Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1906-11-02

Mr.. Howard G.. Miller,
Norton, Va.
Dear Sir
l have your OF the 18th, inst. Your
first question is "What is the policy OF
the Anti-SaloOn League in its relation
TO politics." / may state that this
question is virtually answered on
pages 3 and 4 i'm the October issue of
the Civic Sentinel and 1 am pleased to
enclose you one which will save time
I'm making n restatement. / may add
that the League deals with a strictly
moral issue only. 1t does not concern
the League whether a man is a Demo
crat OF n Rep ublican. 1t has no more
interest in one party than another, for
It's friends represent all parties. While
the Ohio officers of the League were
nearly all Republicans, they did not
hesitate TO give Ex-Governor Herrick's
record on the liquor question in order
TO be true TO League principles. The
result was the election of n Democratic
Governor, not because he was Dem
ocrat, but because he stood "four
square" on this great moral issue.
The candidate for Lieutenant Gov
ernor, n Republican, was elected
because his position on the liquor
question was acceptable. Temperance
advocates, League members and
thousands of christian voters scratch
/ ed Ex-Governor Herrick's name and he
was defeated by the moral forces.
The Governor died and now Lieuten-
ant Governor Harris is now Governor
OF Ohio and n good one.
If l am not mistaken by question
two you are not asking what the policy
OF the League, as such, should be, but
asking me, as citizen, with knowl-
edge of League principles applied, to
give my opinion in regard to what the
attitude OF temperance advocate,
League member, or good citizen
should be in order to be consistent in
the practice OF League principles. Or.
in word, what should be the logical
result OF temperance advocates, Lea
que members and good citizens making
personal application of putting
theory into practice.
may say, first OF all, that I have
attended our National Superindents'
! Conference, National Conventions, had
five years experience 10 League work
and shall, in the light of all this, give
my opinion to the best of my knowl-
edge and ability. I feel more at liberty
TO do this as an individual when I
have no prejudice toward any political
party. The Mayor of Toledo recently
said Patriotism should stand against
patriotism; and straight conscience
against straight vote" he further
adds that men who belong to a party
are not free. They are owned. In a
free country men should be free and
not wear yoke of party bondage. 1
do not consider that failure to SUBJ
port every man in a party who may
become candidate regardless Of his
character and habits, disloyalty to
party. The highest type of loyalty
is manifest when man is loyal to his
own principle and the highest princi-
pie deals with moral issues.
With an extended knowledge of the
personal habits OF both the candidates
and their service in the cause Of tenn
perance, my deepest convictions leads
me TO the conclusion that those who
love the cause of temperance, who are
true to League principles, and good
citizens, and above all, Christian men,
to be consistent, should support Mr..
Bruce, whose service TO the cause of
temperance while in the State Senate
was all that could be desired and |
whose personal habits back his inter-
est in temperance reform. There is
no question about his attitude and
deep interest and manly life. He is In
every sence the type Of gentleman,
and an honor to Southwest Virginia.
The good people Of both parties of
the 9th district have been unfortunate
in the past in Congressional candidates
so far as the moral issue Is concerned.
Not so now. The lire is clearly drawn.