The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-03-31

nificance beyond a faudable personal
ambition. II is distinctly political. 1t
may be a part of the prohibition pro-
gram In this state and connected with
a national movement--if Mr.. Burr
alleged aspiration to be national COM
mitteeman has had any inspiration II
must have come from counsefs of the
sort outlined He is not Bryan
man, but was strong Wilson man
even in 1914 He is strongly anti
Bryan and pro-Wilson now, but he
has been regarded as the chief po-
iitical mentor Of the Alabama prohf-
bitionists for the past year and has
undoubtedly been in all the inner
councils Of their leaders. 1t would
not be surprising IL ne were helping
lay the foundation for prohibition
control Of the Democratic party in
1920
Reply To Editorial.
I'm reply to this editorial I an
nounced in a letter to the Birming-
ham News my candidacy and stated
clearly that the limitations contained
in the editorial were unfounded; that
was opposed to the Democratic
party in any way considering the H.
ouor question: that II prohibition be-
came a national Issue in the Demo
cratic party 1t would be over my pro-
test From that time to the present
there has been no word or act or
mine which would Justify anyone in
doubling my published statement;
on the contrary. as member of the
State executive committee, / assisted
in the preparation OF the resolution
which not only ignored any question
hHyf SaTH a.
gates to the national convention 10
Wilson and to the support of his
policies.
"If the Anti-Saioon League. or
anyone else, is making an effort to
turn the Democratic party into ma
ton wide prohibition party ] have
no knowledge of II, and am not a
party to IT. If there Is such plan.
those who have confided in the Bir-
minxham News and Senator Under
wood have failed to stake me into
their confidence. II would be fool
ish for the Democratic party to
become prohibition party Only
one thing would be more foolish, and
that would be to make the party q
liauor party. For eighty years the
Democratic platform has steered clear
of the liquor question. There Ia no
occasion for q change in policy. Sena-
tor Underwood's premise for his OPP
position to me IL therefore untrue:
Il follows that his conclusion must
fall.
Resents Implication.
TN his letter he says: Mr.. Smith
IL and always has been fundamentally
. sound Democrat. He will stand for
the principles of his party under all
"a rto Nd hatFAV
them
IT resent this uAfair implication. IT
In unfair. not only to me- hut to many
thousands of prohihitionists in Ala
hama. j am the son of Confederate
colonel who fought for Democracy
during the days OF reconstruction. I
have never scratched Democratic
ticket. Since becoming of age have
served my party. not with the dis
tinction of some. but as unselfishfy
ana with as true devotion. and with
as little reward as any.
1T have been honored with party
position from precincts to the ma
tional convention. My voice has been
heard on the Democratic stump in
Alabama, at least as often as that Of
my distinguished critic. As dele
gate-at- large to the Baltimore con-
V0nI1On no QuGStaUH WAS falSSu Nh 10
my party loyalty. and hold now in
my files a personal letter from sena-
tor Underwood thanking me for my
untiring efforts in his behalf. At the
present time. by the votes of Demo-
Gratis in a hotly-contested primary,
represent this district on the State
Democratic committee. In what way
have I failed as a Democrat?
Hasn't Left Faith of Fathers.
wherein have I departed from
the faith of my fathers? Can Sena-
tor Underwood, the Birmingham
News, the Birmingham Age-Ifsaeld,
the Montgomery Advertiser. or the
Alahama Democrat. and those who
have consistently beat the bushes
for q candidate to oppose me. and
who endeavored. after my announce
ment to induce nine different men to
qualify before my present opponent
qualified. lay any indictment against
my party record. my party service.
my ability or my fitness to. hold this
party honor?
''in its last analysis the Foundation
for the attack upon me y because OF
my sincere prohibition activities IN