Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-10-12
Aatl-Sa|oon League. Comments Upon
Capt. kenl's Reply.
HE FAILED TO ANSWER QUEST Ous
of President Of the League
to PROFOUND Inquiries to Candidates
! for once Discussed-Repubican
Nominees Suspicious Regretted.

The following statement was issued
from the headquarters Of the Anti
saloon League OF Virginia yesterday
To the. Voters OF Virginia.
1t is the openly declared policy oil
the Anti-saloon League of Virginia
as set forth in print and On the plat
form-to give to the voters OF the
state all pertinent facts as TO the past
record and present position on the
liquor question OF candidates for pub
lie office. Having furnished this IN
formation-if possible. in the very Ian
guage of the candidates themselves
the league leaves it TO the voters OF
the state to determine which candi-
date they will support. Pursuant 10
this policy the league addressed
letters of inquiry to the Democratic
candid ties for governor; and their re-
plies were published by the league on
July 10. 1909. On Sept. IA, 1909, the
league addressed letter TO Hon. w.
p. Kent. Republican candidate for gov
ernor. which letter was parallel, ques-
ton for question, to the letters ad-
dressed to Hon. VIM Hodges Mann
and Hon. Harry ST. George Tucker.
Mr.. Kent replied TO this letter on Oc-
tober >. 1909. This answer has al
ready appeared in the public press.
In its letter of September IA. the
headquarters committee of the league
asked Mr.. Kent to state his past rec
ord on the liquor question; and we
regret that in his answer he has fall
ID to do so. UpoE investigation we
have learned that he was not a quaii-
fed voter in the town of WytheviEe
when local option con ests were held
there. and that consequently he could
not vote in the elections OF 1903 and
1905. Having held no elective Office
in the state, Mr. Kent has had no op-
portunity to make public record on
this question. His present position.
We understand. is expressed in the
following plan CT the Republican plat
form:
We favor the traditional Republi-
ran doctrine of local option. counties
and cities to be the unit in all cleo
tons TO decide whether or not liquor
shall be sold. and demand rigid regu-
lation and strict enforcement of the
laws"
Questions Not Answered.
In this reply, however. Mr.. Kent
has not stated whether or not he
would sign a bill for statewide pro.
hibition. if that bill were passed by
an instructed or uninstructed legisla-
ture. nor has he stated whether or
not he would sign bill for the refer
ence of the question to the voters OF
the state With regard to the legisla-
tion proposed by the league at the
Norfolk convention, we understand
that If the proposed laws were drafted
and adopted by the legislature. they
would meet with Mr. Kent's approval.
Mr.. Kent states in his letter that he
has been advised that at the last
meeting OF the Anti-saloon League OF
Virginia. held at Norfolk, the official
action of the league. in convention
assembled. declared for the principle
of local opt on as the best method OF
dealing with the liquor traffic at pres
emit: and he further states that in de-
claring for the county unit system the
Veprblicsn party has taken step in
advance of the league. We would re-
spectfully remind Mr.. Kent that the
very first item Of the Legislative pro-
gram. which he las been asked TO
endorse. is declaration for the coun-
~ unit law The ultimate goal Of the
league. so we have stated again and
again. is the abolition Of the saloon;
and the league expressly declared al
the Norfolk convention that should Il
become clearly evident that We have
gone as far as we can with profit "a
our cause under local option policy
we shall be Obliged to change on;
policy, sad demanded the right to vote
on the question Of a statewide pro-
hibitory law Certainly Mr.. Kent is
mistaken in claiming that the Repub.
iican platform is in advance Of that
position.
Authority for Inquiries
Mr. Kent inquiries by what author