The times., 1898-09-20
POLITICS IN OHIO.
Representative Lentz Predicts Great
Democratic Gains in November,

Twelfth Ohio District, arrived in the city
yesterday from Columbus. Mr. Lentz is
in his usual cheerful frame of mind, and
predicts Democratic success in his State
| at the November elections On being
asked what effect the action of the Gin
| cinnati convention in tabling the indorse-
ment of Bryan and the Chicago platform
would have on affairs in his State Mr.
Lentz said: II know nothing about that
| matter except what i have seen in the
| newspapers In my opinion, the platform
adopted at the State convention held at
Dayton, which indcrses the Chicago plat
form and incidentally Mr. Bryan, comes
nearer expressing the Democratic mind
of the State of Ohio than any platform
adopted within the past twenty years. 1t
is most comprehensive platform and is
satisfactory without exception. 1t is in
dorsed by every Democrat so far as l
| know, and also by a great many Republi-
| cans as being better platform than
their own, and there are Republicans
| in the State who declare they are going
! to vote the Democratic ticket because
they are so well pleased with the plat
form generally, and especially the two
| p!anks referring TO an income tax and
the initiative and referendum
Mr.. Lentz was asked to what extent, in
| his opinion, the treatment of the soldiers
was going to enter into the campaign In
Ohio.
II am SORRY" he replied, ito have any
| body undertake to make political capital
e., out of the starvation and neglect of sick
| soldiers but inasmuch as Gen. Grosvenor
saw fit 10 claim that this was a Repub-
lican war, and being the mouth piece of
the Administration, he will hardly be per-
mitted TO shift the responsibility for
what the Republican Senator from I'LL
nois, Mr.. Mason, calls laundering and
plundering. Surely the Democratic party
will not be held responsible for the APP
| pointment in the medical and commissary
| departments of young dudes and misfits,
who had never learned enough to earn
| their own board, much less provide for
and take care of thousands and tens of
| thousands of young men in our camps
In speaking Of the result of the Novem-
| Der election, Mr. Lentz farther said:
Unless all signs faii, the Democratic
| party in Ohio is in a much better condi-
ton today that 1t was at this time a
| year ago, and If the rest of the volunteers
| are allowed 10 come home before election
we shall increase the Democratic repre-
| sentation in Congress and elect our State
| ticket
Mr.. Lentz will leave the latter part OF
the week to open the campaign in his
| district Besides ssumping his own
| Counties he viii do considerable work
| throughout the State, and also in sew
! eral other States.
In speaking OF the narrowing tales OF
neglect which inflicted needless suffering
upon the young men Of our country who
offered their services. and lives if need
be, TO defend the national honor" said
a weil-known New York man yesterday,
we are apt to deal in generalities. New
ertheless, every single one of the many
cases reported have a local influence in
some part of our vast country which II
is very hard to estimate or comprehend.
An instance bearing on this point came
under my observation he continued
only short time ago while was in Nj
agara City, near Buffalo. What called
the matter TO my notice was the great
interest being taken one Sunday after
noon in a funeral service which was be-
ing held at one of the churches there. On
inquiry | found IL 10 be the administra-
tion of the last rites over the remains OF
a private who had served in the ranks OF
the volunteer company which left that
city at the outbreak of the war. The
! company had been ordered to Camp Alger
and up TO the time of the death OF the
soldier in question had never left tina;
| camp.
| The father of the boy, who was a poor
man, was telegraphed TO by the officers
at the camp that his son was dead. and
that if he wanted the body it would be
| necessary for him to send Immediately
| the sum of $50. The money was borrowed
AID sent. A few days later the bereaved
| father received another notice, this time
| from the railroad company. 1t notified
| him that the body of his son had arrived
| at the station and that upon the payment
OF SIS, he could claim it. Again the addi-
| tional money was borrowed and the body
removed to the humble home where it
was found to be in a sadly neglected con-
| dition and bore unmistakable evidences
OF the lack of proper care.
ut is needless to say that this case was
| an eye-opener to the citizens of that
| town. where a whole company had been
| recruited. It went like knife-thrust to
| the heart of many a fond parent who had
a boy in camp, and was the means OF
| causing a torrent of invectives to be ut
| tered against the War Department II
goes without saying that in every com
munity, and there are doubtless many.
where cases of this kind have occurred.
there viii be a lasting memory that will
bear fruit to the detriment of those at
the head of affairs and under whose ad-
ministration such things were allowed to
take place. The Republican party will
be called upon TO answer the charges
that are being made in thousands of
| homes for the unwarranted treatment of
the soldiers"
Cen Joseph Wheeler's nomination by
| reclamation on Saturday last, receiving
| as ne did the undivided and hearty in
dorsement of every political party in his
district-Democrats, Republicans, Popu-
| lists, and all-is a fitting tribute TO the
| hero of two wars gentleman. a states
| man, and a scholar. Gen. Wheeler has
| represented his district In Congress for
| eight terms in most able manner He