The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1916-12-05
DOUBTS HONESTY
OF PROHIB. MOVE
ArraignsAnti- -SaloonL league
AS A Political
Organization

Columbus, o., Dec. 4-Apropos of
the Anti-Saloon leagues action in an.
nouncing the initiation of referen-
dunn for statewide prohibition In 1917,
Rudolph A. Mack, on Saturday even
ing, made vigorous statement for
publication, in which he talks out
from the shoulder about the Anti.Sa-
loon league leaders, and announces
that the Law Enforcement league, of
which he is the general manager, will
earnestly assist the moral forces in
cleaning up Ohio"
The statement ia particularly inter
esting In view OF the fact that Mr..
Mack was formerly the attorney for
the Anti-Saloon league in Cincinnati,
and is very familiar with the meth
ods by which that organization works
out It's political plans. 1t is not the
first time he has talked along this
line for publication, memory going
back to some particularly forceful re.
marks made by him at the time he
launched the Law Enforcement
league. The latter organization, Mr..
Mack says, Is growing rapidly, and is
being extended to every part of the
state.
MR.. MACK'S STATEMENT
Il am pleased that the Anti-SaIoon
league has announced its intention to
ask for a referendum vote for state
wide prohibition, but 1t is my inten-
ton, as general manager of the Law
Enforcement league, to see that the
amendment to be voted on shall be
ironclad and mean a real expulsion
from the state OF Ohio of the liquor
traffic; not an amendment full of loop
holes that will encourage speakeasies
and Illicit traffic, which will, OF neces-
sity bring on other referendums man
aged by the same politicians
'If strong amendment with teeth
is initiated by the Anti-Saloon league
or any other agency the Law Enforce
ment league will take great pleasure
in putting its shoulders to the tenn
perance wheel and seeing that Ohio
goes truly dry. 1t had been the in
tention of the Law Enforcement
league, at the most opportune moment,
to initiate a prohibition amendment
along strict enforcement lines, and II
was knowledge of this on the part of
the Anti-Saloon leagues salaried lead
ers that caused them to pronounce at
| this time instead of announcing in
January that there would be prohibi'
tion referendum.
| "The statement that vote Of the
trustees and others had been taken by
mail is unimportant, II true, as all
movements of the AntiSaloon league
are determined by the expediency of
politics, and made In the way the po-
liticians In charge of the league de-
eide. 1t would appear strange to the
uninitlated that last year they called
a convention TO throw off the odium
OF not initiating prohibition amend
ment when there was full vote out,
with better chances of carrying than
In 1917 when there will he only munl-
cpal elections But now they decide
the matter without calling n conven-
ton This Is characteristic Of their
political plays, and, entirely mistrust-
ing their motives, 1t is the purpose of
the Law Enforcement league to see
that this moral movement Is not ham.
strung In the house OF its alleged
friends.
A SACRED PRINCIPLE
The temperance movement is too
near the hearts Of the great body Of
Christian people of the state to be
used by the politicians OF the Anti
Saloon league as a personal perQui.
site. II is time that this Temperance
movement was relieved of the incubus
of those who have simply fastened
their hooks into It, that they may be
dragged to places OF power and profit.
Furthermore, some attention should
he given 10 the present scandalous
condition of the state and county n
quor license boards. The conditions
that have obtained and that were de.
Tended by the Anti-Saloon league up
to the defeat OF Governor Willis, are
matters of general knowledge. Had
| Governor Willis been reelected,