The Montgomery tribune., 1908-05-22
Local Option the Best So1u-
ton of the Liquor Ques-
ton, Says
ATTORNEY GENERAL HADlEY
Opposes Statewide Prohibi-
ton, Believes in String
ent Regulation and
Strict Enforcement
of the Law


will undoubtedly be the Republic
can candidate for Governor, in a
letter to the State Chairman,
Walter S. Dickey has defined his
position on the liquor question.
His letter which follows goes
straight to the point. He does
not dodge or equivocate or in any
way attempt to mis-lead. His let
ter is just the kind of flat-footed,
p ositive declaration of opinion on
the question that the people want,
and have right to expect from
candidate for Governor. On this
que stion as on all other questions
of great public interest, or i'm
| po rtance Mr.. Hadley makes his
po sition known.
HADLEY's LETTER IN FULL
Mr.. Hadley's letter to Chairman
Di ickey is given in full below:
Jefferson City, Mo-, May 18th
1908. Walter S. Dickey,
Chairman of the Republican State
Committee, Kansas City: My Dear
Mr.. Dickey- Since Ihave express
ed my willingness to be candi-
d ate for the Office of Governor, I
feel that should write you in ex-
planation of my position on one
of the questions which is likely to
be subject of discussion in the
pproaching campaign. My po-
81 ton on most questions of public
interest such as the regulation of
p ublic service corporations, pros
cution of combinations and
trusts and the question oftaxation
is either we'll known or a matter of
p ublic record. / have however had
n o occasion to declare myself con-
cerning the regulation or suppress
sion of the liquor traffic in this state.
l have, it is true, had occasion to
give a number of decisions in
obstruction of the local option
, avs and laws regulating dram
r hops. Those decisions have
. been made, however, in accordance
W ith the law as l understood il
and without favor either to the
!. liquor interests or to those ep.
y posed thereto.
It has been suggested that there
a is no occasion or necessity for me-
to define at the present time my
p osition upon these questions a.
the governor has nothing to dc
with either the initiation o.
submission of q constitutions
amendment providing for state
q wide prohibition. While it il
: true that such action rests alon,
with the Legislature,yet the people
a want to know where the candi
dates for governor stand upon thi
q question, and they have the righ
to expect a full and frank statemen
, in reference thereto. And furthe
, do not want, I would not in fac
: be willing to accept either nom
ination or an Office secured by
=. concealment OF my opinion or al
70 eyasive statement as to any ques
ton Of public interest.
y I am not in favor of state-wid
- pr ohibition. I do not believ
- that the cause of temperance Q
o good government would be sub
9. served by the adoption of such q
oI amendment In this state. Missoul
is an empire in itself not only i
8. geographical extent, in the mag
nitude and diversity OF its resour'
~ es and industries, but also in th
marked difference in the habits
of customs and conditions in the Iii
Of the people in the differei
sections of the state. All Of thes
~ circu instances in my opinion en-
- phasize the difficulty and inadvis
ability Of undertaking to establis
and enforce for the entire state
in syst em of laws effecting the pc
les sonal habits of the people, and Il
- teriering with what many wou