The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-02-13
LIQUOR PEOPLE
APPROACH NASH.
Said to Have Made a Demand
On the Governor
TO KILL THE CLARK BILL.
Claim That Promises Were Made and They
Now Want the Republican Party
to Deliver the Goods as Per
Contract.

Canton people are watching, with
great interest, the result of the contest
at Columbus over the Ward option bill,
known as the Clark bill. This bill pro-
vides for elections by wards in the
liquor question. 1t has passed the
house of representatives and Is now
UP to the senate for action. 1t is having
it's effect on state politics and the liquor
interests are openly charging the Re-
publcans with going back on them. II
is claimed that the Republican candi-
dates were supported by the liquor peo-
ple and they want the goods delivered
that were promised. A special from
Columbus TO the Cleveland Plain Dealer
says:
The passage of the bill Wednesday
by the house was a great surprise to
the liquor league. Wednesday evening
a conference was called by the friends
of the bill and the ground thoroughly
canvassed. 1t was decided that some
thing must be done to save the day anu
prevent he bill coming to re - the
senate, where it is conceded that the
temperance men are in control Lieut..
Gov. Caldwell, who was nominated as
the saloon representative, was consult
ed and a reconsideration was decided
upon, But time must be allowed to get
members who were favorable to the
bill to change their vote. Lieut.. Gov
Caldwell was able to fix this and when
the bill was messaged over to the SEN
ate the lieutenant governor carefully
"forgot" to hand it to the clerk to read
thereby saving it from becoming part
of the house proceedings. The senate
adjourned at noon, and thus all danger
of the bill becoming the property of the
senate was avoided.
At o'clock the governor was called
into a conference by the liquor men.
This meeting was held in the Nell
house. Governor Nash, Lieutenant
Governor Caldwell, John r. Malloy,
Senator Sieber. of Dicks district Carl
Hoster, who is at the head of the brew
ers' association in the state; Secretary
CHAPMAN of the Cleveland and San
dusky Brewing Co., and Representative
Mccormick were present at this confer
ence. 1t was an important as well as an
exciting meeting. 1t is stated upon
good authority that the representatives
of the saloon interests of the state told
Gov. Nash hat he must kill the bill.
'1f this bill becomes a law this session
your administration and the Repubii-
can party in Ohio will be held response
BILE for it by the entire liquor interests
of the state" This was the plain un-
vanished ultimatum given by the sa-
loon men present. They reminded Gov.
Nash that they had contributed many
thousands of dollars to his campaign
and to the campaign of Senator Eanna
two years ago. That the legislature in
both branches is now strongly Repub-
lican, and its acts therefore the acts of
the Republican party.
1--WE demand that this bill be recon-
sdered and killed in the house, and
you as the governor of the state and
head of the party in Ohio can accom-
plish this work." Mr.. Chapman is re-
ported to have said to Gov. Nash.
The governor is known to have at
. tempted to dodge the issues and claim,
which is probably true, that he neither
aided or abetted the BILL in fact took
no part in the contest, but this would
not go. The agents Of the liquor men
accused Malloy with trifling with their
interests in an attempt to pull the Cox
bill through the house and Malloy is
regarded by many as Gov. Nashs
spokesman. The liquor men pointed
out that if the Legislature passes this
law they will have but one course open
to them in future campaigns, and that
will be to work against the party which
has shown it's ingratitude by passing
the Clark bill.
1t is said tonight on what appears to
be good authority that the result of the
conference was a promise that the ad-
ministration would use it's best en-
deavors to secure a reconsideration.
Three men are mentioned as converts
to the liquor cause since the passage of
the bill. They are Painter, of Wood,
Buell., of Columbiana, and Metzgar, of
Stark. One of these men, it is said,
will be secured to move a reconsider
alton of the bill. The temperance peo-
pie are fully aware of the move and will
make pltter nght against IL. The
Democrats will divide on the question
but the leaders do not want the bill
reconsidered.
If this move fails Senator Sheppard
will offer the same objection to the
bill as ordered by Judge Russell in the
attempt to defeat the bill The amend
ment is to increase the number of petit
TONERS required before the bill can be
submitted from one-quarter to one-half,
and an amendment to the language de-
scribing saloon as a public house.
The bill has jumped into almost ma
tional prominence as political factor
tonight and it's enemies say its passage
will do much to defeat Mckinley and
elect a Democrat senator in 1901.