Connecticut western news., 1896-08-27
ARENA OF POLITICS.
THE REPUBLICAN STATE cONveN-
 TON AT SARATOGA.

TON AT SARATOGA.
 Thirteen Candidates In the Field For Gov
 ernor-Bryan Dimes With Hill and Makes
 a Speech at AIbany-AImost a Panic at
 Utica, Caused by a Falling Platform.
 SARATOGA Aug. 26.-Ex-Senator Thom- as c. Platt having positively refused to allow his name to go before the Republic an state convention as a candidate for gov ernor. the field is open for the many aspir- ants for the nomination. There are Is of these aspirants, the friends of all of whom are in greater or less degree confident of ultimate victory. They are:
 George W. Aldridge of Monroe
 Hamilton Fish of Putnam.
 James A. Roberts of Erie.
 Charles T. Saxton of Wayne.
 Archibald Baxter of Chemung.
 Frank s. Black of Rensselaer,.
 James ". Wadsworth of Geneseet
 Timothy E. Ellsworth of Niagara
 Edward T. Brackett of Saratoga.
 J. Sloat Fassett of Chemung
 Clarence Lexow of Rockland
 B B. Odell, Jr., of Orange.
 John Palmer of Albany.
 The Platform.
 General Stewart l.. Woodford was cho- sen permanent chairman. The platform adopted declares in favor of the gold stand ard and the protective tariff and asserts that Democratic administration of nation al affairs is responsible for the business de- pression and industrial inactivity. Re garding state issues, the platform says:
 We commend the wise, dignified and popular administration of Governor Levi P. Morton IL with preceding Democratic administrations in the freedom of every form of public scandal.
 By the daily performance of duty in an hon orable, efficient way, it has won the esteem ot all the people.
 With especial pride and satisfaction we call attention to the excellent record of the last legislature and to the splendid vindicstion of its work in results already accomplished.
 The Republican party has redeemed its pledge to enact just measure of excise re- form. The Raines liquor tax law, passed by Republican votes Republican measure against the bitter opposition of the Democrat ic party, has won, as it has deserved, the warm and general approval of public opinion.
 Nearly three-fourths of the liquor tax cer- tifcates have been granted for only ten months, and yet the revenues to the state are more than S, 500 00o. The rate of taxation for state purposes is two and sixty nine one hun dredths of mill and at this rate the receipts from the RaineS act are equivalent to the plac- ing the tax rolls for state taxation the vast sum of sl, SO0, ,0Oo,0o0 of taxable property. More than s7, ,0O0 000, moreover, have been placed by this law in the local treasuries of the cities and towns, and that is equivalent at the same rate to the placing on the rolls for local tax ation of the further sum of S2, GOO 0O0, 900.
 The Raines law has reduced the number ot saloons throughout the state nearly one third.
 It has reduced by nearly one-hah the num- Der of arrests for offenses proceeding directly from the liquor traffic, and to that extent it has reduced the expense of the people for the administration of justice.
 It has been productive of public order throughout the cities and villages of the state through the closing of the saloonson Sunday.
 It has abolished the odious spy system by doing away with any occasion for its employ ment.
 It has emancipated those engaged in the liquor traffic from the control of political or ganizations and from position of dependen- cy upon the influence of politicians to secure the privilege of conducting the liquor busi- ness The saloon keeper, we repeat, is no lon ger the puppet of ward politician. So long as he is obedient to the law he stands in fear of no mans displeasure. In every practical result the Raines act has disappointed its ene- mics and gratitied it's friends. It is a monu. ment to the good faith. sagacity and courage of the legislature by which it was enacted. The Democratic party would not dare to re- peal it if they could. It is law in the inter est of the taxpayer and equally to the interest of morality, temperance and good government. In the interest of communication between the counties of the state, we favor the i'm provement of highways and the construction of good roads.
 In obedience to the public will. expressed in a majority of about 45oo0 in vote of the peo- pie concerned, the last legislature established the municipality of greater New York. The Republican party does not fail to appreciate the serious problem of the government that has thus been imposed upon the legislature succeeding. In order that it might have the advantage of the best suggestions, greater New York commission was created and is now at work providing a charter for the new mu- nicipality, to be hereafter submitted to the lawmaking power. These steps have been care fully taken in the interest of the prudent, con servative and well considered action. The Re publican party, which-established the principle of home rule in the state constitution, reaf- firms its faith in that principle and its pur- pose to confer upon the people of greater New ] York all the rights of self government that are consistent with the dignity and safety of | the state. It is the manifest destiny of this | new municipality to become the metropolis oi ! the world and to justify the act of its crea | ton by incompatible achievement. The Ballots.
 The speeches placing the candidates in nomination were above the average ir | quality, and few of them were too long In the order of merit of their efforts, | judged from the viewpoint of effectiveness as votegetters, the orators were: William A. Sutherland, for Aldridge; Anson s. \ Wood, for Saxton; J. Sloat Fassett, fol Baxter; John E. Pound, for Ellsworth I N. W. Norton, for Roberts; Judge Cady, for Black; William Wood, for Fish; Judge Coyne for wadsworth; Senator Nussbaum for General John Palmer, and General George :. Batchelder, for Senator | Brackett.
 The voting then began, the following being the result of the first roll call Al i dridge, 224; Fish, III; Roberts, 95; Sax. ton, 72; Baxter, 59; Wadsworth, 55; Palm CT, 39; Black, 36; Braokstt, S3; Fassett, a1 Ellsworth, 12.
 The following was the second ballot Aldridge, 227; Fish, 1eS; Roberts, 91 1 Saxton, 61; Baxter, 55, Wadsworth, 51