The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1906-08-31
NO PERSONAL cRITIcIsM.

Aoob WOOh AoouC ANtoNA'c ~ ~AN
Anti-Saloon League and its work.
Rev. Midyett regrets that we have
seen fit to suspicion the League Of
completely with the Republican
party and writes that he feels ag-
grieved because we have connected
him with the affair. The appear.
ance of the article simultaneous
with his address here caused him
to think that we bad treated him
unjustly. Rev. Midyett states that
he is a minister of the Gospel and
representative of the Anti Saloon
League, in both of which capaci-
ties be has long been engaged.
He also states that be disclaimed
any part in the present political
campaign, and informed us that
the League was non partisan.
We are sorry to have offended
Rev. Midyett, and we have no right
to doubt his sincerity when he says
that he has long been a minister of
the Gospel and a temperance work
er. We knew that the League was
organized as non partisan body,
although we were not familiar with
its constitution. That is fact and
we are also confident that Rev.
Midyett is conscientious in what
he says of himself. We did not
intend to connect Rev. Midyett
individually with these extremes
nor to question bis honesty. But
what first prompted us to grow
suspicious of the League was the
fact that a number of its leaders
had written letters for publication
and same were published in one of
the leading temperance papers in
Tennessee, indorsing the Republi-
can platform. Almost coincident
with this came the organization of
local Leagues in the small towns
of the State just on the eve of a
political campaign for Governor.
Hand in hand with these things
the Leaguers, some of them, are
privately denouncing Patterson,
the Democratic candidate, saying
that they will not support him.
Of course we know that the League
IS constitutionally non political,
out what is the significance of these
.hings. Whether I there is any
money in it or not, it looks like
IN attempt to overthrow the Dem
,cratic party in the State, the party
which enacted the only temperance
aw the State ever had.
The Commercial is ready to apol-
,gize to Rev. Midyett for any in
lignities offered him, if he feels
hat way. But The Commercial
$ Democratic paper, ready al
Ways to defend the Democratic
icket, and when it gets SO we can
lot do this then we will withdraw
rom the party and take it's name
rom the masthead of our columns.
The assertion that the saloon inter
'sts are supporting Patterson is
lot sufficient for anybody to desert
he party. Some very serious
iharges have been prefe red
.gainst Patterson, but his brilliant
areer in Congress and his official
cts as Attorney General are mat
ers of public record and stand
,oldly against such charges. Pat
erson may have been guilty of
ndiscretions of q personal nature.
low many politicians have notl
S his opponent a perfect m an
morally! Are these things suf-
icient to prove that Patterson will
oppose the extension of the Adams
avn Are they sufficient to prove
hat the extension of the Adams
aw depends entirely upon the sue
ess Of the Republican tickets
We don't believe Democrats in
are going to be beguiled
nto this sort of trap, and it is
or their benefit that we are sound
ng the warning.