The log cabin Democrat., 1912-10-04
CHARGES PROh|
 DEFEAT TO NEGRO
THORNBURC'S STATEMENT
ANTI-SALOON EADER AN ALYZES CAUSES OF LIQUOR
 FORCES VICTORY.


 by the Anti-Saloon League since tn, September election George Thorn burgh, president of the organization charges defeat of the statewide act t, the negroes of Arkansas, claiming tn, measure received a majority of tn, white vote. MT. Thornburgh's state ment, which appears in the Westerr Methodist this week, is in full, as fol lows
 The returns are in and the result shows the statewide prohibition ac defeated by about 16,000 majority; t 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 icy, Sevisr 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.
 l 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 were perhaps 10000 negro votes cast. The Gazette says: "A big negro vote has been cast in many counties, and in nearly every case the negro voted against the statewide measure" That Is doubtless true. Not more than B. 900 negro votes were cast for the statewide act, leaving 35,000 against it. Without these. 35,000 negro votes the act would have won by more than 10000 majority. Deducting 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 majority of over 15,000, 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, l have the consciousness of having performed my duty, to the best of my ability. If I had been wiser l might have done better. gave my services without any pay whatever. In addition, l 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 sent out. 1 did not ask to be reim- ] bursed for any part of it, because l 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 ited funds given it. We had not the money to compete with the unlimited advertising fund of the liquor forces we would not follow them in their outrageous misrepresentations, 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 mighty influence. The county papers, as g rule, proved to be edited by men who could neither be bought nor driver 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. Markwell, the state president, and some of the mem bers of the w. c. T. U, did what they could under handicapped conditions 1 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. It is an old and true saying, that no question is final 1 ly settled until it is settled right. It | is so with prohibition. It will not stay down on the wrong side. God rules and the saloon is wrong, there fore it must go. We may be too inn 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. l would far rather fail on the right side than to win on the wrong. Forty-two years ago l enlisted in the war against the liquor traffic. l 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 I will be an Aaron or Hur to him when the battle rages.
 God bless the workers,
 God pity the shirkers,
 is the prayer offer to my Heavenly Father, who will some day make bare His mighty arm in a glorious victory for the right.
 GEORGE THORNBURGH, Pres. Arkansas Anti-Saloon League.