The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1903-07-22
AN OPEN LETTER.
Headquarters State Prohibi-
~. o. J.lx.

AAAtoo's ~ "a y 49, AONOf
To the Prohibitionists of Missis-
sippi:
Your committee, to whom was
assigned the duty of directing
the campaign for Constitutional
and Statutory Prohibition, deem
it timely as the August primaries
approach, to give out certain facts
in the line of our duty, which it is
believed will give renewed inspi
ration and hope to all friends of
this great moral reform and at
the same time serve as warning
against over-confdence and the
nomination of candidates who are
open or secret enemies of our
cause.
The State Prohibition Mass
Meeting of Feb. II, 1908, whose
creature this committee is, and
which voiced the sentiments of
the Prohibitionists of Mississippi,
made in its platform, unanimously
reported by its committee on reso-
lutions and unanimously adopted
by the meeting, this declaration:
eve favor the submission of
an amendment to the constitution
prohibiting the sale of liquors
throughout the State by the leg
islature at the next session, and at
the short session following, if the
amendment carries, the enactment
of a prohibition statute in accord
with such amendment; and until
the constitutional amendment be
voted on and (f passed) enacted
into statute law, the legislature is
requested to enact such restrictive
amendments to the present local
option law as will effectually pre-
vent the extension, beyond exist
ing limits, of the liquor traffic.
AS to the method of procedure
for securing the desired end the
platform further declared:
eve distinctly disavow any pur-
pose or desire to form a separate
party organization. How
ever, since the consummation
aimed at by prohibitionists must
needs come by Legislative sanction,
and since prohibition laws are de-
pendent for their enforcement up
on civil officers elected by the
people; without disturbing the
party utilization of any prohibi-
ZIONIST, we urge all friends of this
reform to so use their influence
and votes in the selection of can
didates by their respective par
ties in the impending campaign as
to insure the nomination of men
for the legislature and admins
trative Offices. who are friends to
prohibition, rather than its avow-
ed or secret enemies"
The call which brought the
February mass meeting together,
and which was signed by a num-
Der of the leading Democrats of
the State-Judges, State Sena-
tors, Representatives and Others
after reciting the fact that all
nominations in Mississippi this
year would be made by Demo
Gratis who are white qualified
electors, continued:
eff, therefore, Prohbitionists,
ninety nine one hundredths of
whom are Democrats, will come
together, organize and resolve to
make this question an issue in the
primary for nominating a Gov
ernor and Legislators, victory
will be assured"
Hitherto your committee has
been working in a quiet way along
the lines thus marked out, and a
great deal of effective work has
been accomplished by commune
eating with our friends through
out the State by correspondence
and otherwise. Much, however,
remains to be done to assure us
complete victory.
1t will be observed that the
first part of the platform quoted,
contains three specific objects to
be attained: () The submits
sion to the people by the next leg
islature of a prohibition amend
ment; (2) the passage of a State
prohibition law at the first ses-
sion of the legislature after the
amendment is ratified; (3) more
restrictive amendments to the
present local option law, pending
the carrying into effect of the
first two specifications.
Information we'll authenticated
having come to the knowledge of
your campaign committee during
the last month, that at least one
of the candidates for Governor
now before the people is opposed
to any advanced prohibition legis-
lation whatever, and in the event
of his election would use his Off
cial power and influence so as to
defeat or greatly jeopardize all
three of these objects, it was
deemed prudent and best, in dis
charging the commission confded
to us, to address all of the guber-
Material candidates the following
letter. forwarded to the regular
Ipostoffice of each, duly registered
! Headquarters State Prohi-
bition Elk. Com, Jack
son, Miss, June %, 1908.
| Hon. ---
Dear Representing off
cially the prohibitionists Of Mis-
sissippi who, as we feel sure, con-
|stitute large part of the people,
land believing you to be friend
E4<~ l. L