Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-09-25
NUMBER 80


localities as delegates to the state
convention, and at the time of the
disagreement between brother II.
and myself we had so far succeeded
that from every locality where the
temperance men were in a majority
and where they had rolled up their
sleeves and worked, without salary
or hope of peeuniary reward, las
brother =. and myself and many
others worked in this county and
this congressional districG only such
men were sent, until we had rea-
sonable fair prospect that the Re
publican party of Wisconsin would
soon take as advanced ground for
submission as that party had in Kan
sas or Iowa.
We were also agreed, that while
we did not demand of a Republican
candidate that he should be total
abstainer, we did demand that he
be not identified with the liquor in
telest in business connections or
personal habits, aud our wishes in
Iowa county, at, least, We're SO far
respected that in only one or two in
stances were they disregarded.
In some localities in the state, Re
publican party managers, in obedl-
ence to the law of elfpreservation,
and in view of the fact that the
adoption of the submission plank
would result in the defeat Of their
local tickets, refused to present can
didates that were acceptable To tenn
perance voters. 1t became a ques-
ton, what was the best course for
temperance voters to pursue in such
localities
1t was agreed, and upon this
brother r., myself, and large ma-
jority of temperance men were in
accord that independent candidates
should be run in such places who
were favorable to our views, and we
hoped that the result would show
party managers that the temperance
vote was as valuable, if not more so,
than the beer vote. No sane tenn.
perance man at this time even sug.
gested that in localities whore we
had received all that we had asked
or desired, any attempt should be
made to defeat the regular nominees
of any party who were favorable to
our views.
70 this end a Prohibition Amend
ment Association was formed and at
that meeting candidates were put in
domination for state officers, against
the protests of friends of candidates
who had been nominated on the
Republican ticket who were Sub
missionists, and we were assured
that opposition to acceptable candi-
dates was not real, but temperance
men were expected TO vote for the
regular candidates where they were
favorable to our views. Upon this
point was the first serious disagree
ment between brother Penberthy
and myself. No interference was
made in this campaign with the
local ticket when it was satisfactory
to the temperance sentiment.
The result Of this election showed
that a large majority of the temper
ance voters Of the state were not
yet ready to make any temperance
fight except on members Of the leg.
islature; Kanouse, with all his per-
sonal strength, polled only frag-
ment, and a small one at that, Of the
temperance vote. This seemed to
indicate to me, and | might say TO
many others, that unless we wanted
to drag into the submission fight
questions and local issues not per-
tlnent TO it, and unless we could
afford TO lose much Of the ground
gained, we had best proceed slowly
in awaking the partisan hostility
and opposition Of men Of strength
and influence who were ready to do
all they could for our submission
proposition, but were not ready or
willing to see that all other questions
and issues should be ignored.
1t seemed TO me to be the plain
duty of submisslonists 10 keep clear
ly 10 view the object sought and the
shortest road to it, and avail our
selves Of every factor Of strength,
and every vote we could obtain in
any honorable manner; appeal to
the sense Of fairness and Justice of
the people Of the state in favor Of
the submission Of our proposition.
To these conclusions brother Pen
berthy and a small number, com
paratively, Of Prohibitionists--if
Prohibition has the strength among
the people that they claim-and a
small minority of those favoring
disagreed. found my
self in accord with the great mass
Of temperance voters, agreeing with
the men who in the past had done
most Of the hard work for temper
ance, excepting only brother Pen
berthy and a few others, and the
oalaria5 and Maid lpcturors and 20;