New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-19
ROOSEVELT IN OGDENSBURG.
A RINGING SPEECH ON THE RAINEs LAW
ISSUE.
DEMOCRATS CHALLENGED TO SAT- HOW THEY
WOULD SUPPLY THE REVENUE WHICH
TAX RAISES

WOULD SUPPLY THE REVENUE WHICH
THE LIQUOR TAX RAISES.
ogdensburg " Y. Oct ls--A meeting rival
ling In size the one at Glens Falls last night
was held here tonight under the auspices OF
the st. Lawrence County Republican Commit
tee. Hundreds Of persons could not get into the
hall TO hear Colonel Roosevelt and the other
orators The hall held about two thousand
+: was prettily decorated with bunting.
The meeting was called to order by William
H. Daniels. chairman Of the County Committee
When Colonel Roosevelt was introduced the
applause was deafening and lasted several min
utcs. After thanking his audience for their at
tendance and touching on the various topics
which he had discussed at the stoppngplaces
during the day, he took up the excise ques
ton and said:
one OF the issues this fall Is the excise question
Our opponents announce that they intend to repeal
the present Excise law. Now. do not think II pos
sible in a state OF seven million eight million Of
people with widely diverse interests and prejudlces
70 get an excise law which will be satisfactory
everywhere. There are two three principles
which I should Ike 10 sec embodied In the excise
legislation that as yet are not. but as Abraham
Lincoln said when cannot get the best we
must get the best possible. and our duty Is 20
take the best excise law which there Is any chance
campaign Is Whether the present Excise law Is or
is not better than the one II superseded. tho one
which the Democrats threaten TO put upon tho
statute books in It's place. This Is the plain and
simple issue.
1t is all very well for our opponents to denouncs
the present law but what they propose 10 put In It's
place Is so bad to be preposterous On the whole
the present law Is infinitely better than any we
have ever had on tho statute books The old Dem
ocratic law which It superseded represented not
much more than legalized backmailing. II enconr-
aged drunkenness. it promoted corruption among
police and excise officials. salooukeepers and poht
ical leaders alike and IL brought no adequate reVt-
nue. 10 the State or to the counties
The present law has done completely away win
corruption by excise boards and has mlnimized the
corruption OF tho police. 1t has reduced drunken
ness and It has given us an enormous revenue
from the very traffic which can best ahord to pay
that revenue. Nearly thirteen millions Of dollars
are yearly turned into the State and county treas
uries by the present law. Between four and i've
millions Of dollars go to the State, the remainder
to the counties.
Now II the Democrats keep their promise they
will II they elect their Governor and the I~gislat
ure. repeal this law and at one stroke take away
some Ave millions OF dollars from the revenues OF
the State and about as many moro from the rev.
enues OF tho countless for the present law turns
into the public treasury am told over nine mill
ions more than the old law did. In other WORDS
they will make II necessary for the state II II Is
to continue it's present expenditure. to increase the
tax rate by from a quarter TO n half Moreover
they Will make It necessary FOR the counties TO
raise tlst about as much more In addition.
How are they going 10 do ths' What are they
going 10 taxi They have got to get money some
how They will have 10 make the farmer the
business man. the mechanic the workingman pay
somehow the 5000 900 or 100000 from which they
relieve the liquor traffic and at the same time. by
ofD 'iOO n
multitudinous licenses. they will work damage to
all men in the business
During the last five years the State has assumed
the care OF the INDECENT insane. who were formerly
cared for by the counties. Unless we choose 10
raise the general tax rate one quarter, these IN
digent insane will have to be given back TO the
counties TO care for Il opponents are able 10 DO
as they say they Will do in the excise matter
This would mean that the burden Of taxation i'm
posed upon the counties would be literally intoler-
able
1t is easy enough to denounce any law. but when
orr opponents denounce the present excise law |
ask you carefully consider what they propose to
put IN It's place and to realize the harm they WOULD
DO to decent government and the intolerable add
lions TO our burdens o, taxation which would fol-
low il they actually succeeded in doing what they
threaten TO do.
General Stewart l.. Woodford generally re-
ceived by the audience and spoke at some length
on National Issues in the present election. lie
asked for support for President Mckinley by this
State THIS fdi!. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS w OouruI Oc-
voted his speech TO the record OF the Republican
party In TINS State for economical and efficient
government
Mason Mitchell TIE actor and Rough Rider.
and John Proctor Clarke were other speakers
at the meeting which did not adjourn until
late hour. The reception in the city. both when
the party arrived and later n most pleas
ant one There were fireworks. bands OF music
and Nominations.
The party will start at s O'Clock tomorrow
morning for the return trip
-
SPEAKING TO WORKINGMEN