The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-07-10

liquor sellers of Cincinnati and other
cities in the state, an alliance between
them and leading Republican politi-
cans was agreed upon and 1t was to
evade the no-license clause of the con-
stitution by them enacting a tax
law for the legalization of the traffic.
The first of these laws was known as
the Pond law. Mr.. Pond. who drafted
said law, was the husband of Miss Jen-
nette Alexander, who at one time was
quite popular teacher in our Union
school in Canton. But said law was soon
pronounced unconstitutional. Hon.
John Sherman took the position that
all such law was an abortive attempt to
evade the constitution, as the taxation
of the traffic was virtually giving 1t
license; all permits to carry on said
business was really a license. The
liquor men the meanwhile were clam
oring for such law.
Hon. Chas. Foster, who was then
governor of Ohio, became very much
worried over the agitation of the liquor
question and it is generally reported
and believed that he dug up Mr..
Foraker, of Cincinnati, and brought
him forward as the Republican candi-
Methodist, 1t could easily be urged
that he was not in favor Of liquor SELL
ing; and again as a citizen Of Cincin-
natl, the fountain head Of the traffic
| in Ohio, 1t could be claimed that he was
| in favor of liquor selling; and this
would be the proper man to put up for
governor, and be able to play both fast
and slow" on the liquor question or in
| I, tt,A oh rTh ynfn
still hold on to the saloon vote and
that was what they wanted, but he was
defeated by Mr.. Hoadly.
In 1881 the Republicans passed what
| was known as the Smith Sunday bill,
but in 1883 they took all the teeth out
of said law, because they found that
by upholding said law they would loose
much of the liquor support; and very
soon thereafter enacted another tax law
which had been introduced by DR..
Scott, and was known as the Scott tax
law. This was done to please the
brewers and liquor sellers of the state,
but the flood of petitions sent in by the
temperance people and church workers
for a prohibitory law more trampled
under foot.
About this time j. B. Foraker, in a
speech that he made while candidate
for governor, said: THE principles fol
which the Republican party stands are
eternal; and to their principles Of
regulation and taxation of the liquor
traffic, be 1t known of all men, the
Republican party is unalterably com
mitted."
This second great effort of the Re
publican party to please the liquor
element by the enactment of the Scot
tax law; was very similar to the Pont
tax law; and it too very soon was pro
nounced to be unconstitutional.
. Notwithstanding the people Of Obi
, had on several occasions declared b.
good majorities in favor of prohibition
as the organic law of the state, and b,
large preponderance of sentimen
showed their favor for such law in tn
, amendment vote of 1888; the Republi
can party leaders ignored the voice o
7 the people on this question, trample
n on the Voters Union, that at that tim
occupied a similar position to the Anti
Saloon league Of today and prepare
p to carry out the alliance with tn
A liquor interests of the state, that wer
q so clearly represented by Geo. B. Coz
q and the brewers of Cincinnati. an
h fastened upon the state. Foraker
eternal taxation policy by the enact
ment of the Dow tax law and with
: packed court, and for party purpose
said law has been sustained to the fu
enjoyment of the liquor traffic, and I'll
n protests of Prohibitionists. Anti-Saloo
: men and christian workers.
i 1t is freely admitted that there al
g multitudes of sincere temperance me
a in both the Republican and Democrat
n parties, who hate the liquor traffi'
they should by this time realize tn;
so long as they give ballot support
any tax or license party, there cherisl
ed hopes for temperance and prohib
ton will never be realized. The saloc
will be in politics just as long as ia
and license parties are left in powe
the only hope for the destruction f.
.e the saloon is always to vote for par
y openly committed to the entire defe
of all tax and license parties; vote
If you pray, for the entire destruction
l. the rum power. JOHN DANNER.