New-York tribune., 1895-09-25

ED AND ALL HANDS ARE NADIA BIO
FIGHT PROBABLY on FOR TODAY
THE LEADING CANDIDATES AND
THEIR CHANCES oT
NOMINATION.
GBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUHE.1
Syracuse. n. Y. Sept 24.-Dav:d 3. Hill coH-
tinues triumphant In his policy OF committing
the Democratic party TO the opening Of liquor
stores on Sunday II Legislative and executive
power in this State shall be intrusted to II.
Moreover 1t would that he IS having the
active assistance in this project Of William c.
Whitney. for II was reported at tho
close Of the day In the hotels OF Syracuse that
a long telegram had been received by the Demo-
cratic leaders from Mr. Whitney favoring lib
eral excise laws" II at first reported On
excellent authority that President Cleveland had
sent such dispatch in support Of the Sunday
desecration movement. but 1t seemed incredible
that the President would directly seek to innu-
ence the New-York Democrats IN such a dis
reputable matter that OF opening the saloons
on Sunday and, therefore, 1t came to be the gem
eral opinion that mistake had been made In
attributing the dispatch to the President. Mr..
Cleveland Also 1t was remembered had been
bred In the Presbyterian Church, and this
Church since John Xnox's day has held rigid
ideas respecting the observance Of Sunday. Yet
It natural that the delegates TO the Demo-
cratic State Convention should suspect that
President Cleveland meddling with It's ar
fairs in view OF the presence in Syracuse as
delegates OF Wilson S. Bissell, OF Buffalo. ex-
Postmaster General; Charles s. Fairchild, ex-
Secretary OF the Treasury. and ether conspicu-
Gus Cleveland leaders. 4 month ago neither Mr..
Tairchild nor Mr.. Bissel had thought OF at
tending the convention. Mr.. Bissell said to a
correspondent Of The Tribune. who visiting
Buffalo that ne was "out Of politics" But Mr..
Dissel has abruptly plunged again into the some-
what muddy waters Of politics.
PURPOSE OF THE CLEVELAND LEADERS.
For what purpose? There can be only one in
terpretation OF his design. and that OF the other
Cleveland leaders, and that is that they have
come to Syracuse to guide the construction OF
the platform Of the convention and its selection
Of candidates for State officers to strengthen
the National Administration at Washington.
Kentucky and NewJersey are going Republican.
Maryland also glIdes toward the Republican
party An increasing National debt and the con-
tinuance Of the commercial depression since 1893
in certain lines Of trade warn Mr.. Cleveland and
his political advisers that the Northern and some
OF the Southern States are likely to be carried
With this dark political outlook visible from
the windows OF the White House. what more
natural than that Mr.. Cleveland Colonel DAN
lei s. Lamont and William c. Whitney should
decide to aid Hill in desperate attempt to carry
New-York State on the local issue OF the Sunday
sale OF liquor? Yet. as the telegraphic dispatch
spoken of did not come from Buzzards Bay, tho
general belief was that it had come from Mr..
Whitney OF course. II can be reasonably sus-
pected that IL Mr.. Whitney sent such dispatch
1t might have been inspired by President Ceve-
land. Mighty political personages frequently
think 1t prudent TO act through agents rather
than to talk themselves.
THE DELEGATES SHOW THEIR SENTIMENT.
Ex-Congressman Perry Belmont, the temporary
chairman of the convention also sustained Mr..
Hills policy Of pledging that the Democratic
party soon 1t has the legislative power will
authorize the cities to open their saloons Sun
day. The convention met at noon to-day and
was Immediately taken In hand by Mr. Belmont
and Informed by him Of what position II should
assume on the Sunday liquor question. The dele
gates applauded with vigor all Mr.. Bemonts
utterances in favor OF opening the saloons on
Sunday, thus showing that they fully sympa-
thized with his sentiments Should the conven-
ton, under Mr.. Hills lead. adopt 'shifty plank
on the Sunday liquor question. Mr.. Belmonts
speech can be rightly considered the true plat
form Of the Democratic party at the fall eec-
ton. There is need OF immediate reform OF cer-
tain features OF our excise laws" said Mr. Bel
mont earnestly. and then added. as to dis
close that he condemning the enforcement
by the Board Of Police Of New-York the law
against the sale Of liquor on Sunday: tRecent
misconstructions of their provisions. coupled with
harsh. arbitrary and unintelligent enforcement
thereof. have rendered II absolutely necessary to
legisate In order to prevent the repetition OF such
official tyranny and absurdity." He thought that
home rule IN excise was an appropriate
remedy" for this harsh, arbitrary and unintel-
ligent enforcement OF the Sunday excise laws
This declaration for home rule in excise" car
have but one meaning The liquor-deaer will
know that 1t means that the cities should have
the legal right to open their saloons on Sunday or
to keep them closed.
Mr. Belmont made a highly absurd attempt to
prove that the local option law OF rural locali.
ties. permitting them to say whether liquor should
be sold at all. was analogous 10 the demand OF
the cities that they be permitted to authorize the
sale OF liquor on Sunday. Mr. Belmont UNDER
stands. ought to understand that 1t Is unlawful
TO sell liquor on Sunday in rural nelghborhoods;
that there is no local option on this subject in
either the country the city. There certainly is
demand from rural neighborhoods that they
have the home rule right to authorize the open.
ing of saloons Sunday.
SQUARELY FOR SUNDAY wHIsKEY
Then Mr.. Belmont came out openly in favor Of
permitting the cities to sell liquor on Sunday He
said and the convention applauded his sugges.
ton: 1T seems intensely unjust that the electors
of the great cities OF the State shall not under
them by the State TO decide In some degree wha,
their excise laws and Sunday laws shall be-" Then
he added:
What Democrats seek is legislation based OH
facts. experience and common sense. They would
wifi al for .,eee0