The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1907-08-14
TEMPERANCE LAWS
OF Kentucky Due to DEM
OcratiC Party.
ITS RECORD CLEAR AND OPEN
Demonstrates the Adage, "By
Their Fruits We Shall
Know Them"


per organs, and will doubtless be
'claimed by the Republican orators
upon the stump this fall, that the
Democratic party as party is not
committed to temperance and regu-
lation of the liquor traffic in the State
of Kentucky. Also that the temper
ance question is not political ques-
ton. and should be kept out of the
present campaign for State offices
and control of the public affairs of
the State which has worldwide
reputation as the producer of the
finest whiskey distilled.
Let us first look to the declaration
of these papers that the Democratic
party to further the cause of temper
and then we shall turn to he other
suggestion that the temperance ques-
ton is not political one in Kentucky
or elsewhere. Wherefore, by their
fruits we shall know them" Mat
thew, 7-2O. Every temperance law
now upon the Statute books of Ken
lucky has been placed there by the
Democratic party, for it has always
been the majority party in the Legis-
lative halls of the State, even when
the Republicans, for short time, held
the administrative offices of the
State government. We need only to
go back eight years, or since the
Bradley-Taylor regime, to ascertain
what has been done by the Democratic
party to further the cause of tmeper-
ance and to commit that party to tenn
peFance. The record of the Democrat
ic party in Kentucky for law enforce
ment and for moral issues is very well
known to every one who takes an in
terest in public affairs. 1t is under
Democratic administration that
county unit law went upon the statute
books; that the method of securing
indictments of persons guilty of vio-
,ating liquor laws was made more sim
pie, possession of u. S. Government
license being made prima facie evil
dence of guilt; that it was made UNI
lawful to wholesale whiskey in local
option districts, except manufacturers
selling at their mandatory: that it
was made unlawful to ship whiskey
intb local option territory. 1t is under
Democratic administration that the
present effective temperance and
Sabbath observance Statutes were
placed upon the law books of the
State and due credit is given the
party by temperance leaders for what
1t has accomplished and which they
would have been powerless to bring
about but for, its assistance.
Now as to the matter of temperance
being a political question. For years
it has been well recognized as po-
litical question. Its promoters have
had both National and State tickets
in the field for long time. True,
iS has been a matter of small moment,
in political way, for other questions
have occupied the attention of the
two dominant parties in the Nation
and in State. OF late years its champ
ions have come to believe that they
could accomplish more by working
within the two great parties than by
placing ticket of their own making
in the arena, and have worked to Sc
cure pledges from these parties to car
ry out what they are seeking to ac-
complish in tn way of legislation. I'm
til the new Democracy of Kentucky
came into power in 1900, these plat
form pledges were made only to be
f6rgotten when the time came to act.
In Kentucky there has grown up in
these last few years an organiza-
ton known as the Anti-Saloon League
of Kentucky. Its leaders and pro-
moters early learned that they must
turn to the dominant party in the
State for what legislation they ex-
beet. to carry out their purposes and
objects. At the head of this league
is Rev. DR.. M. b. Adams, of Frank
fort. one of the most prominentBap-
fist ministers of Kentucky.The plat
form of the League headed by Dr.
Adams best answers the suggestion
that temperance has no place in pol
tiles. That platform is in few words
as follows:
"The League avoids carefully in
iecting politics into temperance af-
fairs, but studies to thrust temper
ance issues into politics."
In a report just made by DIR.