Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-10-18
JOHNSTON ACCEPTS
The Nomination of the ProhibitiOnists
Late but Welcome.
A SHORT AND SHARP CAMPAIGN.
The Candidate Will Stump at Once in the
Cause of Temperance.
A LIGHTER VOTE THAN LAST EXPECTED

The Prohibition convention at Harrisburg
having chosen ]. r. Johnston, treasurer of
the Pittsburg Oil Exchange, as the candi-
date for State Treasurer in the fall election,
he has received letter of notification from
John A. Mcconnell, chairman OF the COM
mittee. In it the chairman says the notlh-
cation was delayed somewhat, which he ex-
cuses by saying the committee deemed it
wise to make the campaign short and sharp.
The letter of acceptance of Mr.. Johnston,
which is somewhat brief, but pointed, was
given to the public last night and is as fol-
lows:
PITTsBURG, PA, October IL, 1889.
To John A. Mcconnell and Others Of the Commit
tee:
GENTLEMEN-In reply to your notification
of my nomination to the office of State Treas
urer by the Prohibition party take this op-
portunity TO express to your committee and
through the committee to the Prohlbitionists
of Pennsylvania my gratitude and sincere
thanks for the honor conferred in choosing me
as their standard bearer in the coming cam
paign.
In replying to the nomination thus rendered
permit me to reafirm nv adherence to the
principles OF the Prohibition party believing
them to be right and being right, believing they
Will prevail.
In the progress of civilization and the devel-
Opment oil advanced and llDeral 1nrInS OF gov
eminent whereby the people are accorded the
greatest possible liberties consistent with safe
". questions of vital importance arise, and
which must of necessity be solved.
The suppression of the liquor traffic evil
being q question of great prominence before
the people of this State and nation at the present
time. affecting, as tdoes. all social political and
moral reforms, demands at the bands OF the
law-making power the people, careful consid-
Grafton as to the best means to secure the same.
Our system of government is wrought out
r1eer HTRh
adopt and advocate certain methods for the
settlement of pending questions requiring gov
ernmental solution, such as the suppression of
the liquor traffic.
Three political parties exist in Pennsylvania
and submit in their platforms methods which,
il successful in securing through the ballot box
in force for the settlement of all pending Ques-
tions. 1t will scarcely be denied by any think
ing person that the most pressing question for
practical solution at the present time is that Of
the suppression of the drink traffic
The Democratic party defends the liquor
traffic by its opposition to prohIbitory, which it
calls sumptuary, laws, and favors its perpetua-
zion by license laws. The Republican party in
the past had no policy for or against the liquor
traffic until by official declaration at its recent
State Convention it declared that il heartily
indorsed the Brooks high license law" thereby
adopting as Its method for the suppression of
the liquor traffic restricted Equalization by high
license laws, thus repudiating prohibition as
means for the correction of the evils arising
therefrom.
The Prohibition party was organized and ex-
lists for the purpose of securing the suppression
of the liquor traffic by prohibitory enactments.
Il repudiates any policy or plan that tends to
legaliZe or license the same. At the same time
it takes hold of other political questions. such
as the protection of the Sabbath, trusts, labor
problems, foreign emigration, etc, and clearly
defines its policy toward the same, as a reading
of its declaration of principles will disclose and
being party of sobriety is more eminently
fitted for handling the affairs of the Govern
a
viduals is always advisable.
1t may be said by some earnest conscientious
persons who desire the abolition of the drink
traffic that it is not properly question for
political solution, and should be left with NOR
alists rather than with statesmen to solve.
Webster defines politics to be ''the science of
government, that part of ethics which has to do
with the regulation and government of State
or nation, the preservation of its safety, peace
and prosperity, the defense of its existence and
rights against foreign control and conquest,
the augmentation of its strength and resources
and the protection of its citizens in their rights
with the preservation and improvement of their
morals This clearly indicates that any Ques-
ton affecting the people in their moral or ma
terial rights as does the suppression of the
liquor traffic, is proper one for political agita
ton and political action, and. therefore, most
certainly proper as a basis of principles on
which to establish political parties.
The nominee, in becoming the Candidate,
loses his individuality, and as such accept
the nomination so generously rendered.
Again thanking the Prohibitionists of Penn
sylvania for the honor thus conferred re-
main Very truly yours
JAMES R. JOHNSTON
Mr.. Johnston starts out to-day on the
stump and will proceed to make as many
converts as possible to the cause of cold
water before the snow flies. The recent d.
vision on making temperance a political
issue in the ranks of the W. C. 7. o., in the
opinion of temperance leaders, indicates
that the next vote will be much smaller
than the last one