Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1912-05-02

should be called to their attention
and should merit their earnest
consideration.
became a candidate for the
State Senate at the solicitation
of considerable number of the
representative citizens of my
County, who feel that their Coun-
ty is entitled to the nomination,
and who seem to think / am quail
fed to represent this district in
that body.
1t was my own people who in
duced me to enter this race and
no man is my sponsor.
When the Prohibition Amend
ment was submitted to the vote
of the people, had hoped the
whiskey question would be elimi-
mated from the campaign, at least
this year, in the selection of our
candidates for the various offices
,, and their election.
But the whiskey interests of
Berkeley County and other parts
of this Senatorial District think
otherwise, and have determined
that | must be defeated because
I, as member of theslast legis-
lature, was in favor of and voted
for the submission of that amend
nent to the people.
For years there has been
great demand by the people of
the State that they be given the
right to vote on that question.
| was of the opinion that that
demand should be granted, that
the people had right to decide
that question for themselves. I
took that position in the 1egisla-
ture and advocated the submits
sion of that question to the peo-
pie.
That action of mine has made
me offensive to these liquor peo-
pie; and now, that / am a. candi=
date for the nomination for State
Senator, the saloon and distilling
interests of this district have de-
clared that | must be defeated;
and to that end they and all the
influences they can control are
putting forth every effort.
| have no apologies to make
for my record in this matter.
I believed that the people ought
to be permitted to decide that
lquestion for themselves. | did
not believe and do not now believe
that the whiskey interests of the
State should alone determine it.
| And now they propose to punish
me.
/ The question now is; what are
the people of this district going
to do about it? Are they going
to quietly submit to the control
of the district by this power ?
Are those people to be permitted
to determine who their candidate
shall be at this election as they
have been doing in the past; as
they did in the Martlnsburg Con-
vention of 1908 when Mr.. McIn-
tire was nominated !?
j I repeat, the leaders of the
whiskey organization have de-
termined that I am to be beaten,
because I have made myself often
slve to them; and they are al
work in a quiet, active and well
organized way fot the accom-
p1ishment of their purpose.
The influences that they car
control are at work.
And I now appeal to every
Democratic voter, to every fail
minded man, and every man who
believes in the propriety of sub.
hitting that amendment to the
people, and those who approve
my course, to wake up, and by
their active influence and votes,
do all in their power to relieve
this district of the domination Of
the whiskey influence.
j The time has come for the PEG.
!. pie of the district to assert them
selves and break the po1itica
power of these people who have
so long controlled the district.
lido not charge that Mr.. Kuml
is himself a whiskey man, but
do saw that he is candidate al