Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1910-10-27
CLAUDE PORTER'S LETTER
Which Shows lie Had To Endorse
Liquor Platform Before Date or
Democratic Convention.

The Register 81 Leader of October IL
had the following concerning Senator
Porter's letter written last May and
published in German Democratic papers.
The Register IL Leader says:
The occasion of the letter was the
activity among the friends of Colonel
Elboeck, Mr.. Bashor had been com.
mended warmly for his sympathies
with the purposes of the liberal alli.
ance and it was feared among the
friends of Mr. Porter that he might
suffer If it was not made plain that
he was not seeking the nomination
ON the Bryan platform of divorcing
the democratic party from the liquor
interests.
Following is fair translation of
the letter from the copy that appeared
in Der Democrat of May 10, 1910 Der
Democrat says:
We have already published the views
Of Messrs. Bashor and Moon ton the
liquor question:. Following we give an
explanation of the position of Mr.. Por-
ter, IL is found in letter from Center
vile under date of May IL and reads
thus:
Dear Sir: | have your recent letter
in which You make inquiry concerning
my position on the question of the regu-
lation of the liquor traffic and with
pleasure will make il rs clear as can.
In the announcements of my candidacy
| declared that in no wise wished to
influence or anticipate the resolutions
of the state convention to be held in OF
tumwa, Although still hold fast to this
attitude, yet, in view of the fact that
the other candidates for the gubernatorial
nomination have expressed their posi-
tons on the question more or less fully,
| may not be considered presumptuous
II | also answer your inquiry. recog-
nize further that you as democrat are
fully entitled to know my exact position
toward any of the questions involved in
the campaign before ms. ! do not sup
pose you care much for the reasons for
my position, or the details of my views,
but would like to be altogether free
and frank in the matter 40 that no mis-
understanding will no possible.
My first vote that | ever cast was
for the ticket ut whose head stood the
distinguished Governor Boies.
when for the first time | was elect
cd to the legislature, the platform Of
that year, 1899 declared in favor of o
law permitting the manufacture of liq-
uors within the state; ! took part in
the democratic Legislative caucus in
which this matter was considered
and | voted for such law.
Since that time and until two years
ago our platforms have been silent upon
this question, and then the platform
declared: We reafiirm the traditional
policy of the democratic party with ref
erenCe to local self government and
home rule. As the nominated candidate
for the United States senate | Endorsed
this plank and spent more than thirty
days of the campaign on the stump. l
believed ut that time in the righteous
ness of that principle and do today.
AS have already said, do not wish
to anticipate the action of the state con-
vention; / have firm faith in the wisdom
and the sound Judgment of the demo
cratic party to deal with all questions
rightly and honorably and when l an
nounced myself as candidate for the
democratic gubernatorial nomination it
was with express declaration that /
would abide by the principles that
might be declared by the convention
and that they would have my hearty APP
proval and that would spare no pains TO
secure for them the Endorsement OF the
voters in the November election. | am
respectively yours,
CLAUDE X. PORTER.