Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1912-05-07
To The Denocrafic Voters Of the Fif'
teeath Senatorial District.

t060Iu SSNdtUIv0l UictlHts
There are some things want to say to
the Democratic voters of this district
things which Should be called to their at
tcnt,on aud should merit their consider
alton.
/ became a candidate for the State
Senate at the solicitation of considera-
Bile number of the representative citizens
of my county who feel that their county
is entitled to the nomination. and who
seem to think l am qualified to represent
this district in that body.
1t was my own people who induced me
to enter this race and no man is my
sponsor.
When the Prohibition Amendment was
submitted to the vote of the people. had
hoped the whisky question would be eli
mated from the campaign. at least this
year. IN the selection of our candidates
for the various Offices and their election.
But the whisky interests of Berkeley
county and other parts of this Senatorial
District think otherwise, and have de-
termined that must be defeated because
l, as member of the last Legislature,
was in favor of and voted for the submis-
sion of that amendment to the people.
For years there has been a great de-
mand 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 them
selves. l took that position in the Leg
Islature and advocated the submission of
that question to the people.
That action of mine has made me often
slve to these liquor people; and now that
| am candidate for the nomination tor
State Senator, the saloon and distilling
interests of this district have declared
that must and shall be defeated; and to
that end they end all the influence they
can control are putting forth every effort.
Ihave no apologies to make tor my re-
cord in this matter.
l believe that the people ought to be
permitted to decide that question for
themselves. l did not believe and do
not now believe that the whisky interests
of the State should alone determine it,
and now they propose to punish me.
The question now is. what are the peo-
of this district going to do about it? Are
they going to quietly submit to the con-
troll of the district by this power? Are
those people to be permitted to determine
who their candidate shall be al this cleo
ton as they have been doing in the past;
as they did in the Martinsburg Conven-
ton OF 1903 when Mr., Mcintyre was
nominated?
repeat, the leaders of the whisky or
ganizatiOn have determined that am to
be beaten because l have made myself
offensive to them; and they are at work
in quiet. active and Well organized way
for the accomplishment of their purpose
The influences that they can control
are at work.
And now appeal to every Democratic
voter. to every fair minded man and
every man who believes in the propriety
Of submitting 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 re-
lieve this district OF the domination OF
this whisky influence.
The time has come for the people of
the distrctto assert themselves and break
the political power of these peop'e who
have SO long controlled the distrc'.
do not charge that Mr.. Kump is him
self whisky man. but do say that he
is candidate of the whisky ring tn at the
saloon interests are seeking his election
and my defeat.
Very respectfully,
May 7-2t. II. b. GILKESoN.