The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1916-06-29
SHOWS
TRICK TO ROB
PEOPLE OF VOTE
Assails Anti-Sal00n League
and Shows-up Proposal
for SecretAgreement.
600 JAMS COURT ROOM
TO HEAR HIM SPEAK
Will Stand Or Fall By Right Of
People To Vote, He
Declares.

In an expose of the Missouri Anti
Saloon Leagues attempt to rob the
people of the right to vote on prohibi-
tion for Missouri, Colonel Fred D.
Gardner last night assailed the organ
ization and defied its leaders in his
race for the Democratic gubernatorial
nomination.
'The Democratic party don't want
any Eypocrite or four-fusher," he ex-
claimed. "The Democratic party puts
its cards on the table and shows it's
hand in the open. And | will stand or
fall on the proposition that III not
take away from the people of this
State the right to vote on the question
of prohibition"
Colonel Gardner's address was deliv-
stood in the corridor outside and upon
Common Pleas courtroom and many
stoo din the corridor outside and upon
the stairs. More than 600 men heard
the speech and several times during
his address, Colonel Gardner was in
terrupted by applause.
Colonel Gardner plunged into the
question of prohibition and the at
tacks that have been made upon him
by the Anti-Saloon League at the
outset of mis- speech, and showed how
by political trickery and a proposed
"secret agreement" the organization
endeavored to disenfranchise the en-
tire State on the question of prohi-
bition.
He also discussed the Gardner Land
Bank bill which will be submitted to a
vote of the people for their approval.
He was author of the bill, which pro-
vides a system of rural credit and aid
for the farmer.
81 have been asked why the Anti
Saloon League is opposed to me-"
Gardner said. "The first and most i'm
portant and fundamental reason is
that the Anti Saloon League never has
been known to support a red-blooded,
fighting, Bryan Democrat for Gov
ernor.
"The second reason is that they al
ways have attempted to see Demo-
crat nominated whom a Republican
could beat. l say to the Democrats:
Are you willing to see three men sit
ting around a table in st. Louis
Republicans-tell you whom you shall
nominate for Governor?
81 am fighting for a Democracy and
the League has made its attack upon
me. The League also struck its dag
ger deep into the back of Democrat
like William S. Cowherd-
"The superintendent Of the anti
saloon league in st. Louis boasts that
he was rocked in the cradle of Penn
sylvania Democracy. ! was rocked IN
the cradle of Kentucky and Tennessee
Democracy where they take their
ticket straight.
"Here is an attack upon me, libel
GUS attack upon my character, in a
Republican paper that is trying to tell
Won Democrats how to vote to noml-
nate YOUR candidate for Governor.
"Isn't that the niger in the wood
pile? A Republican paper trying to
tell you how to vote. We don't want
anv. hypocrites or four-fushers in this
business.
"This organization wrote me a let
ter when ! became candidate fol
Governor in which they asked me
IF YOU are elected Governor, will you
sign a Statewide prohibition bill
which bears a clause saying that the
bill provides for a measure for thu
public safety and peace of Missouri?
"They told me in that letter that m!
reply would be kept confidential.
"What does the party think of
candidate who would stoop to sig1
such a secret agreement with tha
organization? The Democrats put tn
cards right out on the table and shoV
their hands. ! will stand or fall b,
. the proposition that I'll not deny tn
right of the people of this State t