894. 1t was always
the stronghold of the saloons until the
political assessments Gt levied became
SO onerous that the LIQUOR sellers Joined
with the reformers at the last election
and assisted in It's overthrow. But
suffer by the enforcement of the SUN
day law are three times as great as
the sums they were compelled to pay
into the Tammany trea sury. and by
electinC reform mayor they have
iumped from the frying pan into the
fire And. In addition to this, they
accuse Mayor Strong of having vio-
lated the pledges bv which they claimed
he secured their support. They insist
that In his public speeches and private
conferences he promised that he would
cons,rue the Sunday law literally, and
NOT ALLOW Dir. Parkhurst and other par
sons 10 influence mis- administrative
nolicv in This respect.
Hos, ,hor. por,,rrs,o
But even Dr. farkhursl seems "
tnink that .ne Jaw mas neei' enio..su a
httie 100 str,ctiy anu .hat the cohtihu-
ance OF gooo government. mas oeen VIII
perlied py aNehatihg nonest Saloon-
keepers. Al ieast, Nv speecn AZ proon
iyn the otner evehlhs' he saiu ,hat an
great REFORMS must pe srauuai III Or
der 10 succeeu-tnat the Suuueh anu
arpltrary application vi 'iis !, prih,Ip'es
o1ten caused reaction anu reiapse
tnat might De latal. Eseryoouy sup
posed tIat ne was anuuiEs ~ tne un-
exp"cteu manner IN wnich MI noose-
Veit ana ms assoc,ates on the poiice
commission nave slammed ana locked
the PACK doors OF the SUNDAY par.
rooms. On tne 0tner haho 1 near that
the Catholic b.shops are preparing TO
rake an active part III tne canvass anu
in.end 10 use their lnluence IN sus-
tainlhs MI. Miller resolution ana MI
ho0seVelt methous' anu as every
Douy KNOWS. tney VIII iurhish
poweIiul agency. mere - no YOU'D, uouol
mat tne excise plank mat MT. Milier