Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1885-05-29
Good Templars and the Presidency.
Grand Worthy Chief TeinpIar Gale, Of
Warrington Territory Interviewed-
HIS Views on the Political Outlook
Blaine for President.

Oregonian, Sept. l6, 1884.
As but little has yet been said by
the press of the Pacific coast regard
ing the views entertained Gv temper
ance people in relation 10 the Presi-
dental candidate nominated by the
Prohibitionis,s, n reporter rom this
Office recently called on Hon. j. N {.
Gale, the present Grand Worthy
Chief TempIar for Washington Ter
ritory and British Columbia, when
the following conversation took
place:
Reporter-Mr. Gale, have been
requested to ask for an interview
with you, to obtain your views of the
political situation. and of the pres.
ent candidates for Presidential hon
ors, from your standpoint as Good
Templar. l believe you are an Off
Ger Of the Grand Lodge of Good
Templars?
MIR. Gale-Yes: l have been hon
ored with the proud position Of
Grand Worthy Chief Templar of
Washington Territory and British
Columbia.
Reporter-Will you have any OBJ
lection to give me your views on the
present political outlook and the
Presidential candidates?
Mr.. Gale-It would be difficult
for me to do justice either to myself
or the grave subject you mention, in
O personal interview of this nature.
Reporter-Would it then be ask
ing too much to request you to an
swer few questions in writing
First, your opinion on the political
outlook; second, your estimate of
the candidates before the people,
and your views of the duty of tenn
perance men in the pending national
contest.
Mr.. Gale-I will endeavor briefly
to state my views; but first of all let
me state distinctly that am only
giving my views as an individual,
and not as the mouthpiece of any
organization with which I may be
connected. I would bo especially
careful in answering questions as to
the proper course for Good Templars
10 pursue. lest l should seem to uso
my official position to dictate to our
members. AS an organization, be
liave the Independent Order of Good
Templars should keep aloof from po-
litical organizations; yet as individ-
uals they should, as all good citizens,
be interested in our national politics.
First, The Political SITUATION. "
In my opinion the political situa-
ton is a grave one, aud to some
extent critical. As see it, the ma
ton is on the eve of crisis in it's
history, the vital question being,
Shall we as nation so forward to
renewal of prosperity, or retrograde
and lose the vantage ground gained
by years of toll? I think it is not
wise to run off on q single idea at
this critical juncture, thereby jeo-
pardizing all heretofore gained.
The CANDIDATEs-I fear my ability
to analyze those men whom national
conventions have placed before the
people for their suffrage; yet as an
American citizsn l have views of
even these celebrities.
Butler, double candidate, is in
my opinion the least to he trusted OF
any man who has been prominently
before the people within the past
twenty years. He has never yet as
sumed role that did not have
Butler" for its central figure. He
is call things to all men" that he
may use them to his own personal
advantage, and no sooner has he
succeeded than he forsakes them
and looks about him for :" new worlds
to conquer" He might be termed
an intellectual jumpiug-jack, whom
all, especially laboring people,
should scrutinize carefully before
trusting him.
St. John, another double candi-
date, has provoked some comment
within few years past as a prohib-
itionist. I call to mind, even re-
Gently, when he bitterly scorned the
imputation of being classed with
prohibitionists, and if my memory
serves me, and l think it dses, about
ten years ago, St. John, while q
member of the Kansas Legislature,
on at least two important measures.
voted to sustain the whisky interests
and directly against the prohibition
lists. Soon thereafter it became evi-
dent that the temperance people
were destined to oontrol Kansas and
St. John, with all the grace of a
shrewd politician, stepped to the
front and rode into place on the
crest of the temperance wave. l
have no regard for man who op-
poses q reform until be sees it be-
coming popular, and then makes it
his hobby to gain place. 1 regard
every vote cast for st, John as a
half-vote for Cleveland, and cannot
believe it the duty of any Good Tenn
plar to vote even relatively to put
the Government into the hands of
our lifelong political enemies-a po-
litical party of superannuated stolid-
ity, from whence never sprung or
developed one single idea of progress
or reform. l repeat, "Can temper
ance people afford to throw their
votes where they are directly en-
hancing the prospects of that party q
success ?"
Clevelsnd.-William Purcell, one
Of the most prominent Democratic