Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-09-11
To the Hon. Oakley C. Curtis,
Democratic Candidate for Govern

To the Hon. Oakley c. Curtis,
Democratic Candidate for Governor,
City.
Dear Sir-In addressing to you this
open letter, permit me to say at the
start that / have the very kindest
feelings for you personally and the
highest regard for the high Office you
hold and the still higher office to
which You now aspire. A sense or
civic duty alone impels me to write.
Coming to Portland about two years
ago as a minister of the Gospel, l
rejoiced to think that Maine was the
pioneer State of prohibition and that
1t should be my privilege for some
time to live among that class of
sturdy New Englanders whom I had
learned to love and respect, both
through my personal experience and
through my historical studies.
To me Puritanism has always stood
as the best this Country has ever
known in character and culture.
Writer Always a Democrat
Politically I have always been a
Democrat and today my political
principles are those of President Will
son and Secretary of State William
j. Bryan 1t has been my privilege
to speak for the national ticket of
the Democratic party since Grover
Cleveland first ran for President 1t
was my privilege to be connected with
the national Press Bureau of Presi-
dent Wilson's campaign in the fall
of 1912. But at the same time.
haVa also oil he time haor cfo
prohibitionist. believing as / do that
the moral, social. industrial and po-
litical, life of this Country has no
greater foe than the saloon. 5ss. 10 =
BY the adoption of prohibitory
amendment to its State constitution,
the State of Maine put itself in the
very forefront Of human progress.
What ia the name of common sense
has possessed the Democratic party
that il should wish to repeal a law
which has done more for moral and
social uplift than any other law ever
passed in this Country? The churches
all over this broad land stand square
iy for the elimination of the saloon.
The large industrial concerns. such as
railroads, factories and almost all en-
ployers of labor on large scale de-
mand the abolition Of the liquor traf-
fic The national administration of
the United States Army and Navy de-
mands even their officers to abolish
the wine mess 1t is the same in all
thte countries of the Old World. Why
should the Democratic party of Maine
wish to put itself and the State in
the pillory as a party and State
~ hon 1y ~ ha m inn
and nuisances unavoidably springing
from the open saloon?
Democrats in South Are for Prohibit
tion
mi the South the Democratic party
is the party of temperance and pro-
'hibition. In the states Of Kansas and
Tennessee the Democratic party has
become purged of all connection with
the liquor traffic and has won its re-
cent political victories on that issue.
We ministers rejoice to know that in
the White House there sits today a
man who is a God-fearing man, an
abstainer and O Democrat. We rejoice
TO know that In the secretary OF state
we have a man who never has used In
toxicating liquor and had the excep-
tional courage to abolish Its use at
state functions, even at the risk OF
being ridiculed. The writer OF this let
ter has had the pleasure more than
once to sit at table with Mr.. William
Jennings Bryan on political occasions,
and never once did the Democratic
management fthese political ban
Duets dare to put any beverage
stronger than water on the table. In
all sincerity, wish to say to you that
the party that elects you to the nigh
office of Governor of this peautifui
state on a resubmission platform. pays
too dearly for your success, and WIZ
speedily regret such an act. You are
in hopeless figfiht. The forward and
upward movement of humanity will
crush you and your party In the end