Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-03-17
FROM HON. c. WALTER MAPP
Editor Timcs-ptsnntch.

Editor Times Dispatch
MY Dear Sir.-In an editorial Il,
Your isSu" of March IN. iais. undo.
/ IN" heading THE Triumph ~ rctTrS.,
you quote from an article published in
your issue Of September II Ia
headed MAY Take l.iu,,or Lave ~.
[ OF Governors Hands" in ,vhi,.r, ,
rHihl !" have been the originator or
'ne f"t"rs BOOM" in which article
YOU state: The league viii propos,
Key. j. sidney Peters. field s.nrn,.,r, =.
o. the organization, to the pos;,iori,
of commissioner
fou Likewise quote Hcv. Ja,ncs ga,
! nor r. superintendent of the cayue,
writing from tho wilds nf Nil,
carolina in which he states:
ut is not true that The leaders -,
III, league have agreed to rronoso inf
IN" General Assembly i,Selc c,.a, Rr,
- sidney feters. field secretary of th.
"t"ani%ation. TO that position
, nnrak'm Tor ''ys"lF, declare that
never heard the name of Key. ! sin
! hcN Peters suggested for the position
OF state Prohibition Commissioner nm
u! saw II in tho columns Of The
Times pispatch.'
! On tn" basis Of these two Quota
! tionS. ono from Your issue Of s.ntc,,
/ her II. 1915. the other from DR. ,,nn.
non" reply YOU proceed 10 attack Or
cannon. and by iunucndo charge him
WITH practicin~ deccptiou think Il
Lne hr. Cannon that should make
the following statement.
| | had occasion to come to Rich,uond
on some private business on the 10Th
iot August. 1915. and while in tho city
saw Rev j. :. Peters Cbut no other
ioficial OF the leaguc). ana in the cours.
toi Il snort conversation with him told
lhim that ] thought the General AZ
sen'hiN should unqucstionnbly provide
TOR and elect an executive officer for
the enforcement Of the prohibition
itW. which IL WAS expected the Cen
era, Assembly would pass, and stated
Ito MIN that in looking the whole field
10: tho state over. I knew or mo ono
:" wei equipped and qualified for such
"a position as himself. think 7 n,on
toned II TO another member OF til.
! General Assembly. whom chau,.d N
meet her" at that time do no, 70.
| call having mentioned il 10 any ono
ciSt certain it is that | did not Sc,
IN cannon az that time SO far ms
KNOW TINS was the first time that the
! name OF Mr.. Peters WAS ever neutioucd
IN connections with tho proposed Office
| ] mad never myself heard any ono sur
srst 1t. and thought the proposal was
! original with me.
ala not mention the matter to Dr.
cannon until January :. 1916. when no
WAS IN my home for a few hours THO
matter was not then discussed NJ any
l"hSth ana what was said bv Or can
non on that occasion was TO the effect
that while he recognized the fitness and
uiailhcations OF Mr.. Peters for In.
/ place. he would personally rrcrc, ia
sec him become candidate or accent
the position. for The reason ,Iat !.
would take him out OF the active work
al tn" ministry, and for tho further
reason that it would subject tn.
icaSuc 10 inc unwarrantcd criticism
by its enemies that il was c,.atiu.- nv.
"t''cc I" he iillcd by one OF its own
stan. After coming 10 Richmond ,r,
matter was mentioned between Dr
'a"h"h ana myself only Incidentally
on TWO or three occasions, In which n,
TOOK the same position. I recall I'M,
once or twice during the debate M,
me prohibition bill on the floor OF 10
senate. when the League Was hciu..
attacked, and the charge was h.irer
made that Mir Peters was ,nnajdnt-.
or the League, that Dr Cannon said
10 me That his forecast as 70 the prob T..
anle criticisms because Of the cnndf.
"acN OF Mr.. Peters was being verified
II" ,'in" did nr. Cannon ask mo-
or IN any way Indicate TO me that NE
desired mo 10 support Mr. Peters for
me position of Commissioner OF Pro
mutton. /" the contrary, everything
mat was said between us led me to
The conclusion that while Dr Cannon
esteemed Mr.. Peters pcrsonally very
highly and thought him sDlcndidiv
qualified FOR the Office, that he nrc-
t"tr"d the election OF some strong
pr"hibttioniSt not Officially connected
win the league. for the reasons above
Indicated.
! In nominating Mr.. Peters for the
position Of Commissioner OF Prohjhi
ton. | stated that in presenting him, T
was not prcdicatiug his candidacy on
the theory that "t2 the victorS belong
tn" spoils." nor was ! presenting him
rs the candidate Of the league: hut
mat on my own responsibility. 7 was
nominating him solely because
Thought he was by reason of training.
Information. temperament and rou4c-
Grafton the heSt-uualihcd man IN tho
state successfully to inaururate and
enforce the prohibition law OF Vir-
einia.
think that the abov. statement
| viii make it clear TO YOU and vour
readers that YOU were mistaken when
! YOU stated on September ~. 1915.
that tho lcaEuc Will propose that tho
General assembly itself elect Rev j.
sidney rct.rs. field secretary OF the
: organization. 10 the position" and
am satisfied from what know that
! the name OF Mr.. Peters was never dis
cussed at any meeting of any commit
tee Of the league, and that in no sense
can II be fairly and truthfuiy argued
that DIR. Cannon or any OF the officers
that the General Assembly should
elect Mr.. Peters To the position OF
Commissioned of Prohibition. Though
my relations with all OF tho League
ionicials are cordial aud intimate. true
| II is that no official or the League cvs-
way the candidacy OF Mr. Peters.
Very sincerely yours.
@. WALTER NrAPp.