The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1904-09-16

made his Rutledge speech he wa!
against the Adams law. When die
he change, and why? Can either side
OF any honest man trust a candidate
who is willing to shift his position il
the hope of deceiving the people ant
getting votes? Does he think the
platform of his party was written t.
hold the temperance Republican vote
and Was his speech made to catch the
Democratic anti-temperance vote. No
my countrymen, the gentleman must
be either fish OF fowl He can not &C
through this campaign carrying water
on one shoulder and liquor on the
other. If he is against all existing
! temperance legislation when his party
said it was for it, the people are en-
| titled to know 1t. If he is against the
Adams law, to be consistent he must
! If elected, recommend its repeal. Will
| he do so? The people are entitled to
| know.
: The honest Republicans who wrote
and adopted that platform are entitled
to know. Temperance sentiment and
| legislation in Tennessee has been the
growth of years and has not been con-
fined to any one party. The four-mile
law was passed in 1877, and prohib-
tied the sale of liquor except in incor-
pcrated towns. 1t was tried and its
workings were approved by the peo-
rle. In 1899, in obedience to an IN
mistakable popular demand, the four
mile law was extended and made to
apply to towns Of 1000 population
which might thereafter be incorpor
ated, leaving the people of those towns
to determine, by direct vote, or by the
vote of their representatives If the
legislature was in session, to either
abolish their charters and make the
law apply or not as they pleased.
This law stood and was tried for four
years, and seemed to meet the ap-
prevail of the people.
In 1908, in obedience to the senUi-
ment of the people of all parties, as
expressed in the votes of their repre-
sentatives, this law was amended and
extended to towns of 5000 population,
which might thereafter be incorpCr-
ated. leaving it, as in the old law, for
the people to abolish their charters
and make the law apply, if they
the legislature is in session, and thor
AS their representative might be IN
structed by his constituency.
In the house siXty-nine Democrats
oted for the bill and eleven against
it, and twelve Republicans voted for it
and none against it. In the senate fif-
teen Democrats voted for it and twelve
against it, and five Republicans voted
FOR it and none against 1t. I did not
recommend that bill and had nothing
to do with its passage, and while
Lave always been conservative and
never an extremist upon these qlies-
tons, and while I am not now and
l:ever was a prohibitionist, I signed
and approved that bill in obedience tc
The will of my party and of the people
Of Tennessee without reference 10
party, and have no apology to offer
for it. l stand by the Adams law and
am opposed to its repeal. am in
favor of giving it a fair and honest
trial. When we have done this. if it
proves to be wise and benefcent |
proves to be On unwise and an unjust |
law then the people can and will send |
their representatives so instructed, |
and the Democratic party will find a |
way 10 repeal it.
The platform of my party declares |
or this law. | am 4 Democrat, and |
stand on that platform. If I could |
not conScientiously stand upon it, be- |
sore / would repudiate or abandon it, !
Or any plank of it, would Withdraw
rom the race and ask my party to !
'ther man, who believed in it ard !
,ould honestly stand upon it's plat
Crm. l would not have the office Of !
governor if | had to get it by false pre-
enses and by repudiating the platform
md principles which my party had
TIitten and upon which l was no.ni-
lated
If there be one Democrat here who
loes not approve of this legislation Of
lis party, then 1 say to him. we car
lot always get all We want In
,et more than he wants in Ten
'essee and in the nation through
Democratic success than he can
hrough Republican success. Let
ne say further, what can any Demo
lat who does not approve of this law
Iope Tor on this subject from the Re
uhlican party? That party cast its
unanimous vote for the law on its
assage; declared for it in its plat
orm, and in the next legislature will
tand with Its few votes solid againet
IS repeal, and the Republican candi-
ate for governor is only webbing on
he gudgeon with the hope of fooling
ONE good Democrats and getting
nough of their votes to place the Re
ublican party in power in Tennes-
ee. My Democratic friends, beware. D.,
he Republican party is trying to sell
on a gold brick.
But there is one charge made by ,
ny competitor in his opening speech, -.
which I desire once for all to deny