The Waco daily examiner. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 187?-1888, 1885-09-18
WACO. TEN. SEPT. IS 1885.
SENATOR COKE.

Senator Coke on prohibition, and the
talk elected from him is SO wise, so
full OF useful lessons to our people,
and withal so timely that the EXAM
ISER has thought best to give ii TO its
readers in full. TO this end we snr-
render the greater part of our space
this morning.
WACO, September ia represent
tative of the News called on Senator
Coke yesterday evening and found
him in his library. The result of the
recent campaign being the theme of
conversation, the full views of the sem
ator Oh the question OF prohibition
were elected.
Reporter what conclusion
do you draw from the result of the
recent elections in the large counties
northern aud central TexasI
Senator C.-The overwhelming de-
feat of the prohibitionists confirms
the opinion have held from the
first, that all the people need 10 to
thoroughly understand the subject
and the aims and purposes of the pro-
hibition party, aud that will insure
the destruction OF that party in Texas.
The question is an old one IN the
north, but new one in Texas. II
has not been understood here, but is
getting to be. and the more is known
of it, the less support 1t will have.
Where prohibition has been success
full heretofore there has been no con-
test; II has taken judgment by default.
To fight 1t earnestly and intelligently
is TO beat IL.
Reporier-ls prohibition live po-
litical issue, backed by distinctive
party organization?
Senator C.--That the prohibition
party is u political organization eau
NOT be controverted. IL has n nation
nj organization, holds national con-
ventions, promulgates platforms and
presents candidates for president and
vice-preeident. Its distinctive prin-
ciplcs, rs set out in its platform, are
prohibition of the manufacture and
sale of intoxicants, aud the establish.
ment of female suffrage in the United
States. The platform "relegates" TO
the discretion of the party in the sew
erai states the question of female suf-
fruge, TO be insisted on or not, SAC
cording to the condition of public
sentiment" The active leaders in the
national organization are chiefly
women-good people, al! of them
very earnest and some of them very
able. Equality OF the scxes, in suf-
trage and capacity to hold Office, is
their speciality, aud the hobby of all
of them. They are manipulating the
prohibition movement in every state
In the union, 1t may be depended on
that their hobby will be brought out
at the right time IN all of ihe com
monwealths. Those who have OBJ
served the canvass in the counties
where local option has recently been
hiOet bdff0fsfy' ctsUctsVstr'-s0r-riy--ft -ou1y-
tion of the female suffrage issue How
often have we heard, in the last few
weeks, the exclamation, '.Oh, If our
wives, aud daughters, and mothers
could vote we would surely expel the
demon alcohol" Our noble women are
being iamiliarized with the idea from
the stump, the pulpit, and the lcct-
urcs of strong-minded women sent
to do missionary work in the counties
referred to. There is, and n be, no
doubt of the aims aud purposes OF
the national prohibition party, for its
platform boldly avows them.
Reporier-You have spoken OF
prohibition AZ a national issue, now
what about prohibition as polit-
ical organization in the several
statesl
senator Cit lie organized In al
the states with all the equipments fol
party warfare. Here before me is tn,
piatfarm of the prohibition party Of
Texas, promulgated at Dallas by the
convention held there. 1t has state
executive committee, county exccu
tive committee for each county, and
ou executive committee for each con-
gressional district. In its "plan OF
work" IL proposes to control the next
legislature, for the purpose of com.
polling that body to submit an amend.
ment to the constitution subjectiDg
the entire state to the operation OF
prohibition, aud for this purpose 1t
provides for nominating its own can
didates for the legislature, in all cases
where the nominees Of other parties
shall refuse to pledge themselves In
writing to vote for the submission OF
such an amendment. In every dis
trict in the state. which elect members
TO the Legislature, the democratic
nominees who refuse this dictation
are TO be antagonized by nominees OF
the prohibition party. The third
clause of tleir platform declares that
"we rally around but one flag, and
that flag shall have for its motto one
word-Prohibitio convention
having used the discretion "relegated''
in the nj tional platform to the party
in the several states, to drop the "ie-
male suffrage" plank, doubtless until
the condition OF public sentiment
in Teas shall be more propitious.
Such was the course pursued In Kan
sas until prohibition was adopted,
then female safii &c was run up 10
tho masthead OF gside Of prohibition,
where IL now stands. | will quote
from the national prohibition plat.
form in this COZ lectiOn. Ii Is very
suggestive when considered In con-
nection with the Dallas platform.
srbat we believe in the civil and
political equality of the sexes, and
that the ballot in the hand of woman
is right for her protection, and
would prove powerful ally for the
abolition of the drinking saloon, the
executing of laws, the promotion Of
reform In civil affairs, and the re-
moyal of corruption In public life; and
thus believing, we relegate the prac-
teal outworking OF this reform 20 the
discretion of the prohibition party in
the several states, according TO the
condition Of public sentiment In those |
statesn
So, II will be perceived that the
national aud state prohibition party
organizations work harmoniously to-
gether, the latter under the guar