Smyrna times., 1895-10-02
The New York Democrats and
the Big Fight in that State.

The Republicans held their Conven-
tiOn first in Saratoga, the Democrats
last week in Syracuse.
There were two points of interest in
the meeting of the New York Democ-
racy In Stale Convention. Would the
factions harmonize and the party pres
ent solid front against the united
Republicans? What ground would
they take on the excise question, or
rather, on the question of SUNDAY
liquor selling?
The hoped for harmony did not
materialize. The Fairchild Democrats
of New York city refused to take part
in convention where they would be
allowed to count only as one-ffth of a
man each and were notified that next
year they must come to the convention
as Tammany Democrats or not come at
all. They left the convention and the
Tammany Hall delegation remained as
the sole representatives and authorized
agents OF the Demcratic party of New
York city.
On the liquor question this conven.
tiOn is for "home rule and local option y
mo blue laws, but home rule IN excise
as well as in other matters" These
are rather taking phrases to those who
do not understand their import, Those
who demand local option in Pennsyl-
vania do not dream of disturbing the
laws prohibiting the sale of liquor on
Sunday. They want these to stan
over the whole State and each locality
be left free to settle by the vote of its
citizens whether it shall not have pro-
hibtiOn the other six days of the week
as well.
This is not the local option" of the
New York Democracy. They have no
thought of touching the existing right
to sell liquors during week days. But
they want TO make it optional with the
voters of each town whether liquor
may not be sold also on Sunday. The
option desired is the option to break
the Sabbath, to open the saloons when
men are idle with plenty of time and
inclination to drink to excess. Senator
Hill wished 20 have the convention
take still more decided stand for a
Sabbath freed from all restrictions, but
the rural Democracy saw defeat in this.
and while demanding that the question
of opening the saloon shall be decided
by vote, the convention throws in a
few catchpenny phrases about "a dav
of rest and an orderly Sabbath"-a De-
mOcratic Sabbath with the saloons
wide open and doing a brisk business.
Against this is the plain Republican
declaration, 1--WE favor the mainten-
ance of the Sunday laws interest of
labor and morality" With the issue
thus presented there can be DO real
doubt of the result in any American
State.
Tammany Hall is not pleased with
its own excise law, now that is being
enforced, and it wants that law changed
so that the saloon men will have the
power to sell liquor on seven days in
the week.
Wheu the Democratic legislature
passed the excise law relating to New
York city there was no idea upon its
part that it would he enforced. and il
never was enforced until Mr.. Roosevelt
became member Of the board Of
police commissioners. The Republi-
cans need have no fear of the people
being deceived by the platitudes in
the Democratic excise plank. There
are only two sides to the issue. One
is whether the laws as existing are to
be enforced only as against certain
men not in favor with the Democratic
machine. The Democratic machine is
out of business, thanks to the good
sense of the voters last November, and
it is of course anxious to resume work
if the people can be deceived into vot-
ing for the Tammany ticket.
The withdrawal of the Grace Fair.
child faction means, possibly, that
another Democratic ticket will be put
in the field. Even if that does not
follow, the members of that branch of
the party cannot be expected to vote
for Senator Hill's ticket.