Evening star., 1915-04-08


pear in the platform of either the DEM
ocratic or republican party, but that
there was no reason why democratic
national committeeman should not rep
resent the party sentiment on the pro-
htbition question.
Secretary Bryan's Letter.
In his letter to Mr.. Remington Mr.
Bryan said:
The legislature of Iowa has voted
statutory prohibition, and also has SUBJ
ultted to the people prohibition
amendment to the constitution. 1t be-
comes necessary, therefore. for the
.oters of Iowa to act upon the liquor
lature and in voting upon the amend
rent submitted. The democrats of
Iva, constituting a considerable por-
IN of the voting population. must
action upon this subject both in
nomination and election of legis-
slrs. and also directly as they vote
the prohibition amendment.
Ike IL for granted that the demo-
@e5tie party will act upon the subject
Is state and local conventions. and
t-a If / does act, the individual action
ee- ~ the members Of the organiza-
lit 10 Z greater or less extent,
the party on this subject and
s45 rect the party.s strength in the
4 5 proper that the national COM
iteeman should represent the atti-
tde of the party on this question: In
act, the liquor interests have already
ruled out one good man because he is
dry The only way in which the SEN
timent of the party can be made evil
dent In advance of a convention or an
election is for such person to vote as
he thinks, If he acts as an individual.
os as his constituents think, il he acts
. representative.
Says It Is Moral Question.
The liquor question is moral ques-
tion. and our party's hope Of success in
the state Of Iowa for years to come
Will, In my judgment, depend upon the
manner in which it meets this question
and the position it takes upon it.
IF I were a citizen of Iowa I would
fest by casting whatever influence
had in favor of the selection of officials
who would not be controlled by or
under obligation to the liquor interests,
committed to the home as against the
saloon. The brewer. the distiller and
the saloonkeeper are in conspiracy
against all that is pure In society,
against all that is sacred to the fam
lily, against all that Is good in indus
try and desirable in government. l do
not mean to say that every brewer,
every distiller OF every saloonkeeper is
consciously conspiring. but the busi-
ness in which these men are engaged
is the enemy of progress and civiliza-
tion, and they are not In position 70
oppose the influence that dominates It.
Those who represent the liquor inter-
ests are constituencies in their meth
DDS. They debauch the individuals
through whom they act, and any party
TO which they dictate. The democratic
party can only hope for success when
IT gives expression to high Ideals and
makes itself the champion of the no
bIcst principles and the best policies.
Only Ono Side to It.
Whenever a moral question Is raised.
therefore, there Is but one side to 1t.
unless the party Is willing to sell it's
soul for support which cannot be
more than temporary and which can
not be accepted even temporarily with
out the forfeiture of public respect.
1T does not matter much what par
ticular individual is chosen as national
committeeman, but 1t matters a great
deal whether lie stands as the moral
or immoral side of the line that sep
erates tho forces that are soon to en-
gage in political battle in Iowa. 1t
would be far better to take an obscure
man VINO Is right on tne NQuOr QueS-
tion than a we'll known man who is
wrong on tho liquor question. for an
unknown man ceases to be unknown
when he becomes the exponent Of
righteous cause-he borrows strength
from his cAuse-whereAs individual
strength and personal influence dwin-
die into nothingness under the blight
OF an unholy alliance with an immoral
cause.
IT. therefore, anybody asks you my
opinion. you may say that In any con-
test between a wet and a dry can
dldAte for national committeeman am
for the dry candidate. and that shall
be greatly disappointed II tho demo-
cratic party in Iowa does not throw
tho weight of it's great influence
against the liquor interests and all that
they stand for or DESIRE"
Mr.. Bryan's Statement.
secretary Bryan's statement follows
The letter OF Committeeman Ken-
nington explains itself. It was being
urged in behalf OF ono candidate that
j favored his selection. When this was
brought TO my attention 1 felt that If
my opinion was desired II ought to be
given to all and that the reasons for
that opinion should be stated SO that
the democrats Of Iowa would know