The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1895-09-11
THE BATTLE BEGUN.

The contest for the control Of the
administrative and Legislative af-
fairs Of the state OF Ohio is now
fully on, and the voters may begin
the necessary comparisons between
| the cOntending causes and candi-
dates. And the differences between
them is remarkably clear cut and
distinct.
On the one side the titular can
didate is but the foil for man
who sits in the background and
shapes and controls the machinery
of his party, so that II Il things that
comes to his mill shall be n grist
meet for profitable grinding.
The candidate on the other side
is not only Il man of striking indi.
viduality, absolutely free from
clique and clan and boss, one of the
y eople and representative of the
people, and one whose personality
and power will both be responsive
to the just grievances of the people
who will call him again to the Gov
ernorship
If Asa S. Bushnell could possibly
be diSsociated from George b. Cox,
the Cincinnati boss, who now aspi
res to seize the whole State, as he
has seized its metropolitan city,his
claims to the confidence and par
tiality of the people would be much
higher than they are now.
But ali his political fortunes are
linked with George b. Cox, and |
with him he must either succeed or
fail. There is no getting away |
from this proposition. Cox was
general who manipulated the
GAINESVILLE convention, and the !
election Of the Republican State |
ticket and a Republican Legisla-
ture will enthrone Cox in The State |
House, and clothe him with the
same dictatorial powers which he |
exercises in the City Hall at Gin
cinnati.
On the other hand, James Il.
Campbell uplifts the banner of |.
Democrocy-the ensign Of the peo-
pie who want no bosses-and, if
elected he will be the Governor Of |
the people; he will be no mans |
man, he will be no plant instru-
ment to be manipulated by a boss
whose only instinct is inordinate !
greed in absorbing the spoils of
office, the incumbents of which he |
claims the absolute prerogative of
naming without consulting the
voters and Taxpayers,
Simplitied, it is the battIe of the
people against CoXism, and the OPP
posing principles are so diame:rlc-
ally opposed to each other that
there ought to be no doubt in the
mind Of any man rs to the final de.
termination of the issue.
The people, and not the bosses
are interested in the administra-
tion of public affairs and the shap-
ing ofpublic legislation, and unless
they do interest themselves, and
that speedily, the affairs of the
State must pass into an infinitely
worse condition than now charac-
terizes them.
In the present conjecture of af-
fairs no Democrat can afford TO be
a laggard, or straggle from the
ranks, for it is upon that organiza-
tion that the people of all parties
must depend for relief from the
evils that now exist and greater
ones that threaten. TO that or
5anization. if it rallies united and
harmonious, will come the hun
lreds and thousands of Republican
voters who hail the present oppor-
tunity 10 stamp out the bossiGm
hat has seized their party ma
and converted it to the
very worst of selfish ends.
Moreover, this is put the perIim-
nary skirnish of the great battle
If 1896, ana no Democratic soldier v
De he of the field and line or of the {
ank and file, TO earn the title Of
ither deserter or laggard, Not d
'nly the highest fealty to party, v
'ut the loftiest duty to party, de-
nands that he enter actively into II
he contest, and fight unfalteringly
i'll victory comes with the end. e.
Nhe issues involved i'm this CON
est are issues on which all Demo- il
rats can agree and on which they G
o agree. Whatever questions sug-
ested divisions in the past have h
cen sentoy to the National Con- a
ention for consideration and ac- Il
on, and we may all safely conllde cl
/ the collective wisdom Of the
democracy OF the fOrty-four STATES W