The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1908-04-28

because recognize my lTlSHdS are
divided on it. If | looked only at the
effect of it on my political fortunes
! would not stop to count the conse-
quences, but my gratitude toward the
men who have stood by me so loyal
ly throughout the most infamous war
ever made on a public man in Texas
precludes my taking any active part,
where they are on different sides. /
owe it to myself and to my friends
to fight out this contest, which in
wolves my character and my honor,
without complicating it with any
other issue"
The sentiment herein expressed by
Senator Bailey is to be admired and
endorsed by every one, but is he liv-
ing up to his own doctrine? That is
the question, and another of nearly
as much Importance is: What is his
doctrine?"
The Dallas Times Herald and the
Waco Times-Herald, both credible
afternoon papers, in reporting Sen
ator Bailey's speech at San Antonio
Monday, say:
"A crowd which taxed the capaci
ty of the largest auditorium in the
city today heard Senator j. w. Bail
eys address. 1t was received with
enthusiasm. The most sensational
feature was that he declared emphat-
ically against state prohibition and
that he would fight a constitutional
amendment to that effect. He says
he would vote for local option in his
home county but does not think
North Texas has a right to dictate
to South Texas. He was severe in
his denunciation of Marshall Hicks.
1t is estimated 1000 persons were
present and fully one thousand were
turned away"
If these reports are to be accepted
as reliable, then Senator Bailey has
cast aside his determination to avoid
the prohibition question and put his
friend, Rankin, up tree. But while
the report above printed may be a
correct resume of what Senator Bal
Antonio as quoted by the Dallas
News and Fort Worth Record do not
fully warrant such rigorous conclu-
sion, though meaning practically the
same thing Introducing it's report
from San Antonio the Dallas News
says:
| Here in San Antonio where last
| fall he gave the first intimation that
he had recanted his earlier views re-
specting state prohibition, Senator
| Bailey this morning reaftirmed that
declaration. Not in categorical terms
did he say either that he favored or
opposed state prohibition, but he
declared that he believed in the prin-
ciple of local self-government more
than he believed in any other policy
proposed to the people, and here in
San Antonio, where the anti-prohibi-
ton sentiment is pregnant and mill
tant, this declaration was accepted
as a token that Senator Bailey, not
/ withstanding he once made speeches
in favor of statewide prohibition, is
now on the side of those who are OPP
posed to that policy"
This would indicate that the after
noon press correctly reported Senator
Bailey's position, but to aviod a con-
fusion of facts and to play the game
straight we herewith give the SEN
ator's own expression as printed by
the News.
The senator at once referred TO
the prohibition issue. They are seek
ing" he said, "to inject into this
campaign another and wholly irrele-
want issue. AS my friend who intro
duced me this morning said they are
going about in the northern and
eastern portions of the state telling
the people that | am opposed to a
state prohibition election, and then
| lHtN CoJIt uoW IL nCic anu oWCdl
that ! am in favor of it. They have
lied either in one or the other place
and they have had the audacity to say
that l am trying to play double with
the people. | believe in the principle
of local elf-government more than
| believe in any policy that has ever
been proposed to the American peo-
pie. Who are they who seek to inject
this irrelevant issue into this con-
test? DR., J. B. Cranfill, the anti-pro-
hibitionist, and Marshall Hicks, the
lanti-prohibitionist Cranfll gave out a
statement YESTERDAY in which he says
he had inquired as to my position on
this. Now ! am not authorized TO say
that Cranfil did not tell the truth
viii assume that he did, because
am told that he is a preacher
! (Laughter). 1t is amazing that any
one interested in this contest should
inquire of Cranfill about my position