New-York tribune., 1895-09-27
THE ISSUECLEARLY DEFINED
WARNER MILLER ON THE DEMOCRATIC
EXCISE PLANK.
LOCAL OPTION HE DECLARES. is NOT PRACTI
CABLE AND SAYS THAT DECLARATION FOR
IT BY REPUBLICAN COUNTY CoNvEN-
TIoNs WOULD BE DIS

ASTROCS.
Ex-senator Warner Miller at the Fifth
Avenue Hotel yesterday. Mr.. Millets excise resou-
tion offered in the Republican State Convention at
Saratoga has caused more talk than any other
issue in the present campaign. When asked for an
opinion upon the stand taken by the Democrats
concerning the excise question he said
81 don't think that there s any opinion to ex-
press The excise question Is to be the only issue
in the present campaign. Everything has given
way before It, That parade yesterday was
demonstration OF how the sides are lining up 1t
is to be more of moral battle than any that has
been fought In the past In State elections
The Democrats have taken a stand diametri-
cally opposed to that taken by the Republicans II
is well for us that they did 1t does not hamper
us any by having them adopt some OF our plank
with few innuendoes that deceive. All the issues
are clearly defined and there should be no doubt
as to the result The feeling concerning the viola
ton OF the law manifested even In the Demo-
cratic convention by the way In which some OF the
delegates from the country districts expressed them
selves when it to vote upon the question
The battle is on and we certainly are on the right
side
While there have be N stories circulated TO the
effect that Mr. Miller has been turned down In
his own county through the defeat Of his candidate
for the Assembly. he said that the reports were
wrong Speaking OF this he said
THE convention was composed Of my friends
heard stories to the effect that the Titus-sheard
faction turned me down. but | am satisfied with
the nominee OF the convention.
The ex-senator reverting to the excise question,
said:
THE Republican party will stand solidly by the
issue The Democracy is party that believes In
sectional pla tforms has made this thing an open
deht and will be overwhelmed The majority OF
poople who vote do not favor the unlimited desecra-
ticn OF the Sabbath. As for local option, that II
would entail endless difficulty For instance. the
East Side might want open saloons. the west Slde
would bu.lfights. and some other sectlon want
something else Besides. municipality cannot make
laws The State should be supreme. IL Is the iunc-
tion OF the Legislature to make laws. Even If the
should grant local option then electons
upon the question would doubtless be more or less
frequent. Whenever a number OF citizens declared
would change the former result. an election would
necessarily have to follow. But the real thing IL
that the Republican party is party OF the churches
and the pupits. 1t accentuates the better doctrines
the sabbath. II will be found that many Democrats
believe in the Sa 5bath. and we shall have their sup
port. and that means we shall win surely.
SIR. Miller was asked what would be the result IL
the Republican County Convention OF this county
should declare In favor of local option He replied
'lf such a thing should happen the result could
not be other than disastrous. as II would be prac-
tcally an Endorsement OF the Democrat platform.
This is State issue. and the County Convention
has right to attempt to change II. 1t would be
antamount TO n change OF politics or bolt OF the
State Convention TO take such a step as that. 1t
would appear grotesque TO have number of county
conventions coming out with platforms OF their
after the properly accredited delegates had assem-
bled in State Convention and acted upon the ques-
sition to the Republican plank from any part Of the
Republican party"