The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-02-22

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same as it, was when he made reply
lGague-when he pledged himself to
! sign bill that gave the right Of
voting to the people.
Ills term of office expires in Jan,i-
airy. 1913 ana before that date we
must give him the opportunity OF
signing such measure. 1t is not
for us 70 say what cncouragement or
what discouraGemcnt the chief exc
cutivc should givo to pending logis-
lation, but cannot help feeling keenly
disappointed that our Governors voice
MAS not heard loud and strong in It's
favor when the Strobe enabling bill
was before the Senate OF Virginia"
Questioning Candidates.
ton OF the address OF Ar. Atkins was
IN reference to the questioning Of can
d!datcs, as to the aims Of the league
He spoke a s follows:
In speaking to the third OF the
resolutions suggested. i want TO stute
at the very outset that the league has
nonpartisan attitude toward candi-
dates for Office. in every convention
executive committee meeting. head
quarters committee meeting. subcom-
mittee meeting. Of which j have ever
been member: and If over d mcmb1
or group of members. In official ca
pacity, have ever taken any other atti-
nue. theE owe 1t to this convention
70 make Il full confession. | know the
charges made again ana again against
scandal that have been circulated to
he detriment OF our Organization. The
sns,, OF our league. from the very
ni,e as,,,,I;,g have included Democrats.
kepuoiicans and third party Prohibit
tionists. some who wore the badge o!
party servitudc and some with suifi-
t thn inaependenee to believe that all
been monopolized by the party with
which they stood iden,incd. I trust rust
WI MN al al my heart that the omn,-
league may bc continued want TO
see men or all parties and OF no party
~ our highest seats OF office. And +
partisan--no npar IT. an--pciicy of our
league may be continued. / want 10
zee us IN IN politics or out Of it, wher-
carry he issue. but absolutely non
partisan in our attitude. Anything
ana na' llbes and ~ moves and has It's being
ara mnose lite and motion and being
are against the saloon. has placs
neneath the banner or this orsaniza.
tion. We want this league 10 be q
out out . ~ n2nse' open twenty-four hours
.ies and for men of all creeds. and
every society and organization in Ills
;n taat VIII do It's temperance clear
ing house is welcome 10 ali the infor-
nation and practical assistance we can
We Me cam mem. and we VIII give then, ali
Nc
want men Of all parties 10 ioIn Win
US IN our campaign against the saloon
orea I,ies ,i ourselves . as an omnpartisan
mat position too strongly.
should he Non-f'nrtisnn,
IN e. We seek 10 be non partisan
IN A. We undertake.. we are not In
politics In the interest OF any noli.
tlcal candidate. Not quite two wars
ago we questioned the candidates fo,.
aonernoI. and from first to last we
wc,r1 :, ~ 10 DC non-pari!san In every
Mo1d aadressed TO them. IN the lette,
eodressed to Republicans and Demo
:fats alike we stated that while the
,eague dominates no candidates and
sioes nr no r1 on party, tho league
10 select men for public Office who
'an ayr the abolition OF the saloon
~ Is ne openly declared policy Of
on the platform, 10 give the voters of
me State the facts as to the oaat
IeGord an. and present position OF candi.
iates for public office, and 10 leave 10
me voters for which person tnev vii
vote Such a method OF procedura /.
| sair both 70 the candidates and to Tie
sottrs' NO candidate can reasonably
/ oblect to statement concerning his
past record and present position. esnc-
tiaily when he is requested 10 make
a ,sa. s.a te ,hn in his own words; ]
ne te,, IN mat non partisan position
believed In 1t then. believe in il
now 1t is not for tile state lcague
10 question local candidates 81 is liz
GUY OF the local leagues to question
Sandluates Tor office in the gift OF tho
iocIs Community. 1t is. however. tic
business ot the state League 10 dues
tlcn candidates for office in Tie gift
OF al. the people. and that we o,,,ht
70 DO in every political campaie-n I 20 -
not see how wc can be true to the prIn
c!ples Of the league and question tho
cahdldates simply with regard 10 their
past record Nor do I see how we can
be true TO the principles of the LEAGUE
and question the candidates sInlnIv
With regard to their present position
OF these questions. We have the rieht
10 know, and the people have the ri@bt
TO know. not only the present nosi
ZION, But also the past record upon
| every man who offers himself as
candidate for office. Candidates for
governor need not be questioned upon
mal,ers or national legislation, and
need not be questioned upon matters
OF State legislation, unless the occa
SION arise in which State and national
position has far-reachinG applicatinn
II has, however, been our position in
the past, ! know no reason Tor depart t.
ing from II In the present
The Senatorial Cuniputrn
II know there are those who believa
thar q mistake was made in the eubor
material campaign OF 1909. when the
Governor SO explicitly with regard to
! their past record. These would urge
us In the coming senatorial campaign
TO confine our lnterrogatories TO ono
single questionable position OF can
didates uron present national legisla.
ton without reference TO what has
been tho record of the past That. I'm
their Judgment is the simplest Of non.
partisan positions This they believe
the league could do without danger Of
entanglement Perhaps IL could: and
| II that We're it's avoWed policy heralde6
abroad and known of all men. I should
| be content with that position But
! that has not been its policy, and for
| that reason object 70 the position II
the league stood pledged in 1909 to
| give the record Of candidates for Cow
clmor down to the lninutest detail, it
| stands pledged in 1911 to DO exactly
/ the same without fear or favor II
! those questions as to record shouI
| provo embarrassing to candidates to-
/ day, let 1t be remembered that their