Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1886-09-09
II CARD.


ing statement:
During the Temperance Campaigning at
Shenandoah Junction one OF their speakers J.
L. Thomas, who | learn Is PAID state lem
perance Lecturer, made the charge against me
in public address that in the canvass io1r
years ago | promised the Temperance people
that | would vote for the submission OF the
Prohibition Amendment to the State COnstitu-
ton. which charge then declared TO be false
and do now so declare. / made no promise TO
any one that | would vote for Its SUBMISSION,
nor did | promise any one that would vote
against the submission.
| took the position in the outset that would
not make any promises TO either party on the
Prohibition proposition. 1t was not aquestlon
in the nominating convention. was nomlna-
ted as a Democrat. by the Democratic party, IN
opposition TO the Republican party, ana 10
have promised either party on that question
would have been 10 drive the other away from
me and thus defeat my election and the party
that nominated me- Shortly after my noml-
nation a committee appointed oy the temper
ance lodge at Shepherdstown wrote me d let
ter demanding to know how was going to
vote on the Prohibition Amendment, If elect
ed declined to answer their letter, but went
to them i'm person, stated 10 them that had
been a Son of Temperance from my youth, ana
claimed to be as good and consistent TEN
perance man as they had i'll Shepherdstown'
made them no promise The result was thaI
a portion of their lodge became offended ana
voted against me. After the charge made a
gainst me at the Shenandoah Camp Meeting
endeavored at once to see every one that had
any conversation with during the campaign on
the Prohibition question, and have seen all
that can think of, and every one, with eX-
ception named below, has stated TO me that
made them no promise. One decided Temper
ance man stated to me that had told him at
that time it was not my business to be making
promises few days since drove TO Gerards-
town with a friend 20 see Mr. Morgan Editor
Of Temperance paper and Mr.. j. +. stump.
The latter failed TO see on account OF his aO-
sence from home ! had not supposed there
was any one who would sustain the charges
made at Shenandoah Junction. But Mr.. Nor
gan expressed himself in conformity with
card published at solicitation OF Mr. j. T.
Stump. but admitted to my friend 1t was posi-
BILE he might have been mistaken In his con-
Struction of my conversation, rs stated that
had been Son of Temperance from my youth
and friend and we'll wisher of the cause. lie
then produced copy of late issue of his pa
per containing a statement of Mr.. J. L. Stump
and himself that told them, without mental
reservation &c, that ! would vote for the sub
mission of Prohibition amendment II elected.
[ told him then their statements were not true
| (which ] now reiterate,) that had taken the
position in the outset that | would make no
promises to either party. TO which position |
adhered, and they had misunderstood or mis-
construed my conversation. This converse
| ton occurred before the convention met. There
was but one delegate from their town 10 the
convention and he expressed himself favoraoly
| TO me and was not connected with the lem
perance order. / had no assurance that l
would get the nomination, and there was no
| good reason why should make such a promise.
sl,n Dr,laf ION IN al H.
troduced into the Senate | was much perpleX-
ed to know what was my duty. Having been
| "A friend of the Temperance cause all my life.
my feelings inclined me to that side While
always holding to the doctrine that Repre-
sentative is public servant and duty requires
| him to represent the sentiment OF the majority
| of his constituency | was then and am now
| inclined to the opinion that the majority OF
| the voters of this Senatorial district were OPP
posed to the Prohibition Amendment TO the
| State Constitution. When it became apparent
TO me that the Republican party was endeav-
| oring to make political capital by forcing the
| Prohibition Bill through the Legislature, hop
| ing thereby to harm the party in power-the
| Democratic party at that time having nearly
| two-third majority in the Legislature-would
| have been held responsible for It's SUBMISSION,
| which would have come up at our October e.
lecton, 1884, for ratification. just previous TO
| November Presidential election. Looking at
| the question from that standpoint ! could not
| for moment entertain the thought OF being
party to a proposition that would bring about
such a result as the turning of our State over
to the Republican party at the October election,
for if lost then to the Democratic party certain
to be lost at Presidential election in Novemb'r
aud thus greatly hazard the election off DEM
ncratic President of the United States. Which
view of the question decided me at once to
stand by my party, which position have new
er regretted As TO the rumOr which learn
has been circulated by some that promised
and pledged myself to the manufacturers and
dealers of Martinsburg and Berkeley county,
refer not only to them but to any dealer in
this district or elsewhere, in proof of the fact
that neither promised nor committed myself
in any way as to how would vote upon the
prohibition question. l have endeavored to
give a calm, honest and faithful review of the
question. and written much more than | ex-
pected. J. 5. MELVIN.
+. >. In the Registers publication of Mr.
Stump's card, the real motive of that gentle
man in publishing that statement is omitted
to-wit MY veracity is thus called in ques-
| ton"