The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1910-05-12
WORK TO SAVE
THE OPTION LAW
ANTI-SALOON LEAGUE is
PREPARING TO FIGHT
IN STATE.
Will Ask Citizens to Pledge Can
didates for Legislature to
Support 1t.

Indianapolis, May 5.-T'hat the
Indiana Anti-Saloon league alone
stands between the people and
the repeal of the county local op-
ton law is the assumption ON
which the Anti-Saloon league will
base its fight during the coming
campaign for the retention OF the
county option law.
E. 5. Shumaker, superintendent
of the league; R. c. Minton, at
torney and George f Hicks of
South Bend; n. c. Shirley OF Fl
Wayne, r. H Moore of Indian
apolis and S. P. Mcknight OF
Terre Haute district suPerintend-
ent held meeting Wednesday at
the headquarters of the league.
While nothing was given out
officially as to what was done at
the meeting, it Is understood the
workers get down to brass tracks
and that the league will get in
touch with its friends in every
legislative district of the state
with view to nominating for the
Legislature and electing men who
will be friends to the temperance
cause. The stress of the argument
will be placed on the county OPP
ton law and the first effort of the
league will be to save it.
The Anti-Saloon league work
ers realize that they have a fight
on their hands. They had expect
ed that the county option law
would not be attacked by either
party and the hope had been since
neither party would indorse it,
that it would not be mentioned
by either However, instead of re-
naming silent, like the Republic
cans the Democrats declared for
city and township option. This
means, so the Anti Saloon league
men have concluded that pledge
must be enacted from every can
didate for the legislature that he
will not vote for the repeal or
weakening OF this law.
Citizens Movement
These pledges will not be OBJ
tanned by the Anti-Saloon league
directly. The object will be to
start a citizens movement in
each Legislative district who are
friendly to the local option law
will look after the legislative Sit
uation. The Anti Saloon league
will take the position of cooper
ating with the citizens.
1t can also be said that the
powers OF the Anti-Saloon league
believe that the liquor plank of
the Democratic platform is the
opening wedge by which the
brewers hope to. wipe a good
Toany liquor laws off the books.
The Anti-Saloon league leaders
have concluded that If the city
and township option law should
be enacted the brewers in the fol-
lowing session of the Legislature
would attempt to get rid OF that
law. The Anti-Saloon league lead
ers declare also that the liquor
plank of the democratic platform
was not born of the wishes OF the
Democratic rank and file. 1t Is de-
Clared that under a law in accord
with the democratic platform 80
counties that are dry" under the
county option law would be made
wet"
The attitude OF the league dur
ing the coming campaign, it is
said, will be the "show me" atti-
tude and nothing will be taken
for granted. AS the Anti-Saloon
league leaders see it, a demo-
cratic legislator unless he has de-
clared otherwise will be pledged
to the repeal of the county option
law and the republican legisla-
tor unless he has made some de-
claration will have nothing to
bind him to any particular &C
ton on the liquor question.
1t is not likely that former
Gov. J. Frank Hanly will take
some part IN the campaign in be-
half of the temperance cause. Mr..
Hanly some time ago sent out let
ttrs asking for sentiment regard
ing the republican state platform.
Mr.. Hanly would neither confirm
nor deny the report that he may
take an active part in the fight.