The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1914-08-20
Mr.. DARDEN REPLIES
To MIR. A. P. KITCHIN
Stands Strictly by The Shaw Letter
Quoted by MI. KitChin in This
Paper Last Week.

Paper Last Week.
In reply to Mr.. kitchin's article
that appeared in the Scotland Neck
Commonwealth Of last week, will
begin by saying that when the legis-
lature Of North Carolina passed the
prohibition law and when it was
voted on by the people, it was not
party issue. Both parties partici-
pated in the passing Of the law and
the ratification Of the same. Good
men voted on either side. 2'his mat
ter has not been before the people
in any form in the state since its
ratification by large ma iority.
Conditions are different now to what
they We're then. The democrats as
samb!ed IN state convention at
Raleigh last June, placed Il plank in
the state platform endorsing the
prohibition lew and urged that the
same be enforced. This commits all
democrats in the state to tie policy
Of standing by the prohibition law,
ard use every effort to enforce the
same. The man that will not con-
form to his party p 'atfoTm and is
antagon!stic u its teachings is a
poor asset to any party So far as
Mr.. Kitchin's S idea in having prohi-
bition and anti-prohibition demo
Gratis govern local matters. this is
untenable and n.erits TO comment,
further than to ask what conditions
would be with enc wing of the party
defying the law and the other advo-
eating it. He also says that if the
policies OF the leaders Of the party
are not changed the people will lose
confidence and the party will suffer
thereby. Pray tell the people what
would have more tendency to de.
stroy the party than to openly defy
its platform and its requirements.
My announcement for the legisla.
ture was to the demccratit, PARTY
standing squarely on the platform
whatever that might be. | have
never used any other tactics to Sc.
cure votes, and have authorized nc
one else to do so.
In regard to the Shaw letter, Mr.
Kitchin had it in Scotland Neck, Sc
| have been informed. OH Wednes
| day night before the primary. He
| exhibited it on the streets and Other
places, and the next day at the poll
it was used in every possible way
against me by Mr.. Kitchin himself
The consequence was that when th'
votes were counted. my majorit!
was far beyond my most sanguin'
expectations.
| have been fighting the battle
of democracy in Halifax count
since long before my assailant wa
born. | have maintained characte
both personal and political that i
impregnable to any darts that h
may hurl. They will rebound an
infict wounds on Mr.. Kitchin's poll
teal future that will be slow to hea'
The states that the people shoul
not be bound by the primary, bu
be at liberty to vote for some othe
. democrat, So far as ! am person
ally concerned he is at liberty to a
" himself with whomsoever /
pleases and fight ne at the polls
November. Possibly he might +
more s,1ccs5sfcl a. the elect III thu
{ he was at the primary where
fought me with much tenacit
) Mr.. Kitchin states he has atWa.
been my friend So he has (pr
} tended) as long as he could die al
{ to me, but when I dare oppose h
policies he assails me in the mo
) bitter terms, charging me with p
{ litical perfidy, knowing at the tin
) the charges were untrue. He as
4 me to state my position. It is stat
I in the Shaw letter which | will stal
) by. backed by the Democratic pls
I form of North Carolina and fig
} until the illegal traffic in liquor
) broken up in the State ane the bli
I tiger with all his train of evil a
) poluting influences are driven frc
{ our midst.
= Now | shall notice this cont