Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-04-08
NO PLACE IN PLATFORM
FOR LIQUOR QUESTION
Bryan Does Not Expect Issue to Be
Raised by Either Democratic or
Republican Party.
HE URGES DRY" MAN IN IOWA
Writes Letter Advocating Selection
OF Prohibition Advocate as Mem
Der OF National Committee-Wants
Party to Side Against Saloon.

WASHINGTON, April 7.-Sccrctary
Bryan tonight made public a letter
he had written to L. W. Remington.
Democratic national committeeman
from Iowa, expressing the hope that
Iowa Democrats would take stand
for prohibition and vote against Of
liquor Interests.
In statement given out with the
letter. Mr.. Bryan said he hoped to see
the Democratic party take the prohi-
bition side wherever the question was
raised, and that, if the liquor inter-
ests insisted on making an issue in the
selection OF a national committeeman
the people opposed to the liquor traffic
could not afford to ignore 1t.
Il do not know to what extent the
liquor question will be an issue In the
campaign next year." Mr.. Bryan added.
"At the present time, il does not seem
probable that it will find place In the
platform of either the Democratic or
the Republican party. but there is no
reason why the national committee
men should not represent the senti-
ment of the party on this subject as
on other subjects"
BRYAS'S NAME USED
TO HELP CANDIDATE
Mr.. Remington had written MIR.
Bryan that his name was being used
in behalf of q candidate for the ma
tional committee.
In his letter TO Mr.. Kenningt ton, Mr.
Bryan said:
The Legislature of Iowa has voted
statutory prohibition, and has also
submitted to the people a prohibl-
tion amendment to the Constitu-
ton. 1t becomes necessary. therefore
for the voters OF Iowa to act upon the
liquor question, both In choosing an
othes Legislature and in voting upon
the amendment submitted. The Demo.
Gratis of Iowa. constituting considera-
Bile 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
Il take 1t for granted that the Demo.
cratic party Will act upon the subject
in its State and local conventions, and
even II il does not. the individual action
taken by the members OF the organiza
tion will. to greater or less extent
commit the party on this subject. and
thus AFFECT the partys strength in the
State.
SHOULD REPRESENT ATTITUDE
OF PARTY ON QUESTION
"It is proper that the national COM
mitteeman should represent the atti-
tude OF the party on this question: In
g.
ruled out one good man because he is
dry The only way in which the senti-
ment of the party can be made evident
in advance OF n convention or an cleo
tion is for each person TO vote as he
thinks, IL he acts as an individual, or
as his constituents think, IL he acts as
representative.
THE liquor question is a moral aues-
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 1t meets this question
and the position II takes upon 1t.
"If l were citizen Of Iowa, l would
make my opinion on the subject mani
fest by casting whatever influence ]
had In favor Of the selection Of Of
hcials who would not be controlled
interests. but would he positively and
definitely committed to the home as
against tho saloon.
The brewer. the distiller and the
saloonkeeper arc in conspiracy against
all that is pure in society, against nil
that is sacred in the family, against
all that is good in industry and de-
sirable In government. do not mean
to say that every brewer. every dis
tiller, or every saloonkeeper is con-
sciously conspiring, but the business in
which these men are engaged is the
enemy OF progress and civilization, and
they are not In position to oppose the
influence that dominate II. Those who
represent the liquor interests are
conscienceless in their methods; they
debauch the individuals through
whom they act and any party to
which they dictate. The Democratic
party can only hope for success when
1t gives expression to high Ideals, and
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