Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-12-14

| ing and not allow himself to be led into
i'll advised action by agitators Some
other man is waiting for his position. IL
you have a good Job hang on to 1t I'M
til a better offers. The chances are
that another as good may not be read
I lily fl and.
THE "THI7D PARTY" AND THE LEAGUE.
The leaders of those prohibitionists
who affiliate with what is termed the
third party. and those temperance re-
formers who constitute the anti-Saloon
League, are not in accord. The parti-
san organization charges deceit against
the league in that 1t failed to deliver
league votes to the prohibition party.
Some Of the third party men put up
cash to assist the league in It's work,
and when this fund failed to crystalize
into an increased partisan vote for pro-
hibition, the cry Of deceit arose. AS a
prominent prohibitionist puts 1t, sac
red pledge remained untitled by pro-
fessed Christians and "the vote demon
strates that the liquor fraternity have
more honor or more knowledge as to
duty than the average anti-saloon
Lacquer"
These be bitter words to pass be-
tween men guiltless Of wrong doing.
There is the bitterness OF disappoint-
ment in them. The prohibition party
expected a notable increase in Its vote
this year and failed to get it. Per-
haps it's leaders expected this increase
from the votes of the anti saloon
leaguers. Perhaps they took "Fathe:
Coffin's statement that I'VE Of the
anti Saloon League are pledged to vote
for no man unless he is against the
saloon" as a true forecast Of what
might be expected Of the voters. II so
they were disappointed. 1t seems that
their knowledge of the situation should
have foreshown the utter futility Of
such hope. Father Coffin, nor a hum
dred men like him, could deliver the
vote of an organization founded on
the principle Of -partisanahip to
the prohibition party in presidential
year and especially in Roosevelt
year. He might have pledged the sun
and stars with almost as much proba-
bility of delivering the goods.
If the prohibitionists put up money
to the Anti-saloon League with the
idea Of an annexation Of it's voting
strength to the third party. they were
deceived, and self-deceived. II they
were bunkoed they did 1t themselves
and like the countryman who buys the
Masonic Temple for so are not likely
to be the beneflciaries Of any lively
sympathy. 1t is scarcely credible that
the leaders of league so catholic that
it includes members Of every political
party in existence deliberately pledged
to prohibition leaders for price vote
they knew they could not control or
deliver.
1t Is the privilege OF all men to con-
tribute financial aid to or withhold it
from any movement OF whatever nat
ura as seems to them fit and proper.
1t is, however, without the province Of
the prohibition party to cast dscredtt
upon another organization Of temper
ance reformers quite as sincere and
far more effective in securing actual
results.
While open in Instances to adverse
criticism In its personnel and perform
ance, the .Anti-Saloon League must be
credited with having Instituted and
carried on most Of the successful pre-
ventive measures against the spread
of the saloon. It has fought and de-
feated dozens Of mulct petitions dn the
interior counties and kept the open
grog shop out of hundreds of Iowa
villages. In this 1t has had the sup
port and active assistance of individ
ual prohibitionists and temperance adj
vocates without regard to partisan
afT1liation. It's non-partisan feature has
been a source of strength where the
fierce partisanship Of the political pro-