The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-04-18
NOT IN POLITICS.
The Anti-saloon League expects Members to
Work for Reform in Their Own Party.

To the Editor: ] wish it to be under
stood that our Anti-Saloon movement is
| not a movement to establish new politt-
cal party. Our object is TO improve the
| parties that now exist by improving the
| consciences of their constituencies.
The reports that the Asheville League
will fuse" With the Republicans cannot
be true; and / take it that the reports
were sent out by enemies of our move
ment / have the Constitution of the Ashe-
Vile League before me. 1t reads;
ARTICLE VII. The League pledges it
self to maintain strictly inter-denomi-
national and non-partisan attitude.
In this connection l wish to submit
to the public the following description o.
the Anti-S Saloon League as given Off
cially from headquarters. Its title i:
What is the Anti-SaIoon League
wendell Phillips once said Agitation
is the marhallng of the conscience OF the
State to enact and enforce it's laws.
The Anti-Saloon League is a federation
of the churches, temperance societies and
other moral forces of the locality, coun-
ty and State to so agitate and educate
the public conscience as to secure enact
mcnt and enforcement of the laws of the
State against the drinking saloon. The
Anti-Saloon League is essentially .
church movement. The churches of the
State, and of each locality, become the
nucleus around which the other moral
and temperance organizations are gather
ed for the development of that public
sentiment which is essential to success"
The object of the League is the sup
preston of the saloon. In a locality
~ lou
it is likewise the suppression of the ille-
gal sale of liquor in that locality. The
league farther seeks to secure the repeal
of laws which favor and facilitate the
existence of saloons in the State, and
as rapidly as public sentiment will war
rant, to secure the enactment of laws
which will promote saloon suppression.
The League recognizes, as a fundamental
principle, the fact that whether laws are
passed, or enforced after they have been
enacted, is question of local and gcner-
al public sentiment upon the question.
The first work of the League is to tone
up public sentiment, and the continued
work of the organization is to keep the
public demand upon the question at a
pitch of effectiveness. The Anti-Saloon
League is a public sentiment building
society
IAN initial league is usually formed
in each local church or town. The local
county and State league are representa-
tive organizations made up of the various
churches, temperance societies and other
organizations which express opposition
to the saloon and are willing to cooper
ate in it's suppression. The Anti-Saloon
League is omni-partisan, that is to say,
it enlists the members of all the various
political parties. 1t co-operates with no
political party as a party. and opposes
no political party as such. It's purpose
is to secure, as far as possible, the nom
ination and election of persons to fill
the various offices by all political par
ties, who are known to be opposed TO
the saloon. Every member of the Anti
Saloon League is expected to be diligent
in the exercise of the rights of citizen
ship, and to attend the primaries and
caucuses of the political party to which
he belongs, whatever that party may be. =
| may add that the political parties
that remain Indifferent to the demands
of public sentiment have but one fate TO
expect This they must charge to their
own account, not to our leagues. Par
ties that refuse to give the people fair
chance in the primaries or that persis-
tently run over the people deserve to
lose, and nothing is SO sure as that they
will lose.
JOSIAH WILLIAM BAILEY.