Evening star., 1898-11-30
The UNION REFORM PARTY
New Political Organization That Has Come
to the Front.
Advocate of the Initiative and Refer
endum-Headquarte in Ohio
Foothold in Several States.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.
CINCINNATI Ohio November % 1S0

| Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.
| CINCINNATI, Ohio, November %, 1S9S
| Ohio has produced new political Iarty,
which will figure in politics in other states,
and in the next national campaign. This
| is called the union reform party whose
| cardinal doctrine Is the Initiative and ref
| erendum,' of which a great deal has been
written and spoken during the p;tst few
years This principle has at different Zines
been Incorporated in the platform of minor
political parties, but has never been so
vigorously pressed, at least not in this
state, as it was during the last campaign.
The union reform party, which has made
itself the champion of this new reform
measure was organized in this state last
spring, and has its headquarters in Cir
cinnati. Being new party, it was re-
quired to secure a place on the Australian
ballot by petition. which it lid, presenting
to the Secretary of State several hundred
more names than the law required. Being
on the ticket, the law then required from
item a vote of more than l Fer cent of the
total vote to hold their place Oh the ticket.
They polled 1921, or 1850 more than nee
essary, so that they ara now one OF the
regular political parties of the state.
1t is always an important taing for a
political party to secure repres entation
among the precinct election officers. The
Ohio law requires that the non-partisan
judges and clerks OF election shall come
from the two leading parties. In Harrison
township of Hamilton county James A.
Graft the union reform candidate for
retary of state, polled more votes than
either of the candidates, and in the next
election the judges and clerks of election
in that precinct will be equally proper
toned betW Ell the union reform and re-
pubiicans, the democrats dropping into
third place and out of representation in the
precinct board Mr. Graft and his friends
and party associates are enthusiastic, and
claim to have driven a wedge which is
destined to MAXI even greater split in the
old parties. Neil Abra ham Neff of this
city the chairman of the union reform
state committee, has just returned from
Illinois and Indiana, and Iepor-s mat the
plans are completed for union reform
party in those states next year. The cru
sade has entered Michigan, ana the lalty
is already organized there. AgencIes are
also at work in Pennsylvania rn1 West
Virginia, and assurances come that the
union rerormers vii. have state tirkets next
year in those states. The aim aiso is to
press the cause with vigor throughout the
country, with the expectation of getting Il
presidential ticket in the field in 1900.
The union reformerS were somewhat
fortunate in choosing the time for their
organization. In 1897 there were eight po
Htical parties In Ohio, and six of them fail
ed to poll the required l per cent vote. OF
these the silver republican, negro protect
i've, liberal. populist and social labor en-
tered into negotiations for a consolidation
reconciled, however, and drifted away. The
others combined and organized the new
party, drafted declaration of principles
nominated a ticket and fought the cam
paign with better success than any one on
the outside expected, and probably better
results than it's own leaders hoped for.
Although the last democratic state con-
vention indorsed Bryan and free silver ac-
cordng to the Chicago platform of 1896
there is great lack of harmony the
question of candidates for 1900 and some
diversity of opinion as to the right one to
be the democratic rallying cry. There is a
considerable gold sentiment among Ohio
democrats, thousands of whom voted for
Mckinley in 1895. and who viii never vote
for free silver man for president. The
public was surprised day or two ago to
hear that Lawrence r. Neal, who was
democratic candidate for governor four
years ago had bolted Bryan and was Op-
posed to making free silver an issue in 1900
He says the late elections have placed the
republicans In control of the country for
the next eight years, but have shown that
the democrats gained congressman in the
east, where silver was not made an issue
and lost the west, where silver forced
to the front. He thinks this is all the hint
the party managers should need to per-
suade them that 1t will be foolish to repeat
the party measures of 1896 He thinks
that in twelve months from now the labor
ing element be thoroughly infused
with the anti-imperialism sentiment as to
make Ii advisable to make that an issue In
the next national campaign.
He admits that just at this time there is
too much patriotism afloat to make it ad-
visable for any political party to suggest
pulling down the stars and stripes from
any staff on which they have been hoisted
But he is confident that judcious crusading
in quiet way will be effective to convert
these enthusiasts, as he calls them, to the
belief that it will be a bad thing for the
laboring interests of this country to widen
our boundaries and take into citizenship
millions Of cheap laborers. He says that it
is imperative for the party to find a new
issue for 1860; that they never elect
Bryan, or any other man, for that matter,
on a free silver platform, and that the anti
Imperialism issue he considers a likely a
winning card any other, and at least
worth a trial
BrNcHedinps Itnder Will.