New-York tribune., 1908-09-17
rgF OHIO SITUATION
rFuPER4NCE ISSUE.
.,.sdlea Proposition = Politicians
,r-,.bout Basis for Com putation.

1fr.7r1
T.. rragnos1.1-l. ,,htle outside OF the Buckeye
f,c-ssssi eiie o,,, the vaguest understanding OF
fs;sfs tiei9 -rsrnperance, personal liberty, local
.sf "a -. lieunr tax have so completely wiped.
s.5n anu - .hs- there is left no basis for cal
~ pA +fIe those outside the state are oisposeo
slsfoh' -, ,robiera and await the results OF the
raun. -..-Ha-ris man. whether he be Dem
TaiA - ,.7oan :. and he murmurs something
lsc-si O. .,a a-tjculates a few curses on
ls0ui mr. ~taes = a,sssafe for Governor Talk 10
H. kep1o--N- =. be Democrat Or Republican. and
lBhrrs - the liquor interests are determined
l. ins's's Es,,cl,eve state and that the future
+ 1eOa - and girls is al stake But there
- vrho can give you an in'eiAsenl Ar'EAi'"-
p 4be real questions at issue WINE A4i pro-
tsn q 'ie -..-a-anee question is not at stake
II and g few viii tel 20" - - -,
p - s.rs5 in ts5i is really al fauit-aho theS
right - o-,,iio- r,ix-un are
/ ~ -. vsars Ohio had a township local
\ ee ,e.-al,z- the residents Of township
/ foN - % -, vote whether liquor could or
/ - - ~ sold within the limits OF use Io"h-
= pu, This did not give Satisfaction saloons
-. sr,-s- character hourisheo. and some fenlooS
lh' .r5a6 About 1903 this demand resulted
lFas os-l.-. - :he BeaI law. which gave local
= =, - me municipalities within the state out
lFloH -,+ r-ove eafisfa ctory. and il was soon
= =. ne Rsnaock law, which provided that
ts.ts1 districts OF municipalities local option
- -,irbr be created b. petition That law.
as1N 5id ,or work satisfactorily, and Gov
rsr-ick sought some modification OF ITS pro-
-" F-fs efforts resulted in his defeat for re-
| - That was n 1905. the year when Seere-
~--.r,s Akron speech was charged with defeat
,ur Es--1od' ai'H'Ue4 -
- .,a administration Of Governor Pattison.
--.-.ase7 Fse-rick. the Bannock bill was so
- As 10 permit Of the closing OF saloons by
- signed by majority Of the residents
- ne district in which they were located. and
/ --,,s-ion rueas sure. known as the search and
=. was enacted Under its provisions
&C Of the existence Of an Illegal saloon could
s,1ovs5 nv a search. and the discovery of any
= Of liquor was made prima faeie evidence
T. 80 The enforcement Of this law created the
II = s--s-y1fs opposition among the liquor men
L. ssrsd largely 10 soiidfy their opposition. Gov
l. Psrtison recommended to the Legislature the
= of a county local option bill but his rec
I-nendarion failed CT favorable action
/ rbs affection TO 2 county local option bill was
l. t would enable the rural districts TO say
I,ss-bsr or not liquor should be sold in the mu-
t-.ps.ties within The county and, its opponents
Iss-ss il would enable rural voters 10 take from
II. -rricfpsIries q substantial source Of revenue
ssrzh il would not relieve the towns from the
r7snss Of policing etc from which the rural COM
E--ries were free. During the administration Of
t.w,o- Pgt-ison there was passed a law increas-
H. ne annual TAX on saloons from $3.50 TO $1,000
l. Lieutenant Governor Harris was largely in
IrusutaI in obtaining passage Of this law through
b szpg-t- but entirely parliamentary handling OF
h MEASURE as presiding officer Of the upper
s7s II the Legislature This increase OF revenue
r. the saloons was heartily welcomed by the
E--feuglities. and they promptly undertook i'm
1snt public works made possible by their in
-ssd Municipal receipts Cp 10 this time. it viii
rfef The Democratic Governor stood for
rnv local option. and the Republican Lieutenant
SEs-nor for merely a higher tax and higher
Hsuus from the saloons But this situation un-
EFsHt radical change.
COUNTY LOCAL OPTION
e7s-nor Harris. having succeeded TO that office
fzrb the death OF Governor Pattison, asked IN
message 10 the legislature favorable considera-
of the question whether the people wanted 10
srt COUNTY local option and thus undergo a con-
ass5le loss Of revenue through the abolition OF
- saloons The Legislature considered me
rostton and passed a county local option bl-i-
Il 'gnor Harris signed the measure with 1hfee
b. Andrew be wrote with the first. 'lAtner
H. the second and Harris with the third
II sse pens he presented to as many temperance
Il nzs1ions and thus he incurred the bitter an
III lisrn OF the LIQUOR interests. This completes
II recent history Of the liquor question as rae
Il II Ohio politics The county local option law
n OF the statute books. and there is no disposition
T. part Of either party TO repeal IT.
Fasl the Republican State Convention adopted lts
form this year il Incorporated therein decl2ra-
3 Il favor Of high taxation Of saloons and OF
g-y local option. The Democratic committee on
soigtions spent many hours hearing both parties
ne controversy and many more discussing d
II opposed platform declaration but finally deciaed
"a county local option Law having. already been
1's1 On the statutes II was no longer an Issue
consequently their platform Is silent on the
aasa
81 ot7eraor Harris's action in signing the olll
Il three pens had ser-ed 10 enrage the liquor IN
FEEz and they determined 10 hight the GOV
rs reelection TIE Personal Liberty League,
Day organized. vas regalvanized, and began
M p work against the Republican nominee The
ard spirit dealers association. the brewers
q Eran and the salOOnkeepers' association
1.-THE nucleus OF the opposition, but they have
n io their strength mapy Of the allied indus
such as the coopers. those cabinetmakers
HrniEh saloon fixtures, those giassworkers
II nAEe bottles. the hoteikeepers and others
r have sought 70 enlist the support Of organ
p Aoor, and 10 considerable extent have sue
The checks paid by these several indus
Ii bear the legend. Check against prohibi-
and the ra-nifcations Of the allied industries
Ep1slngly extensive
- democratic convention nominated for Gov
saason Harmon. sen OF a Baptist minister,
II nan VINO is far from being allied with what
are termed the broad interests Mr.. Har-
&c never G word on the temperance or local
Question EnJu the day that the Republican
J'-gn opened al Youngstown That morning
-o1noed that the liquor question was not an
L NE campaign, but that as for the local
Statute he would II elected endeavor 10
Ae law Governor Harris speaking at the
fsAoEn opening declared himself heartily in
Tie county local option law, although he
Gs 70 say that he was not advocate Of
'onibition. but his declaration was accepted
9<-1g him with the anti-liquor faction. the
aonizts and the Anti-Saloon League Thus
N seen that within three years the Repub-
Nao the Democrats have exactly changed
@ the liquor question.
70 the bottom. the real difficulty with
as people Of Ohio are contending is found