The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1888-11-01
POSITION OF HON. ]. n. MCDOWELL.
He Urges PrOhibitlOnists Net to Vote
for Mr.. Johnson.

W mAS WVMhSVH
Hon. ]. ii. Mcdowell, 1.-THE coming
issue Of the Toiler, will say There
are hundreds of good, conscientious
citizens in Tennessee who are think
ing OF voting for Mr.. Johnson for
Governor, believing it win advance
the cause Of prohibition. Now, let's
reason about the matter a little.
Has there ever been single
State in the Union that was car
ried for prohibition by a political
prohibition party Not single one.
Maine was carried for prohibition over
thirty years by submitting it in non
partisan way. Vermont, New Hamp-
shire, Iowa and Kansas have all been
carried the same way. One hundred
and seventeen thousand votes were
cast for the amendment in Tennessee
last year. Does any man believe if it
had been understood as a political
prohibition party move it would
have gotten one-fourth that vote?
Certainly not. The writer of
this, as we'll as hundreds of
other speakers over the State, last
summer denied the charge that it was
a political move to break up the DEM
ocratic or Republican party. Now,
shall we go back upon our word and
positive declarations made then to
the people to get their votes, that we
were opposed to a third or political
prohibition party? Let us be consist
ent and stand by our declarations.
You can do this, reader, and not sur.
render your conscientious convictions
on this question. 1t now laying aside
principle, but now while there is nc
hope Of effecting any good by it and
may do the cause you love much
harm, had we not better prove to the
world our sincerity by carrying out
the promises made in the, prohibition
canvass last year? The vote showed
last September that a majority Of the
people of Tennessee were opposed tt
prohibition. There is no amendment
up to vote on now and no shadow of a
chance to elect Mr.. Johnson. Their
what is to be gained? You may de
feat one or the other Of the two great
political parties in Tennessee by draw
ing more largely from one than the
other party the votes Mr.. Johnson will
get. II so, you will only make tha
party mad and drive from your cause
thousands OF men who voted will
you for the amendment. Democrat
love the principles OF their party OF
J great questions which affect The
, financial prosperity OF the country
] Republicans believe the same as to tn,
principles of their party, and while
thousands OF them favor the aboIitio:
, of the saloon, they are not willing t,
lay aside these great financial princi
/. Piles affecting their party as a natiol
and as individuals to carry out /
moral principle which they believ,
can be more effectively secured with
: in the lines Of the old party. The Pro
t hibition party has a woman
, suffrage plank bin its plat
form, and without stopping
e to consider the merits OF tina
| question, will say, there are thousand
Q and tens OF thousands Of honest, con
e scientious Prohibitionists who vii
: never indorse that plank by voting 70
: Prohibition candidates. They believ
, it will lower our respect and love foI
: women to mix her up with the rud
!, political world, and that her prope
: sphere and influence for good can b
e better exerted by steering clear polite
: We have been an outspoken opposer O
y saloons all our life, and our record OF
t this question is such that a REASONABLE
!. man cannot doubt our sincerity, an
!. to our prohibition friends who desir
.. to see their cause triumph in the en-
: we say, in our humble opinion, sue
9 cess can best be attained by workin
+ within our respective parties rathe
+ than weakening and dividing OF
strength by forming third party ths
can never attain majority.
e J. H. MCDOWELL,