Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-10-15

with the purposes OF the liberal ALL
ance and 1t was feared among the
friends Of Mr.. Porter that he might
suffer If 1t 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 a fair translation OF
the letter from the copy that APP
peared In Der Democrat Of May 10,
1910. Der Democrat says:
We have already publised the views
OF Messrs Bashor and Moon ION the
liquor question:. Following we give an
explanation of the position of Mr..
Porter. 1t is found in letter from
Centerville under date Of May II and
reads thus:
Dear Sir: have your recent letter
In which you make inquiry concerning
my position on the question Of the
regulation of the liquor traffic and with
pleasure will make 1t as clear as
can. In the announcement OF my
candidacy declared that in no wise
wished to influence or anticipate the
resolutions of the state convention to
be held in Ottumwa. Although still
hold fast to this attitude, yet, in view
Of the fact that the other candidates
for the gubernatorial nomination have
expressed their positions on the ques-
tion more or less fully. may not be.
considered presumptuous If also an
swer your inquiry. l recognize further
that you as democrat are fully en-
titled to know my exact position to-
ward any of the questions involved In
the campaign before u.s.. do not sup
pose you care much for the reasons
for my position, or the details of my
views, hut would like to be altogether
free and frank in the matter SO that
no misunderstanding will be possible.
"My first vote that ever cast was
for the ticket at whose head stood the
distinguished Governor Boies.
when for the first time I was
elected to the legislature, the platform
of that year (1895) declared in favor OF
"a law permitting the manufacture of
LIQUORS 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 plat
form declared: We reaffirm the ira
ditional policy of the democratic party
with reference to local self-govern-
ment and home rule AS the nomi-
mated candidate for the United States
senate I Endorsed this plank and spent
more than thirty days Of the campaign
on the stump. / believed at that time
in the righteousness OF that principle
and / do today.
CAS- / have already said, do not
wish to anticipate the action Of the
state convention; have firm faith In
the wisdom and sound judgment of the
democratic party to deal with all ques-
lions rightly and honorably and when
1 announced myself as a candidate for
the democratic gubernatorial nomi
nation It was with express declaration
that / would abide by the principles
that might be declared by ths conven-
ton and that they would have my
hearty approval and tina. j would spare
no pains to secure for them the in
dorsement of the voters in the Novem-
Der election. am respectfully yours,
Claude R. Porter
! It will be admitted, the Register
and Leader believes that most care
full reading of this letter leaves much
to be desired in the way of explicit.
ness. But it is significant that Colonel
Eiboeck and lis friends have gone.
upon the theory that they understand
what Mr.. Porter meant by it.
They have gone upon the theory
that he does not mean by >"local
self-government and home rule" the
county option plan Mr.. Bryan is urg-
ing upon the party, although county
option Mr.. Bryan would define as
coming strictly within that charac-
terization. The state convention
drew the line between township OPP
ton and county option and by de-
cisive vote declared that "lOcal self
government. and home rule" ilean
township option. That is what they
interpret Mr.. Porter's letter to mean.
Mr.. Bryan, the Register and Leader
adds, is to be IN the state on Thursday
e-.ening an with him on the platform
will undoubtedly be Mr.. Porter and
Colonel Eiboeck. The absence Of
either would be SO conspicuous, under
all the circumstances, as to attract
state wide attention. If Mr.. Bryan at
tempts to square his position in Ne
braska with the situation in Iowa it
will be very interesting. If he ignores
the whole business 1t will be even
more interesting.
WILL Mr.. PORTER PLEASE