Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1909-10-15
Shiidro Cry
FOR FLETCHER'S
9 a g T . RIA

vi bbC otdNc. w I'M ieBdfu 10 the leg
islation proposed by the League at
the Norfolk convention, we under
stand that If the proposed laws were
drafted and adopted by the Legisla-
ture, he would meet with Mr.. Kent's
approval.
Mr.. Kent states i'm his letter shat
he has been advised that at the last
meeting of the Anti-SIaOon League
of Virginia, held at Norfolk, the ofli-
cial action OF the League. I'm conven-
tion assembled, declared for the
principle of local option as the best
method of dealing with the liquor
traffic at present. and he further states
that in the declaring for the county
unit system the Republican party
has taken step i'm advance of the
league. We would respectfully re-
mind Mr.. Kent that the very first
Item OF the Legislative Program,
/ which he has been asked TO endorse,
is declaration for the county unit
law. The ultimate goal OF the Lea
que, SO we have stated again and
again, is the abolition of the saloon
and the League expressly declared at
the Norfolk convention that should
ii become clearly evident that we
have gone as far as we can with pro-
fit to our cause under local option
policy. we shall be obliged TO change
our policy, and demand the right to
vote ON the question of State W ide
pOhibitOIy law Certainly Mr..
Kent is mistaken in claiming that
the Republican platform is in adj
vance OF that position.
i Mr.. Kent inquiries by what au-
thority the president OF the League
has propounded the questions of our
official letter-questions which in
his judgment, are at variance with
the well defined purposes of the Lea
que. We would answer that while
the League dominates no candidates
and supports no political party, yet
il does urge the voters of Virginia
to select men for public Office who
are in favor OF the abolition of the sa
loon. The League was organized for
this purpose, and this has been its
program from the beginning. No
candidate can reasonably object TO a
statement concerning his past record
and present position, especially when
he is requested TO make that state
ment in his own words.
The closing paragraphs OF Mr..
kent's letters are n follwos:
I'm considering your interroga-
tories you must remember that | am
not unmindful of the fact that prac-
tically the entire executive committe
of your organization is committed 10
the candidacy and support of my
opponent. Such being the case, l
naturally regard with suspicion the
series of questions propounded 10
me which are so openly at variance
with the principles adopted by your
organization in convention assembled
IL desire TO make the formal re-
quest that you publish for the infor-
nation of the rank and file of VouI
organization throughout the Com
monwealth II list of the members OF
your executive committee rs shown
on your printed letterhead who voted
for my opponent in the recent Dem.
ocratic primary, so that the people
of Virginia may know whether OF
not you and those engaged with YOU
in submitting these interronato les
are already irrevocably committed L
the supp"r OF the candidacy of my
opponent. And if this should bc
: true, l would like TO inquire why
you submit these heterogeneous
when, no matter what my anwsel
! maybe, ii could not affect your ac
e ton or vote in the coming election? -
/ IN. answer to these paragraph.
we would say that the executive CON
mittee OF the League, as a committee
is committed to the candidacy O
f neither the Democratic nor the Re
publican nominee, and we regie
e sincerely that Mr.. Kent has regard
c eel our inquiry with suspicion.
$ AS to the formal request that {
{ list of the members of the executive
5 committee be published. togethe
e with the information as to whethe
: or not they entered the recent Demo
cratic priamry, We would say that
party politics have never been dis
= cuSsed In our executive committee
meetings, rs the League has Away.
5 had within its ranks Republicans,
l Democrats and Third Party Prohibi.
T tionists. Al the present time Hon.
! VIM. III. Mann, Democratic candidate
for Governor, and Hon. a. II. Lin
coin, Republican candidate for lieu.
tenant-governor, are both vice pres.
, idents of the League. For us tc
poll the executive committee as sug-
gested by Mr.. Kent would, there
, fore, be contrary to one Of the fun
damental principles of the League.
/. a 1 hnc