The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1910-12-31
Peoples Column
baltimore. Nal. Dec. 10. IoIo

Baltimore. Md. Dec 10, 1910.
Editor CECIL WHiG.-
A recent editorial in the WING
concerning the Anti-Saioon League
and its Superintendent seems to indi
cate such Misrepresentation as 10 the
nature OF the League and the methods
oi its management as 10 make II worth
while now that the election is over
to make clear a few fundamental facts,
In the FIRST pace the people OF Cecil
county who. without regard 10 party
or denomination, are willing 10 sink
their differences oi opinion upon ques.
iions OF detail in order that the tenn
peranle cause may be promoted and
the saloons kept out OF the county are
the Anti-Saloon League OF the county.
or else there IS none The Superin-
tcndcnt and the other workers OF the
State League are the representatives
OF similar constituencies IN the various
counties and each county is interested
IN the success On the cause IN every
other county, because victory one
place helps win victories elsewhere.
The Superintendent and other work
ers are Dowcrlcss OF themselves. Their
only influence comes through the
power oi the constituency they repre-
sent and their use is to bring 10 each
constituency which is engaged in a
contest the benefit OF the accumulated
experience OF similar communities
elsewhere throughout the State and
country.
Therefore il was the Anti-Saloon
League which won the fight in Cecil
county. as much as the Anti Saloon
League ever wins anywhere. That is
to say, the people who won the vic
tory in Cecil County are the consti-
tuency Of the State League ard are
with very few exceptions the same peo-
pie who are seeking to secure the pas.
sage OF the proposed general local
option bill which VIII enable Cecil
county, without repeating or running
the risk OF losing what II already has,
to adopt the features OF the new meas
ure and secure the buHciii OF complete
enforcement machinery and obviatc
for the future. since the question
seems to be so dccisiycly settled. the
need OF further voting on the qucs-
ton unless p per cent o. The voters
pclllltn lbI fGNUUuiihNltIl.
W,hthS understanding OF what the
League is there cannot be any dispute
about credit The people Of Cecil
county won the victory just as the
people win it everywhere that II is
won.
1t ought 10 be understood also that
it is the policy ui the State League
never tu attempt To- take the manage
mcut 81 thy local campaign out ot the
hands OF the local committees. II Is
the province ui the officials and repre-
scutatvcS oi the state League TO
serve the local committees ~ any way
possible, hu the League, standing Tor
local option could hardly refuse 10
apply that doctrine TO the manage
mui a., It's own affair, m campaigns,
Besides il would be utterly foolish
from q technical standpoint. for an out
side management Go assume response
bility when 1t, only hope ot winning a
victory N locality IS through the
people at that locality
Washington county has been spoken
ai 100 manner that would imply that
the State League /. no, bop good sIani-
ing there Last y.Ir AZ the request
OF the Washington county organization,
which the State League had helped
iuruL the State League did not press
the legislative is,ue hcgau,c o. The fear
ODD. the ura' leader that the wet a1d
dry fight would ne complicated.
Later, wh.u !, WAS found lhI The
State liquor dca.cr, were interfering
in the campaign and that a plot Was
on foot to make trade which would
result not only in the defeat ., the
temperance cause bu, the repeal OF
the Iaw. ia. State League with the
approval ri The very leaders who had
first usi,cd ON its remaining out by
sending out letters threw itself into
the breach IN an G rycnth hour attempt
o. stem the tide II was too late,
though twu 81 the five members OF the
House 81 Delegates were saved rs
many people were ignorant ui the real
TACT, the League va, very bitterly rri-
tict,cd even ly some Oi the temper.
aucc people until the law W", actually
repealed AMI everything about which
the League warned the people had
actually happened. and then the fee
ing changed and IN Octobcr 1910. at
the regular Field Day the churches
opened their doors, the iircatcst tenn
pcraucc meeting ever seen N the city
was held IN the afternoon at the Acad-
cmy ui Music, and the subscriptions
90 further carry on the State work cX.
ccedcd the amount contributed the pre-
ccding year, when the wet and dry