Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-03-19
And That He Got Into Line With the
Rest of Them.
Especial Correspondence)

Especial Correspondence
Columbus, March Ex-senator Dodge
unintentonally let the cat out of the
bag. At the opening Of the session
of the Senate he rose tot question of
privilege and said that he wanted to
explain his adverse vote upon the
Clark Local Option bill. He had been
accused by Rev. T. y. Baker State
superintendent of the Ohio Anti-Saloon
League, in articles published in many
of the leading papers of the State Of
having broken his positive and re-
peated promise to vote for the bill. He
had repeatedly intimatcd to several OF
the newspaper men whose duty it is
to report the proceedings of the Sen
ate that it was his intention to support
the measure, but when the crucial mo-
ment came he failed to make good his
word.
In his speech he first abused the re-
porters, limiting very broadly indeed
that they are liars. He said he had
never promised or even indicated to
anybody that he would vote for the
passage of the bill and he fatty de-
MED the statements made by the Rev.
+. A. Baker. But, from a Republican
standpoint, this was not the worst part
OF his speech. He admitted in the fol-
lowing words, that the bill had been
defeated Mt the dictation Of the party
leaders. He said, after referring to the
fact that an attempt had been made
to make the bill o party measure:
ESPECIALLY was II true mt the Lin
coin banquet, where there was large
gathering of leading Republicans. A
conference was held at that time.
There was an agreement among some
of those present, Of whom was one,
that for political reasons 1t was not de-
sirable that the bill should be passed,
that it was dangerous, and | at that
time said that If such We're the case
| should be obliged to'vote against the
measure"
In other words, Senator Dodge ad-
mitted In public on Friday what the
Republican leaders have been denying
that tho bill was defeated at the dc
tates of the party bosses, His fellow
Senators, the Republicans, who voted
against the bill, We're greatly chag'
rined at the mistake made by Mr.
Dodge. When the stenographic copies
of his speech had been prepared, Lieu
tenant Governor Caldwell and Senator
Patterson looked them over and made
an attempt to suppress The paragraph
quoted above. The correspondents
we're too sharp for them, however. A
Republican Senator suggested this
morning that 1T would he wise for Sen
ator Dodge to secure leave of absence
until April 23, when, 1t Is generally
understood, the Legislature will al
jou IN.
Mr.. Baker has issued an authorized
statement denying all the portion OF
Senator Dodge's speech In which th'
Senator claims that he had not prom
ised TO vote for the bill, The superin
tendent cites two instances, giving al
circumstances, when ne says the Sen
ator positively promised to supper
the local option measure. 80
Nobody seriously denies that the de
feat of the Clark bill Was largely du
TO the attitude of the national AM
state administration known to be op
posed to it's passage. Since Senate
Dodge acknowledged the whole schem
In the presence of 100 witnesses o.
Friday, II seems to be Of little Use I
enter denial. II is generally admitted
too. that money was very liberall
used. The Anti Saloon league Is mas
isg thorough investigation and sci
satlonal developments may be eXpec
ed. Rev. l.. A, Baker, the state supel
mtendent of the league, says iie I'm
Information that Is almost proof ths
the money was not directly handle
by officials of tho liquorSleague or the
recognized representatives but by r.
publican politicians 1t IS gperally b
lieved that the defeat of the bill WI!
contrary 10 formor expectation, in1ul
the Republican partytsoriously. III
strength of the Antl-Saloon league
politics il very much Underestimate
. lby most politicians The reduction
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