The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1916-12-07
ENDORSES PLAN


A. Hardin Chairman of the Demo.
cratic State Central and Executive
Committees endorses without reser.
walton the submission of the prob,bi.
ton amendment Ia the voters of Ken.
lucky at the next regular session of
the state legislature The letter 70
General Haldeman follows.
Lancaster. XIV. Nov. %. l9l6-Gep.
w. b. Haldeman. editor Of The Louis.
vile Times. Huntsville. Kv.-Dear Sir.
Your courteous letter dulv received
requesting of me as Chairman of the
Democratic State Central Committee
nv viewpoint and An EXPRESSION of
opinion as to the position assumed by
The Times fayoring the earliest &C.
ton possible in the submission of a
constitutional amendment relating to
prohibition in the State of Kentucky.
am glad of the opportunity of civ
iny nv views and opinion as an indi-
vidual Democrat and citizen of Ken
lucky. I do not think I should sneak
as chairman of the State Central Com
mittee or official head of the party.
do not propose to dictate any fu-
ture action of our party or commit
tees. | agree with The Times that a
constitutional amendment submitting
the question of Statewide prohibition
should be submitted at the earliest
practicable and legal moment" What
| mean by legal moment is the time
and session authorized by the Consti-
tuition of Kentucky, and what I mean
by practicable moment is such a time
as will give opportunity for a full and
deliberative consideration of the SUBJ
ject by the people of Kentucky. It is
certain that the people of Kentucky
want the question settled, and it is
equally certain that they should be
given tie right and opportunity for
SO doing. 1t is a question which has
become so accute and all-absorbing in
the public mind that all questions
seem to be subordinated to il. IL
breaks into the counsels of both of
the great parties of the state, demon
slizing party programmes and stand.
ing in the way of mucn-needed Iegis-
lstion. 1t should be settled and set.
tied by a ::non-I artisan vote. If the
Legislature Of 1918 submitted the
question 1t would at once be taken
out OF politics and cease to be polit-
ical question:, and the people Of Ken
lucky. irrespective of party or fac
ton, influenced only by the considera-
tion OF the welfare of the State. could
freely vote upon the subject. This
much say as citizen OF Kentucky,
without reference to my party affilia-
lions.
speaking as party man, | would
point out the TACT that Kentucky in the
last election gave. as ! understand, SO,
ooo more votes to our great President
than IL did IN MS former race. and the
hepuphcan vote IN the mountains, was
4,ooo less than usual and our majority
IN the State was 2S.OOO, an unprecedent
ed majority II. q presidential year.
believe this was due largely to the pol
icy adopted and adhered to BY our cam
paign Chairman, j. Campbell Cantrill. |
ana ms committee In not allowing
ANY fractional question to arise with
in party councils and in selecting
and organizing party workers all over
the State without reference to factions
or their position on any question divid-
ing our party. To maintain this status
should be the object nearest the heart
of every true Democrat. The submits
sion of this question to the people of
Kentucky, who are not only intelligent
but who are independent and proud and
made 30 by the consciousness of their
sovereignty and the ability to assert
their rights at the polls, would be es.
sentially Democratic and pre-. eminently
wise. Justice would then be done and
a much. vexed question settled. Our