Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1888-04-20
The REASON FOR IT.
\ Defense of the Methods of the Pro
hibitiOn Party.

ED. CAPITAL. How
me through your columns, (since l
am home so seldom to extend a
cordial welcome to my friend
| Secretary ofState Mcbride, on his
return with health somewhat inn
proved. At the same time permit
me to express surprise that he or any
one else should wonder why the
prohibitionists should call Walter
I. Mills, st. John and other speakers
TO Oregon at this particular time.
Rather, why not do so? We are a
state and national political party
"cOme to stay" and, like Grant,
intending to flight it out on this
line if it takes" all of Il lifetime,
while our work includes vastly
more than themere "moral suasion"
Temperance work of former years.
We are striving for political ascend
ency, as we believe the total
suppression of the legalized
dram shop will never be championed
or advocated by either republican or
democratic party, Though many
thousands in each favor it, and that
our party, or one with like princi-
pies, possibly by another name,
must have control of the govern
ment ifthe object we seek is ever to
be attained.
We are not playing at politics.
We are not on holiday parade.
We mean business. And we are
putting in time, work, money,
literature and speakers in Oregon
just at this time because this is the
particular battle ground. Won't the
republicans and democrats do Just
the same? What would any one
think of a foe in war complaining
that the other side went right where
he was weakest, and put in their
biggest generals and heaviest guns,
instead of going where they could !
not make so good an impression?
Besides, we know that votes OBJ
tanned now will be seed votes for the |
November election. If we make
good gains in June we shall make |
greater gains in the fall. Is that |
bad generalship or unfair? Oregon
is the only state holding an election
just now.
Complaint is also made that we
should not be in the field where re-
publicans are hard pressed, because
many of them are more favorable to
Temperance than are the democrats. |
Suppose for arguments sake that |
preponderance beadmitted. Would |
a general in war pass by section
of country, where he could likely do |
some effective fighting, for the
reason that although those in power
were at open enmity with him, there
were a good many of the masses who
theoretically were not opposed to
his objects, though not in favor of
his way of obtaining the end?
Eastern papers show that wonder
ful activity is being displayed by |
our party in the strongly democratic
states. We have just sent Sam
Small to canvass and organize the
state of Georgia, for the prohibition
party; Sam Jones will also assist.
The temperance democrats will kick
like steers and say "why don't you
go off to strongly republican states
and not come here to injure our
party when you see how we carry
county after county for local option?
You are just republican annex or
aid society" | notice also that
Alabama has just held her conyen-
ton, elected delegates to the national
convention and put state ticket in
the field. Texas, Missouri, Ten
nessee and other southern states
have called similar conventions.
But / must close and hurry south
to Jackson county to work prepara-
tory to its convention at Medford.
Respectfully,
J. w. WEBB.