Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1894-01-12
FRIDAY MORNING, JAN. IL, 1894.

a FEW WORDS TO THE DEMO-
CRATIC MEMBERS OF THE GEN
ERAL ASSEMBLY.
1t must be clear to you from the history
of the Prohibition party in Virginia in the
last few months. that it is using the Local
Option Law to further its growth as a po-
litical organization and to weaken the
Democratic party. The Democrats Of this
county-a county that has furnished you
sometimes about the entire Democratic
majority in the State-haye had evidence
of this use, to their cost. Also to YOUR
cost: for whatever affects the Democratic
majority in the State affects you as we'll as
lis.
You have seen how the Local Option law
has been used by the Prohibitionis.s with
us. Elections have been held in districts
in our county III which there WAS not a
single saloon of any kind, as a means OF
forming and Strengthening the Prohibition
party. In these same districts soon fol-
lowed campaign, not against the saloons,
for there were none there, but in opposition
to the Democratic party and its State and
legislative nominees. 1t is well known to
you that 10 better entering wedge for po-
litical party can be had, than the opportuni-
tytO conduct d campaign On its most
prominent issue where it meets no political
opponent-for the Democratic party has
never arrayed its organization Oh the side of
the saloons, even to defeat the Prohibition
lists. 1t has contented Itself with the res
olution to keep hands off as long as the sa-
loon was not taken into politics.
You must know by this time that the
saloon has been put into politics. A polit-
ical party has put it into politics and is
using it as means to defeat the Demo
cratic party. 1t attempts to fasten the
saloon on the Democratic party in order to
drive Temperance Democrats out Of its
ranks. If the Republican party were i'll
power in this State the same tactics would
lie pursued towards it. The purpose is
purely political-to further the fortunes Of
The Prohibition political party.
You must as men observent of the poll
tics of your State, have observed that the
last Prohibition fight in this county had
for one of its ablest organizers one of the
most astute Republican tacticians in the
State. And you will find in the Local OPP
ton now billed to come off in Staunton,
that its most skillful managers ale Repub-
licans. 1t is for you to decide whether you
will ,a.fv in ba tatA 70 1,c
weakened by these political sappers and
miners, using the very weapon you put in
their hands-the Local Option law.
You, as legislators, ara not only entrus-
ted with the affairs of your State, but, in
certain sense, the affairs of your party are
also ia your custody. The Democrats OF
the State look to you to see if you propose
to permit an opposition political party to
be built up by a law which a Democratic
legislature passed to quiet the political ag-
Democrats either to repeal the law, OF SO
to modify it as will prevent its being used
as weapon against your own party. You
will find that this opinion is held by some
of the most prominent Temperance Demo
Gratis in Virginia, and among them men
who were largely instrumental in passing
the very law whose use is now being per
verified.
The VINDICAToR addresses these words
of warning to you because it is a journal
of your own political faith, and because it
is published in a city and county which
lave just been made battlefield on which
the truth of every proposition we have put
forth here was made evident. Tie IIohi-
bition is now political party with money,
orators. clubs. literature and every other
appliance of a political party. If you in
tend to fight it, you must take from it
every weapon which can be used to the
damage of your own party, just as you
would the Republican party. And if you
intend to fight it, the sooner you begin the
better, for when it gets strong enough to
combine with the Republican party it will
be too late. To day it is simply question
whether you will help the Democratic par
ty by acting, Or help the Prohibition party
by doing nothing. We have no doubt Of
the choice you will make.