St. Johns review. (Saint Johns, Or.) 1904-current, 1908-12-25
COM MUNiCATEp

Of Mr.. A. w. Davis defense last
week, ] promised to RI urn TO the
subject again as I considered II un
fair to ask for SO much of your
space.
In his defense, Mr.. Davis gave as
a reason for voting against the Law
and contrary to the wish of his sup
porters, that the methods resorted
TO by both sides we're questionable.
Men were voted from transient gangi
that had no interest whatever in the
town and paid no taxes This was
done by the advocates of license. and
! am glad that he makes the admls.
sion, for II shows what his newly
chosen friends will resort TO. But
what wrong did the dry side do?
Listen to him: "They tackled orts'
mouth precinct to that OF st. Johns
which was legal, he says, but every
fair-minded man on earth knows IL
was unfair" II IL was unfair, DAYS
should not have accepted a nomina.
tion at the hands of those who did It
II IL was wrong, the only way to
rectify a wrong Is by legal process
Did Davis condemn II when doneY
No, he became one OF It's standard
bearers, stood by Il for six months,
and then slaughtered his own china!
Honors were even" he says.
say they we're not. The Drys polled
no Illegal votes. They didn't deal
with transient gangs;" they had an
Interest In their own town ant
paid their taxcs' like men. ihey
tackled Portsmouth on to st. Johns.
That was legal The Court so pro.
njinted IL. and what is legal Is
right so long as II remains on tne
statute Book The action OF the
"wcts" In voting those transient
gangs" was wrong. But srantge To
say by the peculiar workings of iba.
Wis mind he votes In the interests
OF those who voted the "trans'en,
gangs" was wrong. Hut strange To
We can all think as We like. and
thank God no one can hang us for
thinking.
MIR. Davis further says: "thc result
OF the election In IN doubt as to tue
real bona fidc vote OF the actual
c,tiZens Of 81. Johns, 80 thot nE
emergency existed ON account OF
these conditions. and Il was up 10
tho council 10 do something To I'M
prove matters" instead o. going
back TO license the only right way to
improve matters was to seize the
wagon load of liquor that he speaks
about, oonfiscato II, aud put tue
transgrcSsors into Jail as thcy did ~
..ioany last week.
In finding fault with the way tue
anti.liquor law was executed Ia ~.
Johns. MIR. Davis simply brands him'
self nm an incompetent and willing
tool OF the rum power In othef
words. he allowed himsc.. To BE-
fried In his own fat. lie assures us'
however, that the new hconsc law
will bo binding aud ample. nno
that II will subject the party taking |
out n license To n monetary loss ~
case OF breaking the rules. We shall
see. Hut what will he do with the
fellows making deliveries from wng'
ons3 II he cannot enforce Obedience
10 the law as Il Is. how can he do II
under the license system3
MIR. Davis solemnly assures NJ
that the "moral question was not
Involved. THAT In the very question
which was involved beyond ever,
other. | want to say TO him that ali
he gathered oounsols Of the unlyerS"
cannot make II right 10 hcohh'
wrong. admit our case was In bad
hands. but | am thankful that II
iad lts adyocaters and defenders IN
lur ..ayor, and In Councllmen Bon
lam aud Miuor-a worthy trio whose
TO principle viii b,
ong remembered. | may also add
nat the temperance people have no
ault TO find with Mr. Dobie, Mr., Hun
er and "Dry Dock Johnson, They
Sere opposed To a dry town ahd
AN their elections ON that issue ah'
Won, aud SO voted accordingly. We
ne sorry they could not have seen
heir way clear 10 vote against u
enso, but they were consistent. we
AVE no use for policy men-by men
Who change their principles viii
very revolving moon. We dis'
Ike men who 40 about with the KISS
4 Judas on their lips aud the be-
rayal of their friends In their hear's
have nothing but sorrow for one wh'
ares not call his soul his own. l
ity weakling who cannot look
he devil In the eye and tell him he
J u devil.
when faith is lost. and honor dies
he man is dead" Yours etc,
J. IA. Fletcher.