The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1910-07-01
CONVENE
JOHN A. SHIELDS SCORES THE
POLITICAL TACTICS OF ANTI
SALOON LEAGUE.
SAYS GOV. is AGAINST co. OPTION
Speech Of p. n. Youngdahl Restores
Harmony At County Meeting
Women Temperance Workers
Are Praised.

Minneapolis. - The sentiment of
delegates to the Prohibitionists' coun-
ty convention was thoroughly aroused
against the political tactics said to
have been employed by the Anti-Sa-
loon League delegates to the Republ1-
can convention in st. Paul. John A.
Shields, assistant secretary of the Pro-
hibition state committee, made the
caustic address responsible for this
sentiment against the league.
The speaker charged that the
league representatives had been trav-
cling up and down the state declaring
that they would name an Independent
candidate for governor and threaten
ing to bolt the Republican convention
if they did not secure a pledge for re-
form in the party's platform. Mr..
Shields said the only thing the Anti
Saloon League obtained from the con-
vention was a promise to freely,
fully and carefully consider the sort
of legislation the league proposed, and
he declared that the consideration
would end in the same manner as 9TH
err measures the legislature has ICON.
sidered."
He SAID that Governor Eberhart, if
elected, would stand fairly and square
ly against the passage of any county
option or county prohibition bills. He
said the Anti-Saloon Leaguers lacked
sand" in not forcing their issue on
the state convention and drew a num-
Der of political comparisons with
view of presenting the inference that
the Anti-Saloon League delegates were
political traitors"
Old Parties Scored, Too.
Mr.. Shields took a rap at both the
old parties and said that reform of
any sort could not be accomplished
by putting good men in Office to abide
by bad platforms. He said this was
the condition prevailing in both of the
old parties at present and declared it
would remain that way as long as
''Hinky Dink McKenna, of Chicago,
votes for the same man as the frock-
coated preacher in Minnesota" He
asserted the Prohibition party offered
common ground for separating the
good and bad voters and politicians.
The sentiment created by Mr..
Shields speech suffered severe set
back when P. H. Youngdahl, state SUI
perintendent of the Anti-Saloon Lea
que, appeared on the convention floor
as guest of the county committee and
was invited to speak
Harmony between the dry fac
lions was urged by the Anti-Saloon
League head. He said the league was
not non-partisan, as alleged by the
liquor interests, but was an omniparti-
san organization, and he declared that
the league would go into the primaries
of all parties this fall with view of
nominating county option or prohibit
ton candidates.
The speaker praised the Prohibition
party for it's 40 years of effort, I'M
daunted by numerous defeats, and said
the Anti-Saloon League owed it's
strength today to the efforts of the
men and women of the Prohibition
party. In noting the presence of the
women delegates he said:
Women Are Praised.
'This is the first political conven-
ton in Minnesota where women are
not placed in the same class as In.
dams, idiots and criminals"
George w. Higgins was elected
permanent chairman of the conven-
ton, and H. j. Bergstahlor, secretary.
That Mr.. Youngdahls speech had re-
stored harmony between the factions
was evidenced by the fact that DR.. B.
T. Allen, an Anti-Saloon League work
er, was called upon to escort the new
chairman to the chair.