The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1908-05-28
Writes From East to Say
That This Can Be Only
Course.
Suggests That Democrats
Go Further and Seek
State Option Bill.

ibat the logic OF the fihitfm
Of the democratic state convention
demands that democratic candi-
dates for the legislature stand for
local option as well as eonstitu-
,Ional prohibition IL the view ex-
pressed b. State Senator George r.
cotteriii. OF Seattle. the leader In
the democratic party OF the war
which is now being waged In WASH
ington on the demon rum.
Senator COtterill Is nov In the
east delivering temperance lectures
under the auspices OF the intefna-
lionai Order OF Good Templars. OF
which order he has repeatedly been
elected chief executive officer, 90
the evening following the night the
democratic convention adopted the
prohibition pledge he delivered .
lecture In Ogden. Utah. and 3
friend sent him = telegram there
advising him OF the action 81 tho
convention that be might read II to
bis audience in ogden.
ce,terilI's Views :
In response 10 that telegram Sen.
ator Cottersll writes:
The manner IN which the liquor
traffic question came up and was
handled by both the republican and
democratic conventions puts Wash
ington in the forefront Of states
on this up-to-date moral Issue. In
asmuch as the greater includes the
lesser SOLUTION. every democratic
candidate for the legislature must.
10 be consistent. answer yes 10 tho
demand which viii be made Of him
that he pledge himself TO the sup
port OF local option Law.
Thus doubly pledged fer the en-
actment OF local option law which
will take effect 90 days after the
adjournment OF the next legislature.
and for the submission OF prohi-
bition amendment 10 the constitu.
ton which. II adopted. viii put
state prohibition In effect early in
1910. the democratic candidates will
be In the strongest possible position
before the people on this issue.
Local Option Pledge. !
"A refusal to take the local option
pledge while making strong declarar
tons In favor OF submitting a con-
sttutional amendment will place
any democratic candidate in an at
titude where he can properly be
charged with bad faith and where
he viii invite the fate which the
people win rightly administer to
candidates caught in that position.
Applying the true democratic
principle OF local self government
to this question. the democratic leg
islators. following out exactly tho
program so successfully carried out
in the southern states. where the
democratic party Is In full control,
should meet the republican chaI-
lenge and Join them in the imme-
diate enactment of an adequate and
reasonable local option law. and
thus share In the credit for that
partial accomplishment. This done,
the democrats I'm the legislature
should challenge the republicans In
the legislature TO accept the full
logic of their own position. make
the local option state option. and
give the people the opportunity to
vote as a whole for the entire state
In 1910.
Local Option Anyway.
IF the republicans fail TO accept
that challenge, and thus the two
thirds vote for the submission OF
a prohibition amendment to the
fail. We shall have To-
cal option. and with democratic as
sistance honestly and consistently
given. Experience has always dem.
that few years success
full trial of local option leads to
state prohibition by constitutional
and even though IL
fails of two-thirds vote In the
1909 legislature, the democratic
party will have done the right the
logical thing, the politically tactfui
thing. by standing for the greater
thing. the fullness of state self
while Joining In the
lesser form OF local self govern
ment.
Playing Politics.
Il trust that no democratic cam
didate for the legislature win at
tempt TO play constitutional amend.
ment against local option. II would
be playing politics worse than play
ing with fire. and would lead TO
worse and more deserved defeats
than the democratic party in our
state has yet experienced.
Il take 10 for granted. although
your telegram does not SO state,
that the initiative and referendum
received fun endorsement In tho