The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1910-07-30
ANTI-SALOON LEAGUES ATTACK
r. HE American Issue, the official

its own best condemnation to the in
telligent reader. The article shows
such entire inability to tell the truth
about the simplest matters, that we
cannot undertake to answer its num-
erous and wliuly false statements.
The only thing which amazes us is
how men, who claim to be Christian
gentlemen and who ask the privilege
speaking week alter week from the
pulpts OF our Christian churches. can
be willing to SO pervert the truth, even
in the interest OF promoting their
own organization We say promote
their own organization or THEIR
OWN CONDUCT OF that organiza-
ton, because this is evidently the con-
trolling purpose OF those who at pres
ent have its management. The League
lives by collections. Without such col
lections, no League; no League, no
officials; no officials, no saaried Jobs"
The League must keep itself in the
lime-llght. 1t must make the people
believe in its essentially. The out.
come OF temperance battle is not
half so important as the advertisement
and eNaltation OF the Leagues repre-
sentatlves or agents. The article in
question makes this perfectly clear.
1t is easy enough to read between its
lines desire to see local option de-
feated in this county this Fall simply
because it has suemed wise to have the
campaign free OF the Leagues Interior
ence. The article is evidently intend
ed to foment discord amongst the
friends of the temperance cause, how
ever much such action may jeopardize
the cause which it claims to serve.
We have never had anything like this
in our temperance contests in this
county heretofore. 1t is a new and
vicious element, interjected by the
Leagues agents for palpablv selfish
purposes
We are not in the least concerned
over the Leagues personal attack on
the three gentlemen named in its ar
ticle-simpy disgusted 1t might,
however. be noted IN passing that
these gentlemen have been earnestly
engaged in temperance battles in this
State and county long before the
Leagues arrival They have more
over gone up to these battles "at their
own charges, and can hardly. with
grace. Re accused by the paid PROBES
sional League agents of seeking any
the welfare OF their community. The
article. with strange want OF com
mon sense, to say nothing OF common
decency. virtually charges Messrs.
Blake and McEmoyIe with moral de-
cussion on behalf of these gentlemen
Williams with political stupidity-a
oh c1, l,a ,I,
general proposition; although the story
on which the American Issue bases the
charge in this instance is simply "a lie
out OF the whole cloth from whatever
brain il emanated. Mr.. Williams
never asked or wanted the League to
support him in his candidacy for
arose at all, and to charge Mr.. Will
lisms with holding "a grievance
against the League on that score is too
preposterous to discuss. In fact, in
consideriny the question OF the
Leagues taking part in this Falls
campaign, there was no element OF
personal grievance" on anybody's
part. The Leagues representatives
were simply told that they had made
enemies in the ranks OF both political
parties by former action in political
campaigns and this fact would tell
against a local option victory. if the
League figured in the fight. The
League was asked to stay out OF the
campaign, simply to avoid any i'll cf-
feet from these animosties. This was
perfectly agreed to by Rev. J. NJ. Ar
tiers at the meeting OF the Campaign
Committee on June 24th. Mr.. Arters
conceded the weight OF our argument,
said he had been much misiniormed
about the situation. declared as above,
before the committee, and yet more
strongly to the same effect to Mr..
Williams personally. who was enter
tanning him at dinner after the Com
mittee adjourned. TO our amazement,
when all seemed harmoniouslv adjust
ed and after a months lapse OF time
with no sign OF dissatisfaction. the
League organ comes out III a mali
cious attack on some of our truest
temperance workers, and distributes
that copy OF the organ in great num-
bers throughout the county. Evident
-ly the League can be seeking no good
to this Falls election by any such &C
ton. 1t remains to be seen whether
that action will result in any harm
For ourselves. we shall not be infuenc-
ed one way or the other bv the
Leagues course We shall continue
to advocate a dry county as we
have done heretofore. But toward
the present management OF the Anti
Saloon League we have only fight
ing attitude. Mr.. William Ii Ander-
son can number us henceiorth among
his opponents-and he is building up
large body OF such opponents right
among the temperance people OF the
State. Therein lies the explanation OF
his waning influence. The temperance
element in this State is verv strong
The Anti Saloon League has profted
bv this fact. On the other hand it
ought to be and could be helpful in
securing practical results for this tenn
perance sentiment AS matter OF
fact the fool tactics pursued by its
present management, is bringing it
into bad odor among a large number
OF good temperance people, and is
causing it to be more harmful than
L. ,t,,1 10 Al,