The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-10-26
S. E. Nicholson, Renowned
Temperance Advocate, Is
sues Statement ExpIain;~-
Contest Now Waging.
SAYS REPUBLICAN
STANDS FOR PEOPLE.
Marshall's interests Are
Those of Brewers, Despite
What He Pleads and Argues
To Contrary.

S. E. Nicholson. author of the ccle-
brated Nicholson law, has issued a
statement, which follows in part:
Having received numerous letters
from old Indiana friends concerning
the Indiana campaign. asking more
for information concerning
Mr.. Watson, the Republican nominee
for governor, l take occasion in this
public way to have little heart to
heart talk with many whom have
known in other days. That / am not
now resident of my native state has
not lessened in any degree my intense
interest in all that concerns the welfare
of the good old Hoosier commonwealth
and, along with thousands of others.
am jealous of any threatening danger
to her highest and best interests. II is
possible that from this distance some
things may be seen with clearer vision
free from the heat and local prejudices
that so frequently affect political CAM
paigns.
| do not speak herein as a partisan,
although I have been known as such.
but | say frankly that were conditiL Is
reversed I would as freely ask support
for a Democratic nominee as now do
ask 1T for the Republican nominee and
for good reasons.
Issues are not made In a day. neither
do they present themselves always to
the individual liking. Many have re
garded the present Indiana situation as
not only unique. but unnatural. and
they have laid censure at the door of
this, that and the other man, thinking
that these are responsible for condi-
tions which might have been otherwise
Such conception is not the product OF
wise investigation.
Temperance Issue Forming.
For nearly a decade and a half con-
ditions have been forming. that sooner
or later would make the temperance
question in some tangible form great
statewide issue. Its logic was inevi-
table. To have evaded or postponed
the issue would only have piled up
trouble for the responsible agencies.
That 1t has been met and at the proper
time by those who are responsible for
the new county local option law is
highly to their credit. That the people
should now fail to see the logic of the
issue and determine the result on Nov.
3 largely from the viewpoint of preju-
dice or distrust OF the motives of can
didates, would be calamity that could
not be condoned.
Ohio had her first state temperance
campaign three years ago, with politi-
cal conditions reversed. The people
saw their duty and regardless Of party
elected John M. Pattison governor by
nearly $4,000 majority. Shall Indiana
voters now be less alive to moral In
terests of the state, because their cham
pion happens to be upon the Republic
can ticket? The sad part of the early
campaign in Indiana was that men.
partly through prejudice, believe, and
partly through failure to know Mr..
Watson properly, allied themselves
with a cause. whose triumph would
mean only one thing-the subserviency
of the great Indiana commonwealth to
the brewers and their chosen allies.
Watson Stands for People.
Mr.. Watson's manly stand for the
rule of the people upon great moral
question, entities him to receive the
support of every man who believes
not only in temperance and sobriety.
but in the reign of popular govern
ment. wherein the people have the
widest opportunity and in the most
effective way to determine for them
selves the status of the saloon.
But. having said this much, it Is
pleasure to add, that having known
Mr.. Watson somewhat intimately for
number of years. both in a personal
and in a public way. there is every
reason, judged from his public and
private record, why he should receive
on the one hand the straight vote of
his party-just as Mr.. Pattison was
entitled to receive il three years ago
in Ohio-and on the other hand the
vote of every other man who believes
in the progress and ultimate triumph
of Temperance reform. or who believes
in go. ernment by the people rather
than government by the brewers and
saloon keepers. Watson's record at
Washington, and I speak knowingly.
Is without flaw on the temperance
question. and his manly stand on the
county local option question is only
consistent with his entire public ca
reer
Mr.. Marshall, who. 1 have no doubt,
is in many respects an ideal gentle
man. IL constantly affirming he is not