The freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1886-18??, 1888-10-31
THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE OP-
POSES STATE PROHIBITION.

Speeches-''I Do Not Believe in State
Prohibition''-Thus He Answers.
The Topeka Leader publishes some cor
respondence between Mr.. J. w. Forest,
of Kansas, and Mr.. Benjamin Harrison,
which will be of interest to all friends of
temperance.
It will effectually settle any doubts that
may exist in the minds of anti-saloon
Republicans arising from the statement
made in the German document sent out
by the national Republican committee to
the effect that
Harrison as well as Morton come from
states iii which the German influence has
prevented all earnest Prohibition efforts,
and on this question they are above
all doubts. If elected they will stick to
their platform, which declares for per-
sonal liberty, and spit upon the empty
temperance resolution which is not part
of the platform"
Mr.. J. w. Forest, desiring to be salts
fed as to Mr.. Harrisons position, wrote
him letter. from which we extract the
following:
TnAyER, Kan, Sept. IL, 1888.
Hon. Benz. Harrison:
DEAR SIR-As you are now before the
people as candidate for president, with
some probability of being elected to that
high position, you are aware that your
views on all political questions are mat
ters of interest to every one, and l think
you will not consider it presumptuous if
say the people have right to know at
this time what those views are. Of course
it is understood, and you have said in
your letter of acceptance, that your opin-
ions are in harmony with the platform
adopted by the convention which NOM
mated you, and, in the event of your cleo
ton, the policy there indicated will be
your policy. On most public questions
that is sufficiently indicated, but you,
think, will agree with me that a large
portion Of the people hold that there is q
question of great Importance to the vel
fare of tho people Of this country that was
only remotely recognized by the Republi-
can convention, and no policy touching it
is indicated in the platform or your letter
intoxicating beverages. Although the
evil has existed in all parts of this coun-
try for many years, it has heretofore been
left to the legislatures of the states to deal
with as they saw fit, and only lately has
it come to be considered public question
of national Importance.
1t is held by some that the president
has but little, if anything, to do with q
question of this character, or can exercise
but little influence in tho direction of
restricting the liquor traffic or mitigating
its evils, but with that view | cannot
agree. 1t is certain that the president is
elected to present to congress his opinions
on any public matter, and ask for such
legislation as he thinks is needed; besides
which as all legislation is reviewed by
the president, he has great power to
hinder or to aid any action on all subjects,
and while congress has no power to enact
prohibition within the states, it C; effect
it in the District of Columbia and the
territories. 1t can also remove the ma
tional disgrace from the public buildings
in Washington and forbid the use Of in
toxicating liquor within public buildings
and grounds throughout the whole coun-
try. 1t seems to me the president can,
by his influence, do q great deal to this
end.
Again, it rests in great measure with
congress and the executive to aid in max
ing prohibition effective in those states
that have enacted it, because, by a late
decision of the supreme court, congress
alone (under its power of regulating com
merce between states) can prevent it's i'm
portatlon into those states, AMI sale from
first hands in original packages Of any
size, at least this is the opinion of able
lawyers. I would like to know your
views, and, in the event of your election,
what will be your policy as near as you can
now indicate it, or whether we can expect
any action on your part, and from what |
think | know of you, | confidently expect
an unequiYocal reply.
am fully aware that the chairman of
tho Anti-Saloon Republicans has repre-
sented you as being in hearty sympathy
with our views, and while l do not doubt
that being the fact, yet as he does not
quote anything definite, or give his au-
thority, many besides myself would like
something more positive than his state
ment.
hoped your letter of acceptance would
make this matter plain, and thus render
this inquiry unnecessary, but in it | only
find that you speak of your pleasure
that the convention did not forget to
express its solicitude for the promotion
of temperance, " and you predict that the
party will in the future be true to its
history in this respect" That may an
sWer very well to inscribe on o banner,
'but neither the banner nor the inscrip-
ton is conclusive, or, indeed, very i'm
portant"
TO this letter. asking an unequivocal
statement regarding Mr.. Harrisons atti-
tude to ards the chief concern of good
government, the following reply is re-
ceived:
IL