The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1908-06-18
CampaignLetter ofMrs
Holman Answered.
AFTER OFFICE
Heart and Soul Against
Carmack Because of
Temperance Record

Following is an open letter written
by Mrs. +. W. Preston, of Union City,
in answer to the campaign letter of
Mrs. Holman:
Union City, Tenn, June Q, 1908.
My Dear Mrs. Holman-I am in re-
ceipt of your campaign letter urging
the women of Tennessee to do all in
their power to help the men who stand
for statewide prohibition. You espe-
cially recommend Mr., Carmack for
careful prayer and consideration.
Now, my dear sister, you have here
tofore been a very wise woman, but you
are making a very great mistake in this
matter, and | am sorry to see the Wo-
mems Christian Temperance Union,
which has heretofore kept out Of part-
san politics, urging on the campaign of
a man who has done as much against
the temperance cause, both by precept
and example, as Mr.. Carmack has.
Thirty five years of my life have been
spent in unremitting toll against the
saloon evil, and | have the record of
being no inconsiderable factor in bring
ing about entire prohibition in my ma.
tive county of Weakley, and later my
adopted home county of Obion, and yet
today, because | am heart and soul
against Mr.. Carmack, because of his
past record, am the object of the I'M
kiAdest criticism by some temperance
women and men of this county, who,
while | was working against the saloon,
were either doing nothing for either
side Of the question or were actively
working against the temperance senti-
ment. And more unfortunate still,
there are some who worked side by side
with me for the spread of the temper
ance cause, and know my record, who
are equally as abusive. They are not
all doing SO, however, | am glad to say;
some are women and men of too much
sense and culture to do so,
MR.. CARMACK's RECORD.
You say that Mr.. Carmack has been
for years fighting the saloons. Now,
will make you this proposition: If GU
will point to one town, county or state,
where Mr.. Carmack ever raised his
hand or voice to help the temperance
people when they were sore pressed for
help, ] will say | am wrong and you are
right. Please point to the time when
he ever appeared at the capitol when
temperance measures were pending
and helped in the fight. Please show
just one little thing he has ever done
when the battle was waging hot. He
points to the time when he was an edit
or at Memphis and wrote editorials
against the saloons. remember the
work he appeared to have begun then,
but where did it end? He soon entered
a scramble for congress and was elect
ed. Did he ever in one of his congress
sional campaign speeches ally himself
with the temperance people and fight
the saloons? Did his private life while
in Washington, either in the lower
house or in the senate advance the
cause of christian temperance? Now,
my dear Mrs. Holman, under ordinary
circumstances | consider it brutal to
refer to mans unfortunate appetite,
but when you commend him to me as
personally fit for the support of the
Women's Christian Temperance u nion
[ must disagree with you. Very few
men have ever been out for office who
did deserve this support.
1t is urged, ooh, he has changed" :"
Yes, he is always changing. What his
next move will be only the angels in
heaven can know. Two years ago he
and his friends fought with all their
power to keep Senator Taylor from
getting a primary in the race for the
senate. This year he has changed and
is bitterly demanding a statewide pri-
mary. But Mr.. Patterson is not allow
ed the privilege of changing on any
thing-not even for the better.
Two years ago Tennessee had good,
clean man out for governor, Judge
John r. Bond, and as editor of the
Obion Democrat, l supported him, un-
til he became so disheartened by the
weakness of the support given him by
the temperance people of the state, that
| he practically eliminated himself from
the race. Then | did what have al
! ways done, and am doing now-gave
my support to the best MANN. r.,
Patterson and l am glad that from
then until now have not regretted my
action. Mr.. Pattersons administration
{ has never been surpassed in excellence
. by any of his predecessors. He has not
made any loud claims for temperance
sentiment, but he has done even better