The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1905-10-31
PROHIBITION DISCUSSION
Mr.. Toel E. Bruson Makes A Hot Re-
tort To Mr.. A. G. Jones.

Courier: In your issue of the 2oth
instant you print an interview with
Mr.. A. C. Jones, which is so utterly
absurd, and in which he uses my
name so freely, I am constrained TO
ask space in your paper to present the
records as briefly as possible.
The prohlbitionists of the state held
a convention April Il, 1893, and named
certain persons as their candidates for
the democratic nomination to be made
in the general primary, and Mr.. Jones,
as prohibition state chairman, pub
ished card few days before the
campaign opened withdrawing the
candidates.
Mr.. Jones now says: "Mr. Brunson
has never forgiven me for obeying the
state democratic executive committee
in 1893 when I, as chairman of the
prohibition democratic state execu-
tive committee, was informed that the
suggestion of the candidates by the
state prohibition convention was con-
trary to and in violation of the consti-
tuition of the democratic party OF the
state" r 'The state democratic
convention met very. soon afterwards,
elected a new committee, as I pre-
dioted, declared the suggested ticket
of the prohibitionists irregular and in
violation of the constitution"
From the able opinion which came
to me from Columbia, dated June 3,
with reference to the action of this
new committee, make the following
extract: "The committee met last
night and had a regular "cat and
monkey time' over the prohibitionists.
You will get good report of the pro-
ceedings in the News and Courier o.
today. I have talked with num-
Der of the members and while none
of either side to the controversy is
satisfied with the final expression as
embodied in the resolution of Mr..
Dial, it is generally agreed on both
sides that the committee refused to
declare the 'Prohibs' faction in the
sense which would rule them out of
the primary, and that their pledges, If
filed in exactly the same terms as all
other candidates, would entitle them
to equal rights before the primary
with others"
Pray by whom was Mr.. Jones in.
formed, and what did he obey in the
withdrawal of the prohibition candi-
dates?
Mr.. Jones objects to my calling the
withdrawal 'ssubterfuge." If it was
not subterfuge it was worse. Let us
see. Mr.. Jones sent out little circu-
lar to the prohibition executive COM
nittee, claiming it necessary to with
draw the candidates to get within
democratic rules, and let the candi-
dates go into the primary on their
own responsibility. AS soon as I re-
ceived the circular I opposed the
course. Mr.. Featherstone, member
of the prohibition executive commit
tee, had been urged to become can
didate for lieutenant governor, and IN
his letter of June s, written to me, he
said: '*I have declined to rum" My
reply to Mr.. Featherstone is dated
Tune 8, and is as follows: =.
"Col. Willie Jones sent me "a copy
of the pledge yesterday, and after a
most careful analysis as to intent and
language reach the conclusion that
it was intended only to prevent bolt
ing after the nomination, and though
the language is somewhat ambiguous,
it can only mean q candidate other
than the regular democratic nomlna-
tion,' and said nomination can only be
made at the regular primary. The
language of the pledge will permit a
dozen candidates, of as many different
democratic factions, provided they
are candidates for the regular demo
cratic nomination. and pledge them
selves to support the nomination at
ter it is made in the primary.