The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1891-09-19
PAPER OF MCLEAN co.
Prohibition "Harm0ny."

The following circular letter has been
received by the editor of the Record from
Ex-Attorney General Goodwin, of the state
republican central committee, addressed
to the former as a member of the committee
from this district:
Lisbon, N. D., Aug. 81, 1891.
Hon. d. R. Streete1, Williamsport, N. d.:
Dear Sir nclos you herewith copy
of 4 letter this day received from Hon.
Judson LaMoure. As you are probably
aware, I addressed a circular letter some
time last June to the chairman and men,
bers of the state executive committee
urging the importance of early and united
action by the party and suggesting a meet
ing of the executive committee at Grand
Forks. Such proposed meeting was not
held. 1 am still of the opinion that an
early conference of the central committee
n the party leaders should be held, in
order that the party may be properly or
ganized and equipped for the campaign
of 1892. am also desirous to take no
action that will not meet the approval of
the party sentiment in the state. In view
of the letter above referred to, what would
you advise? IT you favor a meeting this
fall, what time and place would you sug-
gest?. Yours, truly.
GEO. F. GOODWIN.
Willia,nsport, N. D., Sep. s, 1891.
Hon. Goe. F. Goodwin, Lisbon, N. D.:
Dear Sir think the meeting might be
of good to the party. If the central COM
mittee would assembl and resolve that, in
their judgment. the question of the en-
forcement of the prohibitory law should
hereafter be kept out of the platform, and
that the support of prohibition should no
longer be made a test of republication
in the state, it would please three-fourths
of the members of the party in this section.
A good share of the republicans of this
Legislative district have swallowed the two
state platforms Fargo and Grand Forks),
prohibition and all. But they are growing
tired of the whole business. They will be
republicans hereafter, as in the past; but
Ouof WILL uOt, AL eUouO ~ AOSAo1oVAVO OoA-
tests, voet for a principle that they believe
to be wrong. For my part, my first vote
WAS for Gen. Grant and negro suffrage in
Missouri. + + Il 1 love the republican
tional principles. Loyalty to these prin-
ciples is all that should be asked of repub-
]icans. Many of those in this state who
now shout loudest for the party are not
republicans; they are prohibitionists.
They would willingly see the party downed
on every other issue if thereby they could
insure the stability of their specially. l
look upon the present prohibitory law as
unrepublican, %tyrannical, and a manufac-
turer of law-breakers and hypocrites. I
have no respect for the statute, and no
more sympathy with its enforcement than
the old abolitionists had with the enforce
ment of the fugitive-slave law. Prohibi-
tionists and straight republicans cannot
h%armonize. They will no more mix than
oil and water. No license republican
should rest content until another vote is
obtained o the appetite law. A dozen
meetings of the state central committee
could harmonic matters. The feeling of
antagonism is growing, and next fall there
will be an energetic protest from the high
license republicans.
You ask my advice as to date and place
of meeting. With no disrespect to the
gentlemen of the committee, but in view
of the mixed condition of things political
brought about by the prohibs, permit me
to suggest April l next as the date, and the
place of meeting the commemorative IN
stitutiOn at Jamestown.
Respectfully. D. R. Streeter.