Omaha daily bee., 1910-04-08
Charles A. Towne
Talks at Lincoln
to Help the Vets
Former United States Senator Takes
Part in City Campaign and
Draws Fire.

NtFOm q SLdLl III fHboAulAhs'
LINCOLN. April I-lSpeCial)-Charles A
Towne. former United states senator, con
gresham. personal friend Of Mr.. Bryan and
leader in national democratic politics
talked to a crowded house last night at the
auditorium against prohibition legislation.
a large portion of the audience was made
up Of advocates Of prohibition and at the
beginning a movement was started as If
/ there was to be a repetition Of the disturb
ances that occurred at the barrow meet
ing.
i am used to disturbances said Sena-
tor Towns, and ! want to serve notice
right here that is is going hard with any
person that interrupts this meeting" There
was the closest attention throughout the
address after that.
Mr.. Towne referred 10 the signed state
ments by certain Lincoln democrats, who
desired it understood that he did not speak
for the democratic party by saying that
he had always advocated Intellectual hon
esty and as a result of advocating his
honest convictions he had become some
what of a martyr TO that doctrine. He
regretted that he could not agree with
many personal friends In Lincoln, but he
desired to inform the audience that he was
not here in an apolegetic mood, but IN an
aggressive mood.
Senator Towne pointed out the evils
Of the persons writing into law merely
opinions of a few people to control ali per
sons. He made the statement that for years
the use Of strong drinks had decreased
while the use of milder drinks had in
creased. To enact prohibitory laws he said
tended to stop the gradual development Of
the general public.
He had no fight to make on those persons
who tried to get people to refrain from
drink, but his fight was merely 70 prevent
the enactment Of prohibitory laws which
could not be enforced for any length Of
time as had been proven in states which
have prohibitory laws, but which created
a disrespect for law.
A number OF democrats today issued a
statement to the effect that Senator Towne
was not speaking for the democratic party
when he spoke against prohibition.
When Senator Towns came to Lincoln
to speak in the interestqdf Mr.. Bryan and
devoted his fun time to a eulogy of demo
cracy as preached by the presidential
candidate, the parties who signed the
statement today, were his most ardent
champions. Since then, however, Mr..
Bryan has endorsed county option, which
Governor Shallenberger has interpreted to
{ 9 ~ NAN 49," SaN AoE
been PLACID in the discsrds.
Among the familiar names on the state
ment il that Of DR.. e. Arthur Carr, the
typical democratic manipulation, who
gained some notoriety and an office by
writing the scurrlious letters against re-
publican candidates in the interest Of Mr..
Bryan In 1905.
The statment also applies to Clarence
DRrrow and Mayor Rose Of Milwaukee, one
Of whom has spoken here against prohi-
billion and the other is 10 speak.
That the three speakers do not represent
the democratic party is certain because
c. W. Bryan himself signed the state
ment and he Is in a position TO know who
speaks for the party. The statement and
the signatures follow:
The fact that three gentlemen who have
been conspicuous in me councils Of the
democratic party were engaged 10 make
speeches for the saloons In the contest now
going on in Lincoln has been generally aC-
cepted as significant. Whrie the saloon
advocates have SAID that these men do not
come here as democrats. their prominence
IN the party has caused many people 10
hold the party responsible for the part they
are taking in the contest.
The Undersigned democrats deem 81 Just
10 Ihelr party 10 say thal the democratic
party is not responsible TOR the presence OF
these gentlemen IN Lincoln ana that Jhey
have no authority 10 speak Tor Lincoln
ANAAbNidLEr IL IT. perhaps true lNal ANeit
are many demoCrats-as there are many re-
pubAcans-WnO wiz vote IoT saloons. but
there are many democrats, perhaps a ma
Jority, VINO are opposed 10 readmItItng the
saloon 10 Lincoln. For this large body OF
democrats these orators 40 not speak. and
We take this formal method OF making Thar
fact known.
The statement is signed by A. 5. Tibbets.
frederlck Shepherd. }, h.. Miller, Il. =.
Allen W. M, Morning, Alvah &. HOugh, Dr.
4. Arthur Carr, Henry A. Meier j. y.
farrls, h. J. Iroyer, John Wlesman, John
4, hrb, A.. J.. Sawyer, G. W. Berge, W. b.
Price, Charles W, Bryan, 4. III. Hatfield.
FREQ r. Humphrey. ". y. Barley. e. y.
Jones, O. ". Meier, Henry T.. Kaufman.
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