The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1908-03-18
OPEN LETTER.
Hon. Henry l. Wilson, Candidate for
State Senator, Answers the Letter of
the President of the Jefferson Co.
Local Option League.

Local option League.
To c. G. BENsCorER, President Jeffer-
son County Local Option League:
Dear Sir:-Your open letter under
date of Jan. oath, 1908, addressed
to the several candidates for state sena-
tor in this District, was duly received
and take pleasure in giving to you for
publication my answer to same.
The first question is, "If elected to
the office to which you aspire, will you,
or will you not, use your influence and
vote in favor of submitting to the
people Local Option Law on the
Liquor Question:"
To that question l would say it would
depend altogether upon the form OF
such proposed law and upon the desires
of the electors of the Thirty-Seventh
senatorial district. 1t is my belief, as
lawyer, that it is con rary to the oath
OF Office which | will have to take If
nominated and elected state senator to
make pledges OF any kind which would
in any way place me under the domina.
tion of other parties; particularly so II
such edges should he male for the
purpose of securing the endorsement
and support of thoss who may. advance
particular policies and the courts of
fhia n 70 ha hold
Not only that, it would greatly weaken
my efficiency as legislator If my NOM
ination and election were brought about
on account of my being for or against
an issue OF this kind. | have been
total abstainer all my life and believe
in such legislation as will help the cause
of temperance. However, after more
than a years serious study, l am salts
fed the term Local Option" is not as
we'll understood as it should be. MY
idea is that the bill itself as it may be
proposed at the next session OF the
legislature should in some manner be
submitted to the people Of this district
FOR their examination and then they
could express their opinions and de-
sires intelligently. 1t will be one year
later; people will have had time to in
vestigate, formulate, discuss, and pro-
pose, which would be more satisfactory
to all. II should be he senator from
this district | would use such proposed
measure TO be pub'is' d in full in all
the home papers and r. quest the elec-
tors to give me their opinion thereon
by postal card or letter. i have a list
OF the voters Of this district and could
easily determine whether the bill was
desired by majority Of them. Is there
anything unfair about that? 1 believe
In majority rule, and let me ask, is it
fair to candidate to try to tie him up
to an uncertainty and make his nomi-
nation and election depend on his per-
sonal attitude upon one proposed meas
ure without regard to his qualifications
and integrity of character?
The second question is, IF elected,
will your influence, sympathy and vote
as legislator, be in harmony with, or
in opposition to, the policy OF the Anti
Saloon League Of this state along the
line OF temperance legislation"
My answer is, would at all times be
for anything that is RIGHT, but as for
endorsing SO uncertain a thing as the
policy OF any League for or against
temperance legislation, such policy not
having been definitely defined and SUBJ
mitted to the public, cannot agree to
tbat,-and l say frankly that In my
Judgment any candidate who says "Yes"
unqualifedly to that question is not
such conservative man as would make
q wise legiblator or be power in the
senate. ITould have to believe that
he made such promise solely to advance