The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-08-10
AN UNBIASED ADDRESS.


Albert Griffin, chairman of the Anti
saloon Republican National Commit
tee, has issued an address to the coun-
try in which he summarizes the work
of the National Republican convention
on temperance mat iers and appeals to
the voters to support the ticket nOmi-
mated by the convention. He gives his
reasons for this advice. Below is Mr..
Gri:fin's address:
Intense partisans and misinformed men are
making SO many Measurements about the nc
ton OF the late Republican National conyen-
ton that it seems necessary to state the real
facts The truth Is that the anti-saioon cause
suffered one defeat and ga ned three victories.
The defeat was the refusal o. the Committee
on Resolutions to put an antisaloOu plank in
the platform. This was NJ first regarded as
Waterloo, and IL the contest had ended there
an overwhelming disaster st the pcals wculd
have been inevttSbie. The nrst victory was
the adoption Of plank committing the party
against the National whisky ring protection
tax, which plank was supported by every de-
cided temperance man on the committee.
Business men know that il Is the retail. and
not the wholesale price OF an article that AZ
fects Consumption. Remembering then thst
the imposition OF a tax Of b gallon on spiEsss
did not cause the slightest increase In the price
of drink OF whisky, that the reduction to 50
cents per gallon was not followed by fall.
nor the subsequent increase TO %
cents by q rise, il 10 evident that the tax
could not have operated ns a restriction.
Remembering. again, that the taxes paid
on liquor amount to about e100OO,0OO o year,
and that all the principal 6istillers, brewers
and Wholesale dealers determinedly oppose re-
pealing the tax. il Is evident that, in some
way it benefits that trade" for 1t g incon-
oeivable that the men engaged IN such bust
ness would be anxious to nav SO much money
for nothing Discussion IL fast max ng tenn
perance men rs solid against the National
liquor tax, as liquor men are now in favor Of it.
State tax on saloons operates very differ
entlv from National tax on the liquor ITSELF
The second victory was the nomination Of
General Harrison, because Of his record as q
total abstainer and an avowed anti saloonist.
When the committee decided not to report an
anti-saloon plank number OF us went through
the Different delegations, urging those who
realized what colossal blunder had been COM
mitted, to support General Harrison as their
second cho ce, on the ground that it had be-
come necessary to nominate some one whose
record would be a platform" So iarge'a num-
Der agreed to this that. when q concentration
was finally attempted, he was found to be the
second choice Of so many that it became neces-
sary for the managers 10 support him. Some
Two or three ballots and then 20 to Mr. Sher-
man. but he was so much stronger than they
had supposed that they could find no excuse
for leaving him. II the committee had reported
an anti-salOon plank the friends OF that cause
would not have made the desperate efforts for
him that they did. and it is more than possible
that some one else would have been nominated.
The third victory was the final adoption by
the convention OF a temperance plank, intro
duced by Congressman Boutel,, of Maine. As
an attempt is being made to create an impress
sion that it is not part of the platform. and was
not intended to mean any thing In particular,
j quote Mr.. Boutelle's opening remarks. as re-
ported by the Chicago Tribune. which is not
friendly to the anti-saloon cause:
Mr. PREsIDENT-On behalf OF large number
Of the delegates Of this convention. by their
request, and In accordance with their wishes
des ne to move the suspension OF the rules and
adopt q resolution to be added to the Repub-
lean platform. The Republican party stands
before the country for the protection of the
ballot, for the protection Of American industry,
and for the protection of the purity OF the
home. fApplausel. The affairs OF Republican
ism in this country stand by the firesides Of the
American people. IApplauseI. The founda-
ton of this grand organization Of ours is the
sobriety. the morality and the virtue OF the
common people. fApplausel. The Republican
party sprang into existence as the champion Of
moral reform in the United States OF America.
iApplauseI. 1t stands to-day. if it stands for
any thing, as the standard bearer OF every
principle that tends to elevate our common
humanity and eradicate the evils which threat.
en- the body polite.
Several delegates excited,y opposed the sus-
pension of the rules or even the reading OF the
plank. but the sentiment OF the convention was
so strongly against them that, after consider
able confusion, it was read as follows (taken
from Chicago Tribune:
The first concern OF eli good government Is
the virtue and sobriety OF the people and the
purity Of the home. tCries OF Good1 The Re-
publican party cordially sympathiZes with all
wise and well-directed efforts for the promotion
of temperance and morality. Loud applause
numbers Of the delegation to their feet and
cries of '-Sood.''1
Nearly every State then seconded the motion
for a suspension of the rules and amid great
enthusiasm, the plank was adopted by rising
vote with only one nay. In short il was evil
dent to every dispassionate person who wit
messed the scene that the Republican party had
crossed the Rubicon and burned ell bridges be-
hind them.
The foregoing is a candid statement OF the
facts. At one time il looked as though all vas
saved the party and the cause. The Liquor in
rerests inper:onsiy demanded that the whole
subject should lie ignored IN the platform. and
that mo Temperance man should be put on the
ticket" even object:og 70 Senator Allison sole
~ because he came from the prohibition
State. The convention answered by nom
mating the most pronounced temperance
candidate IN the field, by disappearing OF
she one National Law that gives aid and
comfort to the whisky ring. and by ALMOST unsn-
imously putting n the platform plank un-
eQu:rccally eyowing the sympathy Of the Re-
publican party TO the entire nation with the
temperance cause
When to such acton Is added the fact that
within the last two years the Republican legis-
lators OF every Republican State excepting
California. Nevada. Illinois and Wisconsin
have angered the dram-selling fraternity BY
passing or attempting to pass laws against
their interests, it is insensate folly to expect
that they W II anywhere support the Republic
IN party. Some OF them may pretend to do SO,
but their promises will be worthless. Dram
sellers are not exceptions to the universal rule
that men seldom vote against what they believe
10 be their own interests.
Under these circumstances Is IL not the plain
duty OF every earnest, disinterested friend of
temperance to give the Republican party a
enemy OF the saloon as candidate. on mod
crate but unambiguous Temperance platform,
while the Democratic candidate is exactly the re-
verse, and stands on a platform denOuncing
sumptuary laws. One OF these two platforms and
candidates will be approved By the .;ation
next November. and, let him sQuirm and chop
logic as he may, the cold clammy fact remains
that temperance man who refuses to support
the Republican ticket consents to Demo-
cratic saloon rule: and. further. that II he
in any way undertakes to still further
weaken the Republican party he becomes.
while thus engaged. An active saloon defender.
He may try to quiet his conscience BY dream
ing dreams, and conluring up visions Of great
things in the future, bur. il he is honest, he
must admit that he is for the present tune
helping the saloon to retain its grip in the
country. Ask the dram seller OF the United