Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-18
THE SALOON ISSUE
Republicans Satisfied With the New
York Convention.
DIPLOMACY AND TACT DISPLAYED
The Question Of Sunday Selling in
the Campaign.
MR.. PLATT'S YER

Republicans at this distance are very
well satisfied with yesterdays result at
Saratoga. They are of opinion, however,
that the party made a very narrow escape.
Some reference to the Sunday laws was,
in their judgment. imperative. Not only
was the local campaign to be considered,
but the whole history of the party was
involved. If the republicans of New York,
the empire state Of the Union, had 1unked
on a great public question affecting the
moral well-belng of the commonwealth, it
would have heen a blot on the 'scutcheon.
The bones of Greeley, Conkling and Sew
ard would have protested in their cere-
ments.
Guarded md Diplomatic.
The reference made is guarded and diplo-
matte. but 1t is a reference. The party's
reputation for courage has been preserved.
There was no call or desire to commit the
party to prohibition, or to any extreme
policy as to temperance. The proposition
related merely to the execution of laws
already on the books by the action of the
peoples representatives. The republicans
at Saratoga declared that the Sunday laws
must be executed. Not that they should
be kept on the books in their present FORM
Not that change of any kind was unde-
sirable. But that while they existed they
must be executed. This makes the is
sue, and next week the democrats must
go on the record.
Democratic Declaration Awaited.
The democratic deliverance will be await
ed with much interest. The impression
prevails that it will be affected somewhat
by yesterdays action of the opposition.
Mr.. HILL evidently under the conviction
that the republicans. by Mr.. Platt's ad-
vice, would ignore the question, has in
co Gra1 nhac h1o To-, ill.,
taking of a bold stand at Syracuse The
stand may still be bold enough, but hardly
so bold as at first contemplated. A gem
tralizaticn en- the topic of personal liberty,
written in a key to catch the saloon vote
Will not now answer. The question as put
at Saratoga does not call for yea and
nay vote on any law, although the Sum-
day law is the bone of contention. but re-
lates to the observance of all laws with
out discrimination.
The Sunday Selling Question.
A highly important feature of the new
turn given affairs Is the necessity of a dis
cussion of the whole question of Sunday
selling. The question in all of its exactins
delioacy goes into the campaign. The re-
publicans have not declared against Sun
day selling, and the democrats will not
declare unreservedly in favor of it. Both
sides will In some measure. through repre-
sentatfveS on the stump, present a bill of
particulars. The legislature to be elected
in November will be called on to deal with
the question. To what extent will the re-
change the present law? To what extent
the democrats?
Town Versus Country.
1t Is predicted as reasonably certain, how
ever, that the saloon vote will go almost
solidly for the democratic ticket, and what
Is called the church vote as solidly for the
republican ticket. If this proves to be true
the contest Is town versus country Tam
many Will show great strength in New
York city, and If this is to be successfully
met the rural communities will have to
bestir themselves. The saloon vote In tha
state is pretty well known. and is strong
The church vote has never been unified on
any issue or in favor of anybody, and hence
Is as yet an unknown quantity.
MIR. Plntt's Wisdom.
Mr.. Platt, 1t Is observed, carried himself
about as Mr.. Quay did in like circum-
stances. He was master of the situation,
but yet was obliged to surrender point or
two for harmony's sake. At least three of
the officials renominated were Objectionable
to him, and he could have defeated them.
He was opposed to any mention at all of
the Sunday laws, and he could have had
bis way about that. But despotic exercise
of the majority power would have split
the convention, and that would have meant
certain defeat at the polls So Mr.. Platt
wisely enough, yielded.
His Probable Power Next Wear.
There seems to be difference of opinion
as to what was shown at Saratoga re-
speeding Mr.. Platt's probable power over
the delegation that New York will send to
the next republican national convention.
While powerful at home, he is not all-pow-
erful. There are sections in the state
where he Is very weak. The delegation
will go instructed for Governor Morton,
and at the start will, of course, act to-
score in the convention will Mr.. Platt be
able to swing the delegation solidly, or
even in majority force, in favor of a man
of his own choosing? That's the point
His opponents declare that Mr.. Plat does
not expect Governor Morton to win.