Evening journal., 1907-10-21
Mr.. sayIor's Viewpoint,

Editor THE EVENING JOURNAL
II is with great reluctance that I ad-
dress your readers Upon this occasion.
Neither would do so only for the reason
that my conscience does not permit me 10
remain silent when the opposition TO IL
cense has stopped so low as TO rid'che the
opposition not only IN the streets but in
the newspapers as we'll. They have not
stopped at ri6cuie. however, and have
adopted q policy OF falsehood. Despite the
fact that the friends Of license and order
have been gentiemaniy throughout the
campaign. the conduct Of the opposition
has been outrageous and at times almost
unbearabIe. II IS true that for the past
thlrty-hve years I have bten opposed 10
the principle OF prohibition. knowing fr m
experience that prohibition IS not only a
misRonier. but that wherever tried It has
been failure and has been followed by
law breaking, degradation and wholesale
prlHical corruption. There being but two
sides 70 this question. the right and the
wrong. all honor to tho man OF the news-
paper that comes out boldly on the sEe
that appears right in the judgment OF
either. In this campaign, however, we
sec newspapers waverine and huttefing,
hrst apparently on this side OF the fence
and then ON the other. and in their wig
Cling they do not even know themselves
where they stand. The same may be sa d
Of many Of the merchants o. che Cdty, wht
are simply leaving the question alone
carrylns water on both shoulders. for feai
Of offending a customer.
This is nothing new. however as busl.
ness men never have been and never VII
be much of a factor IN bringing about
reform. or helping 10 stay an onslaught
on the rights Of the people. This work Il
always as IN this campaign left to tf'
common herd. which God IN Ills inhndtt
wisdom made so many Of. The shame OF
the newspapers. and the business mef
who are too cowardiy TO take sides or
THIS question cannot be condemned IN toe
strong words. and all honor should b
shown any one who displays the manhood
10 openly declare why he is on either sid'
OF the question.
some DAYS since a number Of men N.
oiudins myself expressed the opinion the
to displace the saloons Of Wilmington
with kitchen bars ana sps akedsies w0uI
be a menace to Our boys and girs IN thi
csty. ana decided 10 take the stump again
this invasion Of What we called the . o
I ples rights. Tuesday. October s, our mrs
meeting was held at Fifth and sh'plel
Streets I had the honor Of presidtng q
the meeting. which was the largest publ
gathering ever held al that place Despiti
the fact that the Salvation Army sete.
IN a disordefly manner and reniEine1 after
/ their usual time the meeting was A sue
/ cess. a stenographic report Of every wof'
uttered At that meeting Is IN the posses
SION OF our committee. and 20 read u ans
compare Il with the things that are SAT-
/ 20 have been uttered would make th
/ angels weep.
The prohibition side, finding the argu
ments irrefutaBie. resorted TO fdicu'e
and the name Of every officer IN the Anti
l Prohibition League was pubd n viii
ridicule in an evening newspaper.
! The committee was made aware of IN
identity of the person that csraed ~
truck" 20 the newspaper office. ana le
that suffice
what would the public think n our com
mittee would commence to ffdicule tn
/ prohibition actors ard cal atfent' on 20 IN
burlesdue shows being presented night
be them ana nienane ffr. TODD. WHOM
the workingmen OF this city know a.
right. all right an right, of to "pouid-oi
flesh" Hawkins with his string Of con
stables sales on his te.t. And then {
that batehet-and-saw man. H'r Cafpente
who hammers around Fifth and Sh pie
streets whenever he gets a Job. to the dis
comfort and annoyance OF the uni5n caI
penters close by. And then "a their rine
ing I'm Saturday night Of hack timber. e
q change and The singing OF Where
Ny Cocaine Fiend Tonight" that whlc
made many people crazy. But there al
no arguments IN such allus'ons, and u
: In order to drop their tactics
From the first Il was discovered tins
the Prohibition SIS were ard ore ri
stalking about The city forever rarad'n
With that II am better than thou" spir
which is always the mark of bieots an
in csiEng attention 70 that fact J s'sts
at one Of our meetings. mat tho meat-sa
ing, would-be LIQUOR rroh.bitoaists a