Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-07-14
HARDING IN HIS OWN DEFENSE.

In defense of himself on the liquor
issue w. l.. Harding, candidate for
governor on the republican ticket,
writes to NJ. W. Fitz, OF Manson, the
following letter:
Dear MIR. Ftz:-Your letter OF the
10th instant to me and carbon copy
of the same date to Mr.. Mark n.
Evans, at hand want to thank you
for the interest you take in this mat
ter and assure you it is appreciated.
So far as the wet and dry situation
in Iowa is concerned, and the attack
made upon me, am not afraid. have
been absolutely clean in my personal
habits on the question, and in an Off
cial way have done the things which
would in my judgment, and in the
Judgment / am satisfied of 80 per cent
Of the temperance people Of the state
result best for temperance. The reso-
lutonS that are being passed by GER
tain Methodist conferences are all in
spired from one source. The slips that
are being sent out are sent out by GER
tain men from Des Moines, who activi-
ties can be traced to financial interest.
If this old wet and dry fight is
threshed over this time in a personal
way against me. il will be the sixth
state campaign that have been thru
of this kind. The first time I was
nominated over a candidate who had
back Of him the organization; the sec
ond time, led my ticket. that is the
head of It, by about 5000 votes. The
third time, won easily in the primary,
and had about $4,000 votes more than
my opponent in the general election:
and in the last primary. you remember
vow nell the vote :
my experience as man and a
lawyer. / found that when folks are
lying. there is not much occasion to
be worried The talk about my being
wet, or my record being wet is a'bso-
lutely and wholly false, and of course
will not stand. the sunlight of analysis.
When Lincoln first ran for president,
so I am informed. there were twenty
three preachers in his home town, and
twenty-on were against him.
am member of the Methodist
church. believe in the institution. I
can not let it dictate my politics. nor
could you. 7 think I know how the
resolutions were passed in the Oska-
loosa conference. I don't care to say
anything on this subject until get all
the evidence Before the campaign is
over trust we will he able to produce
the facts, so that very large major
ity of the people will not believe what
Is charged by the radicals who are
campaigning against me at this time.
The little circulars that are being sent
out for republicans to sign are being
sent out for republicans to sign are
being sent to me from over the entire
state
This is a republican year The great
issues are the tariff and prosperity.
with perhaps some phase Of the war
situation The saloon is gone from
Iowa. The only danger Of its coming
back will be thru the agitation Of
papers like the Register and Leader
and men who apparently are financial
" interested in bringing it hack. Out
side Of that. IT has few friends
Your letter to Mr. Evans was along
the right line and ann satisfied when
the record IS made up. they will be
sorry that they have taken the course
they have. Cordially YOURS
W. L. Harding.
Thus we have ii from Mr.. Harding.
himself. that he is not afraid Of the
opposition Of temperance people to him
for the reason that he has heretofore
been able to defeat that opposition
both in primaries and at the general
election. As a defense it sounds like
his reply to member Of the Iowa
senate who asked of him, Harding,
why do you aiwss= stand b. the vets"
And Harding replied, Because they
stand by me-"
Mr.. Harding declares that the talk
about my being wet or my record
being wet, is absolutely and wholly
false'-but is it?
Why then did he vote no on the bill