The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-09-24
Mr. Sanders, Defeated Candidate,
 GiUes His Vieuus on Politics

A. c. Sanders. of Goshen. Pike Coun-
 ty who was an unsuccessful candidate
 for Congress in the Second District.
 has written The Advertiser his views
 and his reflections on his first venture
 ii.to politics. The letter of Mir. Sand
 CTS Is as follows:
 Editor The Advertiser:
 About two months ago I entered
 public life for the first time.
 had never studied politics, but
 had been deeply interested fin public
 questions for long time. These. had
 studied from the viewpoint of the com
 mon masses. with whom my lot had
 been cast, upon whom the government
 and the nation has its chief reliance, and to whom 1t must look for its sup port and preservation.
 did not rely upon political intrigue.
 I was guided by no other motive but
 to serve the hest interests of our coun- try.
 My heart yearned. then. as it does now. and as 1t always will, for a bet ter appreciation of the rights of the masses: for a broader and more eQuit-
 able conception of related interests and
 related rigats. and for a common ad-
 vancement to hig..er plane of civiii- zation.
 To this end I spent about six weeks OI tlIiir. bHahCHc0 AkOht PAC15Ahk hN- ties at home.
 Measured by the light vote received
 at the polls. my effort might be re- garded as a failure. but I know that such is not the case. It was impossible for me during that shcrt tine--unaid- ed except by a few personal friends at home: without organization. and with out money to purchase public notice and public favor--it was impossible for me to have established myself In the public mind. and to have won against two others who were organiz- ed and backed by powerful influences. which had formed themselves into two mighty forces, had lined up Into a pitched battle and had crystaiized their efforts and centered upon their respective candidates, even before my name reached the people.
 lost. not because my doctrine and my platform were not looked upon with favor; not because I did not im- press the people with my ideas and convictions: but because of the over shadwing influence of the prohibition ists on the one side and the advo- cates of personal liberty on the other. In the extreme heat of the battle cone side) took on very much of the nature of organized religion, battling for support. and recognition and pro- pagatfon through the organic laws of hn0 lADu.
 The other, though 1t was character ized as the whiskey element, 1t was | actuated and animated in large de gree. by that same spirit that severed | the British crown from American insti- tutions, that opened up the American | forests to the promuigation of protest
 ant religion: that tore asunder the ] chains that bound church and State | together; that left religious propaga- | tion In its truest. its freest and It's most fertile field--the Gospel Dispen- sation of the word and the spirit and | the power of God. In short, 1t was the | spirit that unshackled man, put him | upon his merits, developed his capacity for self government, and gave to the world it's truest and most exalted civil llzation.
 Not all of these things were actually involved in that contest so far as practical results could bring. It was . political game playing to the two forces for support. Yet the
 lines were drawn in that manner. And the lines having been drawn. 1t became