The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1914-08-27

Dy DtCldIlllg Ills fUSlllUli MI. hltCll-
in Says He Has Done What Should
Have Been Done Before the Pri.
mary Election.
My communication relative to
Mr.. Darden has caused him to do
what he ought to have done before
the primary. He stands on the
Democratic platform, as he con-
strues it. l do not construe the
platform as declaring for any amend
ments to the prohibition law HOW
EVER DRASTIC THEY MAY BE.
Of course, every good citizen wants
the present law enforced, just as
the platform declares, but every
good citizen and Democrat does not
want an anti-jug law passed. as Mr..
Darden has committed himself to.
did not assaiI Mr.. Darden's per-
sonal character, and would not, as
+ like him personally and have been
his friend, although he says l have
not. | have never tried to dicta' e
to him in any way, and he knows his
statement as to that is without even
the semblance Of truth.
He says he never posed as prohi-
bitionist in one part Of the county
and as an anti-prohlbitio list down
here, and puts the blame for such
on his friends One thing is certain
| the ants down here voted for him SIS
| en- anti, and he was voted for in
| other precincts as 4 proki5itionist.
This is the charge | made and it can
not be denied
His information as to my havir g
his letter before election day is un-
true. The first time saw the let
ter was about ten clock on election
day, when it was handed me. Ires d
it in the presence Of perhaps a dozen
voters. including Mr.. Earden's po-
litical friend and adviser, who st; v
ed at the polls all day and harded
out Darden tickets, Mr.. j. F. Bow
ers. After reading the letter, |
then said that nartten lad commit
ted himself 10 prohibition and under
his letter he would vote for an anti
jug law in the legislature. Mr.
Bowers said then and there that
Darden was not prohibitionist and
would not vote for the anti-jug
law. If Mr.. Bowers had said, Yes,
he is for prohibition and will stand
by his letter and vote for an anti
jug law, | am sure his vote IN this
end of the county would have beer
much smaller than it was.
His statement that l fought hin
with much tenacity is untrue.
asked no enc to vote against him
However, | have heard a great many
voters say since the primary that il
they had known Of the Shaw lettel
before they voted they would no
have voted for Darden.
Amt it little strange Mr.. Oar
, den didn't think the anti-jug matter
was an issue, after it had bee,
, threshed out at the Democratl
county convention at Halifax en-
) resolution introduced by G. H. HOus'
and after much discussion was over
whelmingly voted down? He wa
present at that convention. VIII
did the AEti-Saloon League SCUM
him on that very matter if it wa
not an issue? Why did that yer
I same League send broadcast to it
) members over the county a iette
{ requesting them to scratch N. l
Stedman because he was not pre-
) hibitionist if it was not an issue?
( 1t seems that his friends did him
5 rank injustice on election day b
Z proclaiming him a wet man and say
Z ing he would not stand by his letter
) and are still maintaining that he
I no prohibitionist, even in the fac
} Of his own statement that he is.
) His extended, active. powerf'
Z end influential work for the part
} must deserve recognition Waethe
Z wet or dry.
{ Now, inasmuch as he says he
{ done with this con roversy. ar
{ too, as ! believe in refolmatlo
5 however sudden the conversion, al
< I leave it to his conscience to gult
- him in the future, with the since
hone that it may lead him to be
consistent q prohibitionist IN Il
~ future as he has been an antl-pr