The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1910-09-02
CHAIRMAN WILLIAMS DEFINES POSITION
Will Vote Against Statewide Prohtoi-
ton But Is Anxious for the End
of Agitation.

Paris, Tcy.-tLrirm Williams al
the democratic state executive commit.
tee has give ont the following:
Paris, Tex, Aug. 2&.-To the Democ-
racy of Texas. While it may not be
customary, deenI it not improper on
assuming my duties as chairman or
the state democratic executive com
mittee to address myself first and di-
reCtly to the democratic masses OF
Texas, to the end that there may arise
no misunderstanding as TO my position
on the issues presented by our plat
form and my course at the head of the
campaign upon which We are now en-
barking.
| wish to say first that without q
particle Of mental reservation, | am
committed to every idea expressed in
the platform even before it was adopted
and upon those principles was an ar
dent supporter of the gentleman who
was nominated for governor as their
exponent
The first two planks state In con-
crete form two cardinal principles OF
democratic doctrine in regard to which
I take if there is no diversity OF opln-
ion among democrats.
The third propounds in its broadcast
acceptation a no less time-honored
and fixed principle Of our consecrated
faith, in its reassertiOn OF the doctrine
of local self-government, and carries
with it, in its application, complete
Endorsement of the Interpretation CIV
en- it in his canvass by the partys nom
inee. This | hold to pc. in its last
analysis, the basis and foundation OK
the democratic creed.
Whatever latitude there may be for
academic controversy over tariff in
terpretation-a matter which but re-
motely concerns, if indeed it touches
the state campaign on any p0int-the
fourth plank in its Endorsement OF the
national and state platforms of 1896,
in my opinion, states the logical and
inevitable democratic position, eSpe-
cially in protesting against a free list
of raw materials SO long as duties are
| retained on the manufactured article.
As | reard OF paramount Importance
the party's demand for legislative rest
and political peace, | heartily approve
the fifth plank.
The sixth plank was written to &C
cord with the demand Of the majority
as expressed at the primary election,
| both as to statewide and district in
struCtion, for the submission to the
people for their rejection or approval
of constitutional amendment pr0vid-
ing statewide prohibition. While the
election to follow the execution of this
demand by the thirty-second legisla-
ture will not be partisan and will not,
therefore, from any angle come within
| the jurisdiction, and while | am and
have always been opposed to state
wide prohibition and shall vote and
exert whatever Of personal influence /
may have against the addition Of the
amendment, l approve the plank as
responsive to the popular will, to be
constitutionally expressed by a two
thirds vote of the membership of each
branch of the legislature, under direct
instruction.
I will be pardoned for adding that
from a purely sentimental standpoint
| regard this demand as OF supreme
Importance, in that, however the cleo
ton on the amendment may result, it
will, or should, terminate the agita-
ton which for several years has been
disturbing and harrassing the business
and political interests of Texas.