The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1884-05-15
.Nnr 1919 e1rApr

There is good deal Of talk now de-
rogatorY TO Whist are rather sneeringly
termed "new converts" TO the cause OF
prohibition This Talk is aimed at John
A. Martin in the ioterest of Judge
ThacheT. the so-called prohibition can
didats for governor. It is not smart It
is the argument, ii such il may be called,
OF two classes, the "rule or ruin" prohi-
bitionisis with one idea as to the quail
icatIons Of candidate for governor, and
the Democrats The latter are very anx-
ious that Mr. Martin shall not be NOM
mated. We had supposed prohibition
was working for converts and needed all
1t could get. That must be one OF the
objects of the agitation which is carried
Oh, and It is natural TO suppose, also,
that when a man begins TO help the
cause, that the prohibltionists ought TO
be the last ones 10 object to him because
he hasn't always seen just as they saw.
If IL be irue, as claimed, that Mr.. Mar
tin is new convert we should think
it would be matter of great rejoicing
among the prohibItionists because it il
admitted on all hands that he is tower
of strength 10 this state, and can dc
great good to any cause which he es
pouses. For over quarter of century
he has done yeoman service IL
every good work for the
state. Its material interests have had
no more faithful nor efficient advocate
It's moral interests have al wys had in
him tIus friend. He has ever beer
regarded as one of the ablest defender
OF honest and decent Republicanism
In the war he was always in the thick
est of the fight, taking up his swort
when the first alarm was sounded, AMI
not laying il down until the last armeC
rebel was routed. He has always beef
a man OF the highest type OF persona
character. In all his public life. and b
has been leader in AtchIson for a quar-
ter of century, there has not been
suspicion against his reputation. Will
we have differed with him in his posi-
ton on the prohibition question, W
have believed him honest il
what he advocated. He has Al
ways been of that class who advocat
what they believe best. For grea
many years his habits have beel
strictly temperate. We felt at th
time that he must be on the side of Law
Surrounded as he was by public senti
1 III l. oil N IN
imou.ly at variance with the doctrine
we advocated, and the sentiment b
which we were surrounded, we wer
always willing to make allowances 70
his opposition to what we thought bes
for the public good. 1t is we'll tor thos
of US whom 1t has cost nothing
be prohibitionists to hav
rather liberal views toward thos
who have made great sacrifices for th
: cause, Of financial and personal natur
; as MIR. Martin has done. John MartI
} fought rebels in AtchIson, both with h
} pen and strong right arm when, it too
; courage TO fight them. He is no
, fighting whisky when it takes courage
2 do so. In 1879, before we had prob
] bition law, he was beaten Il
mayor of Atchison by IL
D whisky interests. So it does not seel
he is sonew a convert in the fight again
= whisky as some of the new convert
: would have us believe. 1t he b
' changed and taken advanced grour
4 against the whisky interests, ought n
q the friends Of prohibition rather to ]
:, joice at the accession than to speak di
l. conrsrInglY of il?