Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1909-10-07
ANSWER" ATKINS
ON LOCAL OPTION
Candidate Kent Plainly Informs Anti-SaIOOn
League President as to Where he Stands
Tells Atkins he is Suspicious of his
: : Procedure as Head of Organization
he Assumes to Represent.

Replying to the question asked him by
President Henry Pearce Atkins, of the
AntiSaloon League of Virginia. Cap
tain w p. Kent, Republican nominee
for governor, on Tuesday addressed the
following letter to that official:
Winchester, Va, Oct 5, 1909.
Mr. Henry Pearce Atkins,
Pres't Virginia Anti-Saloon League,
Richmond, Va.
Ny Dear SIR
In reply to the questions submitted by
you as President of the Anti-Saloon
League of Virginia, | beg to saw, as of
course you know, that have been NOM
mated as the candidate of the Republi-
can party for governor of Virginia on
declaration of principles set forth in it's
platform. The clause in that platform
relating to the subjects of inquiry by
you is as follows:
1--WE favor the traditional Repub-
lican doctrine OF local option, cOun-
ties and cities to be the unit in all
elections to decide whether or not
liquor shall be sold, and demand
rigid regulation and strict enforce
ment of the laws"
In accepting the Republican nomina-
tion accepted Herewith the platform
adopted by my party, and if elected
governor shall endeavor to carry out
the policies and pledges therein con-
tanned.
l am advised that at the last meeting
of the Anti-Salocn League of Virginia,
held at Norfolk, the official action of
the league in convention assembled de-
clared for the principle. of local option
as the best method of dealing with the
liquor traffic at present. 1t will be seen
from the above quotation from the Re-
publican platform that my party has
taken a position in advance of that
adopted by your league in its latest con-
vention. Therefore, / now wish to in
quire by what authority you PROFOUND
the many questions contained in your
interrogatories which are at variance
with the well defined purposes of the
organization which you assume to rep
resent in submitting the series of inter
rogatories l received? l do not recog-
nize your right in the capacity of an Of
fetal of the Anti-Saloon League of Vir-
ginia to catechise me as to temperance
legislation other than that adopted and
advocated by your league as an organi-
cation.
In reference to the suggested legisla-
tion, beg to say that / am in favor of
the proper regulation of the liquor traf-
fic to the end that temperance may be
promoted among the people; and will
say that in general way it meets my
approval, and If the proposed laws were
drafted and adopted by the legislature,
in the event of my election / would ap-
prove them.
In considering your interrogatOries
you must remember that l am not un-
mindful of the fact that practically the
entire executive committee of your or
ganiZatiOn Is committed TO the candi-
dacy and support of my opponent. Such
being the case, | naturally regard with
suspicion the series of questions pro-
pounded to me which are so openly at
variance with the principles adopted by
your organization IN convention assem-
bled
desire to make the formal request
that you publish for the information of
the rank and file of your organization
throughout the Commonwealth list of
the members of your executive commit
tee as shown on your printed letterhead
who voted for my opponent in the re-
cent Democratic primary, so that the
people of Virginia may know whether
or not you and those engaged with you
in submitting these interrOgatories are
already irrevocably committed to the
support of the candidacy of my oppo-
nent. And if this should be true, /
would like to inquire why you submit
these interrogatories when, no matter
what my answer may tie, it could not
affect your action or vote in the coming
election?
am, yours very truly,
VIM. P. KENT.