Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-04-16
President Ignores Anti-Sa-
loon League Statement as to
Nationwide Prohibition.
VIEWS OF Mr.. WILSON
ARE SHOWN IN LETTER
Says Question Is Essentially Non
Political and Non Partisan"
Willing to Meet Challenge.


House today on the statement of off,
Gals of the Anti-Saloon League that
the fight has already begun for nation
wide prohibition and that this organi-
cation will not support any man who
favors the solution of the problem by
states or locally. thereby committing
the organization against President Will
son. The President is understood to
stand pat upon letter he wrote four
years ago. while Governor of New Jer-
sey. In this letter. addressed to Rev.
Thomas B. Shannon of Newark, the
President declared that he favored
local option" and asserted that the
question is essentially non-political.
non-partsan, moral and social In its
nature" showing a wide difference in
view from the standpoint of the Anti
Saloon League.
Should the President seek a renom-
ination from his party it is understood
that he is willing to meet the chal-
lenge of any organization and an
nounce that he believes every state or
community should rule itself on this
question. The attitude of the President
and the Anti-Saloon League make
sharp issue.
Views Of the President.
President Wilson's letter to Mr.
Shannon. dated May 1. 1911. said:
THE question asked in your letter of
April 81 about my attitude toward the
important question of local option is.
of course. a perfectly legitimate one,
and you are entitled to a very frank
answer. l would have replied sooner
had l not been prevented by impera-
tive public engagements, l have ex-
planned my views to you In private.
but. of course, have no objection to
your making them public
Il am in favor Of local option. I am
thorough believer in local self-gov-
eminent. and believe that every self
governing community which consti-
tutes social unit should have the
right to control the matter of the reg
ulation or of the withholding of
licenses.
But the questions involved are so
clal and moral and are not suscep-
tlble OF being made parts of a party
program whenever they have been made
the subject matter of party contests
they have cut the lines of party or
ganlzatlon and party action athwart, to
the utter confusion of political action
In every other field. They have thrown
every other question, however impor-
tant. into the background and have
made constructive party action impos-
slble Tor long years together. So far
as L am concerned, therefore, I can
never consent to have the question Of
local option made an issue between
political parties in this state My judg-
ment is very clear in this matter.
90 not believe that party programs of
the highest consequence to the political
HE or the state and of the nation
ought to be thrust on one side and
hopelessly embarrassed for long peri
DDS together by making a political is
sue of a great question which is es-
sentially nom political, non-partisan,
moral and social in its nature"
President Entertains No Fear.
If the issue is to be fought In the
next presidential election or in the
primaries and conventions before that
time, and the personality of the Presi-
dent is involved, he will have no fear,
his friends understand, In meeting it.
Great interest centered today in the
fact that not only is the President d.
rectly opposed to the view of the Anti
Saloon League, but that he is not In
full accord with Secretary Bryan OF
the cabinet.
Recent editorials Of Mr. Bryan in His
Nebraska paper and recent letters put
him squarely on record as extending
the prohibition issue beyond states and
counties. morally and every other way.
1Hci Q Is iio 1iheAAiioou tudl cilHeF IHe
President or MIR. Bryan will change
front on the subject, but there is said
to be no probability that their differ
ences will bring about any change in
their personal or official relations.
Each man will hold to his own ideas
of how this problem should be settled
Mr.. Bryan, it is pointed out, has re-
manned loyal to the President through
out and will continue that way.
Stand Of Anti-Sa1oon League.
DR.. P. A. Baker OF Westerville. Ohio,
general superintendent OF the Anti-Sa-
loon League of America, who recently
returned from a tour of the Hawaiian
Islands in the interest of temperance
reform, arrived in Washington today
for a conference with Edwin c. Din
widdie. legislative superintendent OF
the league. After the conference these
officers issued the following in relation
to the presidential campaign of 1916:
Just at this time, when the party
leaders are looking for available can.
didates for the presidency for next
year. it will be well II they will care.
fully consider ono or two things The
united prohibition forces of the coun-
try will oppose tho candidacy of any
man who voted against tho Webb Ken.
yon interstate liquor shipment law, OF
voted against the resolution to submit
| the national prohibition amendment tt
| the states, or who advocates only the
states rights policy of dealing with the
| liquor traffic. A national evil can only
| be cured by a national remedy. The