Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-10-20
PEOPLES PULPIT
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HARDING ron GOVERNOR.

Editor Courier: It Is to be regretted
very much that some people who know
better make this relentless fight on
Harding for governor.
Harding Is clean cut, upright, self
made man of the highest type Of citi
zenship. He has the confidence, irres
pective of party, of the common people
as we'll as the business men. Harding
Is not cranky fer or against anything,
He is just reasonable practical man.
The liquor business is not a part Of
this campaign at all. The liquor bust.
ness is not an issue in Iowa and never
will be except as forced into cam.
paign by people who claim to be dry.
For thirty-four years the writer has
been active in advocating the temper.
ance cause in this state. During all
these years he has been total alb
stainer from the use of intoxicating
liquor in any form, 80 much so that he
never kept it in the house, nor served
1t to any one that visited nor drank
it out of courtesy to his host. But II
he had done so and acted exactly to
the contrary he might now In accord
ance with that precedent, have been
singled out by the clergy as shining
example Of consistency and by resolu.
ton In conferences be designated as q
proper person to be voted for as can.
didate on the temperance issue.
1t is presumed. Of course, that these
pastors SO advising their members to
beat the republican nominee for gov
ernor and to vote for the democratic
nominee for such once, have been yot.
Ing the republican ticket In past years
and have aflliated with such party,
1t is not to be supposed for a moment
that II they had not, they would be 30
unkind and have the effrontery to by
resolution advise their members OF
some other politics how to vote or to
bolt such a,party. 80
The republican party as all reason.
able minded people know. has given
Iowa all the temperance legislation 1t
has had for fifty years or more. 1t has
adopted 1t In the state and national
platform and Harding stands on that
f, platform as representative Of that
party with both feet. While our demo.
cratic friends only adopted it in their
platform this year. which seems as a
death bed repentance and we hope to
see them live up to it regardless as to
how this election might 60.
Harding, who these brothers would
make us believe, Is so wet that he
don't really know whether he is in the
river or on dry land has and does chal-
lenge the world to produce one single
statement Of his, either public or pri.
| vate supporting such claim and none
has yet been produced.
At the Cedar Rapids convention. he
publicly stated before all the repub.
lican delegates present. both vets and
drys, that the saloon has gone from
Iowa forever. and that he had no de-
sire and would not do anything to
bring it back. still think Iowa has
set her face forward and will not turn
back
On the road proposition he believes
In better roads but does not think the
time is ripe to place heavy burden
either current or bonded upon the
state for hard roads. He believes, with
the people % expressed daily in bust.
ness relations with them, that such
roads would be worn out before the
bonds were paid. and one must curtail
extravAgance in our government.
It matters not how much they want
or what they say, the people will pin
their faith to the party Of records on
temperance in Iowa and Harding will
be elected on an increased majority
when the votes are counted on Novem.
Der Z.
r. Williams.