Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1891-08-13
THE RIGHT TO ORGANIZE,
Accorded the PrOhibitiOnists by
Mr.. Pollock, If They Think
Best.
Views on the Party
Question by Hon. Chas.
A, Pollock.
A Beautiful Valley in North Da.
kOta. Some Turtle Mountain
Matters.

kOt0. Some turtle Mountain
Matters.
MIR. Pollock's Reply.
FARGO, N. D., Aug. II, 1891.
To prohibition Committee"
You have written me an "open letter.
through The jamestown Alert. The
well-known responsibility of The Alert,
through whose columns your letter was
published, leads me to conclude that you
are responsible-though it would have
been more manly to have signed your
name that one might know who hit him.
However, have but a few words in
reply:
Iagree with you that "there is cry
ing need for an organization" in our
state, but I would not confne 1t to
prohibitlonists alone. Everyone who be-
lieves in upholdlng the law of the land
should be invited into such an organiza.
tion, be his politics what they may. You
are correct in saying, "We have no pre-.
tense of state organization and have
not had since Mr.. White of Casselton,
died." 1t you know the history of the
"White" organization you will remem-
Der it was non-partisan in it's nature. In
fact, the name Of that organization, "The
North Dakota Non. PARTISAN Temper.
ance Alliance" spoke of its mission.
Such an organization for the purposes of
aiding to enforce the law is very much
needed and should be established in
North Dakota-and I sincerely trust
that the friends OF prohibition when they
meet in jamestown on Aug. 21st, will
see to it that such an organization is ef-
fected. But that is not what Chairman
Dickie wanted.
In common with many others, I re-.
ceived what appeared to be an open let
ter asking me to 60 TO jamestown and
help organize prohibition party, and to
take such action as was necessary to be
prepared for work in in 1892. He also
asked me to write him my views upon
the subject before that time.
I replied in an open letter to the ques-
tions asked, and for this am chastised
by somebody who skulks behind "P-
c." mask.
Now, my friends, cheerfully accord
you the right to organize a prohlbi-
ton party, if you think that the best
plan to pursue-but considerable num-
Der OF believers in the principle of prohi-
bitlon do not agree with you in this idea.
It would come with greater weight had
You presented your faces full to the
front, SO that one could see whether,
during all the tights for prohibition in
the state you we're IN the front rank,
where the bullets were flying the thick
est, or in the rear, kicking because things
did not 60 exactly to suit you. You Will
pardon me, an eye witness to most OF the
struggles for prohibition IN North Da.
kota, when I repeat that but for the re-
publican party you never would have had
prohlbition--more, but for the faithful
ness Of many high license republicans to
party and personal pledges you would
not have had prohibition.
Moure, the present chairman of the re-
W. H. Robinson, of Mayville, both sena.
tors when the law passed, and who were
and are both opposed to prohibition as a
principle, for me to say, but for their
timely aid, on that memorable Thursday
in December, 1889, the law would likely
never have been passed in its present
completeness. I speak of these two men
because know what they did. Other
examples might be given.
You seem to forget that long list of
stalwart republicans like Haugen, Rowe.
Winship, Plnkham, Mccormack OF Ram
sey, Johnson of Trail, Slotten, Allen,
Fisher, Smith, Barlow, Sevensrud, Nc
Cullough, Strom, Ink, Roney and many
others, who, from the beginning, have
fought the battles of prohibition with
consistency and thoroughness.
Will you. PC. please point to me
state in this union where prohibition
has become law that the republican
party-as party-has failed to do it's
duty. At the same time point to me, if
you can, state where the 'prohlbitlon
party" is strong, where the statute books
Of that state are graced by prohibitory
law.
II the republican prohibitionists would
quit their fault finding and attend the
caucuses of their party, those persons
now trying 10 sail into power under the
republican cloak, and who are in fact
but hangers-on, would be relegated to
the rear
Better far follow the example of the
prohibition party of Iowa, which,
through many of it's prominent members
has practically thrown It's entire intlu.
ence to the republican party, notwith-
standing the advice Of Chairman Dickie
to the contrary.
Practical results are what we want. We
have no need for theoretical prohibition.
Yours respectfully,