Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-04-03
URGES DEMOCRATS. TO DROP
LIQUOR ISSUE If THEY
WOULD HOLD VOTERS.
FAvoRs FOE OF LIQUOR
FOR COMMITTEEMAN
Warns Party Alignment Must Be on
Right Side Of Moral Issue or Defeat
10 certain-Psrsenal letter to l. 8.
Remington Made Publie-Wa ANTS
Party to Know Where He Stands.

SIdliC S1ludllol III AoWd, III HAS..A -
declares that the democratic party
must set Its face resolutely against
the liquor interests if it is to have any
standing in the community or hope OF
success at the polls. Tho the secre-
tary Of state long ago lined up as 9
water wagon booster, this letter is re-
garded as the most scathing denuncia-
ton of the liquor traffic and the clean
est cut declaration in favor Of dem
ocratic stand for prohibition he has
ever made. He declares emphatically
that If the issue in Iowa is between a
representative Of the liquor interests
and a dry" he is for the dry.
Signal For Battle.
The letter undoubtedly will be the
signal for the drawing Of battle lines
in the democratic party of Iowa for
a struggle that will end only with
declaration for or against the saloons
in the next state convention.
The letter is addressed to L. >
Remington, of Newton, member OF
the state committee for the Sixth dis
trict. and is In answer to a note of in
quiry from Mr.. Remington relative
to Mr.. Bryan's wishes in the matter
Of the selection of the Iowa member
Of the democratic national committee
to succeed Judge Wade.
At the meeting of the state COM
mittee two weeks ago, when the
members deadlocked. 5 to 5. on the
selection OF a member from the Third
district, the so-called reactionary fac
ton persistently claimed that the adj
ministration and Mr.. Bryan desired
the election OF ". ". Marsh OF Water
loo. as national committeeman. Follow :
ing the meeting Mr.. Remington took
occasion to write Mr.. Bryan inquiring
as to the accuracy of these statements.
Yesterday after comforting with mum :
Der of Iowa democrats. most of whom
agreed with him that the democratic
party must take definite stand for
progressive policies, including prohibit
ton, Mr.. Remington gave out Mr..
Bryans letter in reply to his inquiry.
The letter follows:
Text Of Bryan Letter.
Department of State, Washington.
D. c., March 80, 1s15.-Mr. L. S. Ken
nington. Newton. Iowa-My dear Mr..
Kenningtoon: I am in receipt Of your
favor Of March a enclosing report
Of the meeting Of the democratic CEN
trail committee on March 22, and say
Ing at the meeting claim was made
that desired the appointment OF Mt
Marsh. F
II do not assume that my opinion
Is desired but II the partisans OF any
candidate regard my views as having
any weight in the selection of ma
tional committeeman, it is only fair
that those views should be frankly
stated and made known to all who
have to act on the subject.
1.-THE legislature Of Iowa has voted
statutory prohibition and has also
submitted to the people prohibition
amendment to the constitution. 1t
becomes necessary. therefore for the
voters Of Iowa to act upon the liquor
question, both in choosing another
legislature and in voting upon the
amendment submitted. The democrats
Of Iowa, constituting a considerable
portion of the voting population, must
take action upon this subject both in
the nomination and election Of legis-
lators, and also directly as they vote
upon the prohibition amendment
Expects Party Action.
II take 1t for granted that the dem
ocratic party will act upon the subject
in its state and local conventions and
even If it does not, the individual ac-
ton taken by the members Of the or
ganization will, to greater or less
extent, commit the party on this sub
ject and thus affect the partys strength
in the state.
ut Is proper that the national COM
mitteeman should represent the at
titude Of the party on this question:;
in fact the liquor interests have al
ready ruled out one good man because
he is dry The only way in which
the sentiment of the party can be
made evident In advance Of the con-
vention or the election is for each
person to vote as he thinks If he acts
an an individual or as his constitu-
ents think, if he acts as a representa-
tive.
1.-THE liquor questions is moral
question and our party's hopes OF
success in the state of Iowa for years
to come WILL. in my judgment de-
pend upon the manner in which 1t
meets this question and the position
1t takes upon it.
IF were citizen Of Iowa would
make my opinion on the subject
manifest by casting whatever influence
had In favor of the selection of Off
Gals who would not be controlled by.
or under obligations to, the liquor in
terests but would be positively and
definitely 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 In
the family against all that is good in
y -
do not mean to say that every
brewer, every distiller. or every sa-
loonkeeper is consciously conspfring,
h,< tho huaynoaa. which these men