The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-03-06
DUvAL is UNIQUE.
Democratic Seventh District
Leader a Prohibitionist.
Will Fight i'm Convention to Pre-
vent Declaration Against 1t.
FAVORS RESUBMISSION.
Thinks Majority Sentiment
Should Be Secured.
Would Not Commit His Party
For or Against Prohibition.

Claude Duval, of Hutchinson, who
made the race in the Seventh district
two years ago against Chester I. Long,
has some new ideas which he will adj
vance at the Democratic convention at
Wichita, if he is delegate, and he
probably win be.
Duval Is peculiar. He is Democratic
prohibitionist- He is also a prohibition
travelling mantle is Furthermore q
resubmissionist, but he advocates re-.
submission simply as believer in the
theory that the majority should nave q
chance to express themselves, and not
for the purpose of overthrowing the
prohibitory law.
Duval is the w. ]. Bailey of the DEM
ocratic party. He is just about as mag
netic personally as is Bailey. He is a
good mixer, and has a strong personal
following all over the Seventh district.
He declares that he does not want to
run for congress again, but he could
doubtless have the fusion nomination in
the Seventh district for the asking. If
he had aspirations in that direction he
might even secure the anti-Republican
nomination for governor.
Il do not know what the Democratic
state convention win do, said Mr. Dur
val in discussing politics, but it is my
opinion that we should reiterate the
principles of the Kansas City platform
But the campaign should be made on
state issues. There seems to be dis
position among the Democrats to de-
clare in favor of resubmission and make
that the principal issue of the cam
paign. / believe that is all right if it
is made with the end of securing an
honest expression of the will of the peo-
pie and not for the express and avowed
purpose of overthrowing the prohibi-
tory law.
Il am not opposed to prohibition. In
fact, 1 believe the prohibitory theory is
and sobriety. Some of the Republican
.heelers' helped to defeat me two years
ago by going among the jointists and
telling them / was prohibitiOniSt and
a Sunday school superintendent, and
they would better vote for Long. If |
am a delegate to the Democratic state
convention 1 shall vigorously oppose
any resolution in the state platform
committing the party unanimously
against prohibition
But 1 would like to see a resubmis-
sion plank in the platform pledging our
candidates for the legislature to vote
for proposition to submit the prohibit
tory amendment at special election to
be called within five months after the
passage of the bill, and also pledging
our officials, from governor down, to
vigorously enforce the prohibitory law
in case the people of Kansas declare
they want is continued.
Il would make it plain in the plank
that the party was not committed either
for or against prohibition but only to
the proposition of allowing the people
to express themselves on it. After it is
resubmitted it would then cease to be
a partisan issue. Personally, l would
get out and work for the continuance
Of prohibition, but my brother Demo-
crat who is opposed to 1T would work
the other way. Neither of us should be
committed by our party for or against.
My reason for providing that it be
submitted within five months after the
passage of the bill is to prevent either
side from importing voters. One of the
arguments advanced against reSubmis-
sion is that the liquor interests would