The log cabin Democrat. [volume] (Conway, Ark.) 1901-1982, 1912-10-10
CHARGES PROh|
DEFEAT TO negro
THORNbURC'S STATEMENT
ANTI-SALOON LIE ADER AN
ALYZES CAUSES OF LIQUOR
FORCES VICTORY.


In the first official statement issued
by the Anti-Saloon League since the
September election, George Thorn
burgh, president of the organization,
charges defeat of the statewide act to
the negroes of Arkansas, claiming the
measure received a majority of the
white vote. Mr.. Thornburgh's state
ment, which appears in the Western
Methodist this week, is in full, as fol-
lows:
The returns are in and the result
shows the statewide prohibition act
defeated by about 10000 majority; 16
counties went from the dry to the wet
column, to-wit: Arkansas, Bradley,
Calhoun, Cleburne, Hot Spring, Jack
son, Lonoke, Miller, Monroe, Mont
gomery, Ouachita, Perry, Polk, Scar
cy, Sewer and Stone. Three counties
went from wet to dry, to-wit Cross,
Fulton and Lee. Of those counties
which went from dry to wet, all, per-
haps but two, are or will be, covered
by three-mile petitions or legislative
acts, so that there will be practically
no change in the number of dry coun-
ties.
The opposition of Mr.. Robinson, the
popular nominee for governor, and of
Attorney General Norwood, had their
influence, but the real cause of our de-
feat was the combination made by the
liquor forces with the negroes. There
The Gazette says: "a big negro vote
1,
in nearly every case the negro voted
against the statewide measure" That
is doubtless true Not more than s.
900 negro votes were cast for the
statewide act, leaving $4,000 against
it. Without these $4,000 negro votes
the act would have won by more than
10000 majority. Deductng the 5000
negro votes, which may have been
cast for the act, it is clear that the
white voters of Arkansas, declared in
this election, by a majority of over
$4,000, for statewide prohibition, but
they were overruled by the negro
vote. What condition. The negroes
turned against their best friends and
joined with their worst enemies. Per
sonally, 1 have the consciousness of
having performed my duty, to the
best of my ability. If | had been
wiser | might have done better. |
gave my services without any pay
whatever In addition, / spent con-
siderable sums for newspaper adver
Using, printing in circular form arti-
cles from the papers, and for postage
on the large amount Of literature L
sent out. l did not ask to be REIN
bursed for any part of it. because [
knew the Anti-Saloon League was re
ceiving small contributions and that
Brother Barrett, who was devoting
all his time to the work and also in
curing heavy expenses, needed more
than he was getting. The Anti-Saloon
League did a good work with the linn
tied funds given it. We had not the
money 10 compete with the unlimited
advertising fund of the liquor forces;
we would not follow them in their
outrageous misrepresentation, and
we could not, as honorable men, trade
with the negroes for their votes. The
Anti-Saloon Leaguers, from Brother
Barrett down to the humblest worker,
did what they could for the success
of the act. The Western Methodist
and Baptist Advance were a mighty
influence. The county papers, as a
rule, proved to be edited by men who
could neither be bought nor driven
into the support of an unworthy
cause. The Christian ministers, with
few exceptions, were in the front of
the battle. Many noble laymen gave
splendid service. Mrs. Maxwell, the
state president, and some of the men,
bers of the w. C. 7. u, did what they
could under handicapped conditions.
| have no criticism to offer as to the
extent or character of the work of
those who tried to do what they could.
Those who did the least will furnish
the most criticism. 1t is an old and
true saying, that no question is final
" settled until IL is settled right. 1t
is so with prohibition 1t will not
stav down on the wrong side. God
rules and the saloon is wrong, there
fore it must 60 We may be too i'm
patient as to the time. The Almighty
is long suffering. A temporary defeat
should strengthen our courage and
deepen our purpose to overcome the
evil / would far rather fail on the
right side than to win on the wrong.
Forty-two years ago | enlisted in the
war against the liquor traffic. i have
been in the thickest of the fight ever
since. l shall not stack arms now. A
younger and stronger man must take
the leadership, but | will be an Aaron
or Hur to him when the battle RACES.
God bless the workers,
God pity the shirkers,
is the prayer I offer to my Heavenly
Father. who will some day make bare
His mighty arm in glorious victory
for the right.
GEORGE THORNBURGH,
Pres. Arkansas Anti-Saloon League.