The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-08-21
THE PROHIBITION CAUSE.
MR.. J. O. JOHNSON. CANDIDATE FOR
GOVERNOR, INTERVIEWED.
He Says the Party Has Brought It's Bag
gage, and VIII Wage a Perpetual
Fight Against the Saloons Until
Every Ono Is Driven Out.


He is quartcred at tho Gayoso, and will
probably remain thro ughout the present
week.
Mr. johnson was standing solitary and
alone at tho hotel desk, yesterday after
noon, when an APPEAL reporter entered
the rotunda on his customary rounds for
news. The gubern atoral candidate on
the dry ticket smiled benigny us lac ex-
tended his hand in friendly greeting. The
reporter throw aside his timdi ty and en-
listed tho former citizen and distinguished
gacst in conversation.
Arc you going TO have any joint dis
cussions with the candidates Of the other
political parties2"
1--WE are ready and willing" said Mr..
job nson, with promptness and manner
which certainly appeared an index to the
absolute correctness Of his remark
what kind Of a canvass will be made
IN the event OF a refusal from these candi-
dates TO enter into joint discussion2"
AS vigorous rs the facilities at our
command will permit We have no great
daily newspapers 10 aid US, and the only
way open 10 reach the masses is by public
speaking and circulars. Our organ, The
Issue, Is also being spread BROADCAST over
tho state, and Is having Its effect for
good"
You arc not entering upon the cam
paign with anything like belief that you
will be elected this year, are your"
"Why not7 With the saloon interests
In charge Of tho various county offices
throughout the State, aud having the ma
chinery OF election against us did we not
poll aud have counted ll7,0O0 votes for
the prohibition amendment"
But that was special election, with
no disturbing conditions 10 claim atten-
ton from followers Of either OF the other
parties. Will not that cut a Considerable
hgurc2"
at may, perhaps, cut some figure, but
hardly as much, believe, ns you seem 10
anticipate. The people who cast those
$1,000 votes, take II. are Prohbitionists
at heart. How then can we presume they
will desert the cause when II il growing
every day aud making an organized and
splendid hght?"
Party lines arc drawn very close, you
know, when n President, congressman,
legislatures, etc, arc ~ DO elected"
Very true, and that il the only reason
] cOnccde the loss OF any Of those votes.
But our friends must remember that the
present Is the only time for which We have
any certainty Of being permitted b. act.
Two years from now thousands Of them |
may DO gone, and wo'll thus have lost the |
opportunity 10 do good. II shall bc our |
agreeable task to endcavor 90 convince all |
OF these friends Of that iaith, and at the |
snmo time draw recruits. When il WIS |
tirst determined by tho Prohbitionists to |
make strRightout fight for the State
offices, ] doubted its cxpediency. NV
reason for this was because had thought
mainly Of tho candidates you have sug-
gcatcd, and could not onumemtc moro
than 100 men who would undoubtedly |
support the ticket After tho step was |
taken, and our organization had Cotton |
down 10 work, my view changed. when
Mr.. Anderson, tho first nominee for GOV. |
crnof, died, and | WIS chosen, against my
desire, 10 succeed him M head Of the /
ticket, ! did 40. determined 10 wage the
war against the American saloons with all
the talents and energies at my command.
| have been among the people in some Of
the leading sections, learned pretty well
what the actual condition is, and can
tell YOU the prohibition vote viii gurprisc
you 10y It's strength. The city oi Nashville
alone will give the ticket morc votes this
time than did the entire State for II. John
IN 1854 That Is fine sample of our
growth, isn't it2'
you have come TO Tennessee, then, 10
rcmnin M third pariy7'
Yes, sir, 10 remain ~ any kind of /
party you may term Il until our cause has
triumphrd. Nothing IN life gives rs nom
SORROW than To- hc disappointed la an old |
friend, and only with the greatest rcuct-
ancc can any one give up an old associate.
We hnd ourselves IN this position today |
With reference 60 the old party ornniEa-
tons. Having looked to them In vain for
help against the greatest foo oi the rcpub-
lic the liquor traffic. thcro il no other
cbur4c left. Hope deferred and hone dis.
appointed have caused our goldly State %
rouse itself 10 action, nnd We now com.
binc 20 do what We can toward securing
immunity irum what has grown 10 he 10 |
the home, 10 society, to the State. the
gpuicsi grici, the greatest evil oi the |
times, the American saloon. After this
grand vote 10y the people II Tennessee ON
the amendment, tho Temperance Alliance
felt assured that both political parties of
tie stale would certainly honor the tcm-
pCmucr cause with not only favorable
mention hut 10y the pledge Of further lcpis.
laiiou that shoud extend 10 the whole
state, aud both parties Wcrc accordingly
requested a. place such panks In their
platforms. Both parties held their con.
yvniions and ignored the wish of the Tom.
pDmucc Alliance aud the voice of the H.
.UD counted votes Ut the very best pcnplc
NJ our state. At q meeting of the ALI
lnco executive committee, ON July -, the |
following resolution was adopted.
Whereas, The temperance Ipcoplo OF
state Of Tennessee, having patiently
awaited the action oi the two old political
PARTIES and realizing the fact that the
rnusr IT prohibition IN Tennessee can homo
.or no aid through either the Democratic
,r Republican parties, aud feeling that No
'annct aid ~ ahct wrong In any cam
,lign, hut that patriotism, love Tor God.
iomc aud native land, demand decided
action upon tho part Of all good mon aud
rue, therefore,
Resolved, That wo now. hcncciorih
mi forever, arc pronounced In favor II
hat party and allied with that party
ahich is unaltrmhly In favor Of pr0hihi.
ion Of the liquor traffic
There Is, therefore, nothinglcit 10 tenn
'crancc workers ot our state but 10 come
,ut from those parties with now and
,randcr hope, q hope based on our own If.
ortH, not on what We thought might and
.hOuld have been done Tor NJ by others
~, with the word prohibition Inscribed
IN our banner, W. today nail Il 10 the
mast and declare Ne will give our lifetime
'norgics 30 this struggle.
"ln other worls, the saloon question.
which las been one Of morals heretofore