Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1909-10-06
EvADEs ANSWER.

- 80 ALf0 w LIZ
Me-. William P. Kent, republican
candidate for governor Of Virginia, 10
letter yesterday answered questions re-
Gently put to him by Henry Pesrce At
kins, president of the Virginia Auti-sa.
loon League.
Mr.. Atkins ssked among other
things If Captain Kent favored the prin-
ciple of local option as the best meth cd
of handling the liquor question; whether
be would sign or veto bill passed by
the Legislature providing for statewide
prohibition without previous instruc-
tons from the people, or after instruc-
tons from the people; whether be would
sligo or veto a mea,ure passed BY the
Legislature giving the people right to
vote on the question of stste' wide pre-
hibilioD; whether he would vote dry or
vet In local option election beld 10
sny community In which he might re-
side.
Captain Kenps letter to Mr.. Atkins
was as follows:
"In reply TO the questions submitted
by you, as president of the Anti-saloon
League of Virginia, l beg to say that /
was nominated as the candidate OF the
republican party for governor OF Wiz
ginis on a declaration Of principles set
forth in lis platform. The clause in
that platform relating to the subjects OF
inquiry by you is as follows:
we favor the traditional republi-
can doctrine of local option, counties
aud cities to be the unit 10 all elections
to decide whether or not liquor shall be
sold, and demand rigid regulation aud
strict enforcement Of the laws
lin accepting the republican nomlna.
lion, | accepted Herewith the platform
adopted by my party, and II elected
governor, shall endeavor to carry out the
policies and pledges therein contained
81 am advised that at the last meet
ing OF the Anti.ssloon League, of Vr.
GINA, the league declared for the prin
ciple of local option as the best method
Of dealing with the liquor traffic at pres
ent. 1t will be seen from the above quo
tation from the republican platform that
my party has taken a position in ad.
vance of that adopted by your league 10
its latest convention. Therefore, | Wish
10 inquire by what authority you pro-
pound the questions 10 your interrOaa.
lions, which are at variance With the
well-de6ned purposes Of the orgauiSa-
ton which you assume to represent in
submitting the series OF questions re-
ceiyedY | do not recognize your right
in the capacity Of an official Of the
Auti-ssloon League OF Virginia to cate
chise me as to temperance legislation
other than that adopted and advocated
by your league as an organization.
"In reference to the suggested legisla.
tion, beg to say that | an 10 favor Of
the proper regulation Of the liquor
traffic to the end that temperance may
be promoted among the people; and |
will ssy that 10 gen'r.l way meets my
approval, and il the proposed laws were
drafted and adopted by the legislature in
the event Of my election l would ap-
prove them.
"In considering your interrogatlons,
you must remember that | am not un-
mindful OF the fact that practically the
entire executive committee OF your Or.
ganizatiOn is committed to the candi-
dscy and support of my opponent. Such
being the case, naturally regard with
suspicion the series OF questions pro-
pounded to me which are 30 openly at
variance with the principles adopted by
your organization 10 convention assem-.
bled.
81 desire to make the formal request
that you publish, for the information Of
the rank and file OF your organization
throughout the commonwealth, a list OF
the members of your executive commit.
lee, sc shown on your printed letterhesd
who voted for my opponent 10 the recent
democratic primary, 80 that the people
of Virginia may know whether or not
you and those engaged With you In SUBJ
hitting these questions are already ir.
revocably committed to the support OF
the candidacy of my opponent. And
if this should be true, | would like to
inquire why you submit these interoga.
lions when, no matter Whist my answer
may be, 1t could not affect your action
or vote in the coming election"