The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1913-06-27
CROOKS HOBBY,
THE DAVIS BILL,
Still Worries Supt. Florida
Anti-Sal00n Leaque.
Also Certain Criticisms Shot at League
by Representative Russell.

| WIN spent HoSC VI his Time curing tine
recent session of the Florida Legisla
ture lobbying for certain so-callec
temperance measures, most of which
went through without opposition anG
with the ease of bullets through
cheese, is now spending considerable
Of his time in making misrepresenta-
tons against the editor of The Palat-
ka News, who as one of the represen-
tatives in the legislature from Put
nam county, took occasion during ar
gument over one of these bills 1.-THE
Davis Bib to score the Anti-Saloon
League for its inconsistencies.
The following letters which came
into our possession during the week
are self-eXplanatory and we give them
in full:
Mr.. CrOoke's Letter.
Jacksonville, Fla, June 20, 1913.
Hon. Edwin Spencer, jr.,
Ocala, Fla.
My Dear SIR
During the recent session Of
the Legislature, in debate, Mr.. Rus
sell of Putnam county made the fol-
lowing statement:
"The ti-Saloon League is incon-
Sistent and was repudiated by the
Methodists in Minneapolis"
| desire to correct Mr.. Russel's
mistaken impression.
|. The Anti-Saloon League stands
always and everywhere for the ex-
termination of the beverage liquor
traffic. Since we find it impossible
to secure this end by at once closing
out the liquor traffic throughout the
Nation, we proceed upon what seems
to be the sensible plan of progressive
prohibition: that is, in every State
IRVING the traffic first from the small
EST electoral unit (ward, precinct or
!ownship), then from the county, then
from the state; and next, when thirty
six 1861 states so vote, the Constitu-
ion of the United States may be so
amended to drive the beverage liquor
,ratfic from the whole nation. This
method proceeds more slowly in some
states than in others but with perfect
consistency"
2. The statement that the League
was repudiated by the Methodists is
wholly untrue. The enclosed EN-
lorsement of Anti-Saloon League by
Methodists," from the Minutes of the
Methodist General Conference at Min
leapolis, declares the exact opposite.
Only thirty (30) votes out of eight
hundred and nineteen (819) were
against the adoption of the Commit.
Zee Report which is here enclosed. 1t
S brief. Please read it.
l enclose our Anti-Saloon League
Blue Book and after reading it, l shall
ask you to place it on file for future
reference for it contains much valua-
de information.
Yours for the best good of the peo-
pie,
C. W. CROOKE,
State Supt. Anti-Saloon League
Mr.. Spencer's Reply.
Ocala, Fla, June p, 1918.
Mr.. c. W. Crooke,
Jacksonville, Fla.
Dear Sir
Your letter relative to a state
nent made by Mr.. Russell of Putnam
ounty has been received. l presume
hat this is circular letter sent to
Ill members of the legislature and
possibly other persons. do not
Know the motive behind this letter.
It is no doubt an honest effort to cor
'ect what you considered a mistake
On the part of Mr.. Russell, or it NAV
1e an attempt to create some preiu-
ice among the people of the State
against Mr.. Russell, because he op-
posed the Davis bill. In either case,
l think that the time of the Anti
saloon League could be spent to bet
Ter advantage, because | am sure that
I Mr.. Russell made any mistake in
me heat of debate, that if you would
'aIl ms attention to the matter per-
sonaliy that he would be glad to cor
rect 1t through his paper, because I |
always found him to be a man of the
honor and integrity, and a
man who would not under any circum-
stances make an erroneous statement
purposely, or a man, who if an erro-
aeeous statement had been made bv
nm, would be willing to correct same. |
Mr.. Russell is dry man. His rec
ord | think will bear that out. You
nave no right in my opinion to call |
ms statement untrue without first
having called his attention to the err
r,or, If any was made. Personally | |
10 not remember the statement, and
10 not care whether it was made or
not. But | do resent any effort to
IhJure the reputation of my friend
/ man whom | know to be honest and
upright. anu
Yours very truly