Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-10-14
For the SPEcTAToR.]
Views Of a LOcal-OptionIst.
HE ASKS SOME POINTED QUESTIONS. HE
DOES NOT WISH TO COMMIT THE FOLLY OF
THE DOG IN THE FABLE.

Mr.. Editor AS / have been interested
in the questions you propounded TO the can
didates on the prohibition ticket, and have
read the evasive reply of the Prohibition
Committee" candidates failing to re-
ply, though you say prominent member
of the Prohibition committee" assured you
that the candidates wou reply, and would
say that they would not vote for Malone
feel like asking few questions myself,
and hope you will allow me to do so
through your columns.
Why is it that the Prohibition party did
not nominate as one of its candidates
Alex. II. Fultz, Esq, who is a prominent
and earnest Prohibitlonist, and is man of
much personal popularity, and with qualifi-
cations at least equal think superior
to those of any of the candidates nominal
ed? Is it because he would not vote for
Malone? Is it true that he was asked that
question before the nominations were made,
and that he replied in the most emphatic
manner that he WOULD not?
Is this the reason that he was not nomi-
mated?
If the candidates nominated will not vote
for Malone, as you say prominent Pro-
hibitionist" assured you, why do they fail
to answer your interrogatories?
Are they afraid that, if they answered
they would not vote for Malone, they
would fail to get the votes of the Republic
can party? Can they expect Democratic
prohibitionists to vote for them when they
decline to say they will not vote for Ma
hone? Can even old-line Republican PROFIT
bitionists, who are opposed to the re-elec-
ton of Malone, vote for them under these
circumstances /? Can Malone Republicans
vote for them when they decline to say
whether or not they will vote for Malone
when appointment prohibitions" gives the
assurance that they will not? Neither the
| Democratic Prohibitionists nor the Malone
Republicans can vote for them with any as
surance that they will represent their wishes,
and, Ill the event of their election, one party
or the other would find themselves deceived,
| for they cannot at the same time both sup
port and oppose Mahone's re election.
Is it true that the Prohibition Committee
have advised their candidates not to reply
to the interrogatories you propounded,
| fearing that, if they did so, they would not
get the Republican vote if they said they
would not support Malone, and that they
would not get the vote of Democratic Pro-
hibitionists if they said they acould?
| l am q temperance man practically and
theoretically, nothing stronger than
coffee-but believe with yoa that the &C
ton of the Prohibitonists in putting
ticket in the field at this time is the most
| imprudent step that could have been taken,
if the purpose was to aid the temperance
cause-and do not question the motives
of those who did so, but think their judg-
ment greatly at fault-for l believe that it
will retard instead of advance the temper
ance cause.
Local Option is the only plan by which
the sale of spirituous liquors can be abolish
ed in this State, and everything now is
working favorably for the success of that
plan-both political parties being pledged
to it. Shall this plan be rejected by the
Prohibitionists, and by that means be defeat
ed? Will not the Prohibitionists be guii-
ty of a folly similar to that Of the dog in
the fable, that dropped the meat he had in
his mouth by greedily grabbing at it's re-
Election in the brook? Legal prohibition
cannot be obtalned-Local Option can.
LOCAL. OPTIoNIST