Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-07-18
What Harding Wrote to Rev. Day

the senate in 1915. the personnel of
each Of these committees being hostile
to the action which was secured
against. their opposition and parlia-
mentary hindrances. The unfavorable
reports of these committees included
SO manifestly unfair treatment OF the
bill to prohibit anyone from signing
other than his true name to saloon
petition The senate passed at least
seven bills over the committees I'm
favorable reports.
In a recen; issue the Des Moines
Register and Leader prints letter
written to NJ. W. Fitz, of the Manson
Journal. by Mr.. Harding on the issues
That letter is enough to turn even a
favorably disposed man against Mr.
Harding. provided the man in ques-
ton believes in the determination OF
the beverage liquor traffic. Mr.. Hard
ing could in a few words declare that
he has seen a light; that once he
thought as he voted: that now he has
a changed view and that. like Former
Governor Patterson, Of Tennessee. he
proposes to fight the liquor traffic by
all means at his command as citizen
and by all means which might be at
his command as governor. But Mr.
Harding does not do this. Why? Pre-
sumably because he has seen no light
and entertains the very ideas he held
when he made his legislative and lieu
tenant -gubernatorial record.
Indeed, in these 1000 words, Mr..
Harding declares that the saloon is not
an issue. II it is not, do not under
stand what an issue is. In politics an
issue is a point Of difference. Mr..
Harding is running against a man for
governor whose whole attitude contra
diets and opposes Mr. Harding's rec
ord. Mr.. Harding says that his record
does not need squaring. II not, then
there is a vital issue between him and
Mr.. r. T. Meredith.
I raise the point with Mr.. Harding
that we had no assurance that he
would appoint enforcing agents to as
sist the attorney general who would
faithfully enforce the law. In his re-
ply he declares that that is an insult,
but that he will waive it and promise
to appoint me one Of the enforcing
agents, If will promise not to vote
for him. in order that the element Of
bribe may not appear
Mr.. Harding knows, or as lawyer
and ltigator ought TO know, that ne
can not promise these appointments.
for the executive council shares with
! him that authority as well as the fixing
Of the salary. He knows, too. that I
could not afford to cut my income in
half in order to devote my time TO this
work. suggested to Mr.. Harding that
he pledge me to appoint some one I
might nominate for approval by the
executive council and that he promise
to appoint no one who is not accept
able to the Anti-Saloon League. II a
certain restaurantkeeper is justified in
thinking Mr.. Harding has promised
him one Of these appointments. don OF
think the Anti-Saloon League would
approve.
And vet. the preachers are being be-
rated Mr.. Warren Garst. an honored
and longtime republican, and the pa
pers with have repudiated Harding.
are all hailed into mok curt and
| condemned as unreasonable because
they can not support Harding AGAINST
Mr. Meredith an out and out advocate
Of the suppression OF the saloon. en-
forcement Of law. additional laws as
/ NctcSSdfy " anu liz SUI
mission Of the constitutional prohibi-
ton amendment to vote Of the peo-
! pie.
The mysterious thing to many Of us
| is this: Why is 1t that Mr. Harding's
/ own pastor. the Rev. Herbert Keck. Of
Grace church. Sioux City. Iowa. re-
fuses to support Mr.. Harding for the
| sovernorship. even refusing to sign tht
| nomination papers to get him before
the republican primaries. and why does
Il former pastor. the Rev. W. c. Was.
SER now Of York. Neb.. write t.
the Iowa press and declare tlst th'
paramount DUTY we have is to defea
Mr. Harding for the 1orernorship
sircereIv. Frank E. Day.
-. Newton; July II.