Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1915-04-23
viii Stand Pat For Local Option.

House on the statement of officials of the
Anti-Saloon League that the fight has
already begun for nationwide prohibition
and that this organization will not sup
port any man who favors the solution of
the problem by States or locally, thereby
committing the organization against Presi-
dent Wilson, The President is understood
to stand pat upon a letter ne wrote four
years ago, willie Governor of New Jersey.
In this letter, addressed to Rev. Thomas
B. Shannon. of Newark. the President de-
clared that he favored local option" and
asserted that the question is essentially
nom political, non-partisan, moral and So
cial in its nature, showing Wide differ
ence in view from the standpoint of the
Anti-Saloon League.
Should the Aesident seek renomina-
ton from his L,.rty it is understood that
he is willing to meet the challenge of any
organization and announce that he be-
lieves every Stese or community should
rule itself on THIS question. The, attitude
of the President and the Anti-Saloon
League make sharp issue.
President WilsonSi letter to MG Shan
non, dated May l. 1911, said:
THE question asked in your letter of
April 81 about my attitude toward the
important question of local option is, of
course, perfectly legitimate one, and you
are entitled to a very frank answer. |
would have replied sooner had not been
prevented by imperative public engage
ments. have explained my views to you
in private. but, of course, have no objec-
ton to your making them public.
81 am in favor Of local option. am a
thorough believer in local self-government,
and believe that every self-governing COM
munity which constitutes a social unit
should have the right to control the matter
of the regulation or Of the Withholding of
licenses.
but the questions involved are social
and moral and are not susceptible 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 organization and party action
athwart, to the utter confusion Of political
action in every other field. They have
thrown every other question. however inn
portant, into the background and have
made constructive party action impossible
for long years together. So far as am
concerned, therefore, can never consent
to have the question Of local option made
an issue between political parties in this
State. My judgment is very clear in this
matter. do not believe that party pro-
grams of the highest consequence to the
political life of the State and of the nation
ought to be thrust on one side and hope
lessly embarrassed for long periods together
by making a political issue Of great ques-
ton which is essentially non-political, non
partisan, moral and social in its nature"
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 President is involved, he
will have no fear his friends understand
in meeting il.
Great interest is conferred in the fac
that not only is the President directly op
posed to the view Of the Anti-SalooI
League, but that he is not in full accorC
with Secretary Bryan. of the cabinet.
Recent editorials of Mr.. Bryan in hi
Nebraska paper and recent letters put hin
squarely on record as extending the prohi
bitiop ssue beyond States and counties
morally and every other way. There is n
likelihood that either the President or MI
Bryan will change front on the subject
but there is said to be no probability tina
their differences will bring about an
change in their personal or officialrelation'
Each man will hold to his own ideas @
how this problem should be settled. Nj
Bryan, 1t is pointed out, has remained loyf
to the President throughout and will cor
time that way.
DR.. p. A. Baker, of Westerville, Ohi'
general superintendent of the Anti-Saloo
League of America who recently returne
from tour to the Hawaiian Islands in tn
interest of temperance reform, arrived
Washington last Friday for conferenC
with Edwin C. Dinwiddie. legislative ST
perintendent Of the league. After the cor
ference these officers issued the followin
in relation to the presidential campaign {
1916:
Just at this time, when the party leaC
ers are looking for available candidate
for the presidency for next year. it wi
be well if they will carefully consid'
one or two things. The united prohib
ton forces of the country will oppos
the candidacy of any man who vote
against the Webb-Kenyon interstate liqu'
shipment law, or voted against the rest
luton to submit the national prohib
ton amendment to the States, or who az
yocates only the States rights policy {
dealing with the liquor traffic. A nation'
evil can only be cured by national RENE
dy. The most sacred rights of the State
is the right to change the organic law
the nation when they choose. Beside
the plan of human redemption is not cor
fined to State lines The people are tho
.oughly in earnest on this question an
have become impatient with trifiing pull
lie officials. high and low.
This statement is issued in response
repeated requests from correspondents fC
information touching the attitude of tn
Anti-Saloon League toward presidents
candidates in 1916"
Press COMMENTS.
From the Baltimore Sun.
The national officials of the Anti-Saloo
League have issued statement declarin
the opposition of the league to the can
didacy for President Of any man who vote
against the Webb-Kenyon interstate iQuc
a Al. IL.