The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-06-18
NOT TO BE DICTATED TO

We believe that the national demo-
cratic party, when it assemblies in
in convention at San Francisco, should
adopt platform which will be bold
and outspoken for the things for
which the party stands.
In doing this We believe that me
platform committee should have the
nerve to incorporate into the plat
form a plank which will call for the
enforcement of the Volstead act, as
embodied in the Eighteenth Amend
ment to the American Constitution.
we believe this should be done be-
cause the people of the United States
want the Eighteenth Amendment, the
amendment which eliminates the
liauor evil from the land. We be-
lieve this should be done because the
democrat party stands for the peo-
Pile, believing, as it does, in a. govern
memt "of the people, by the people
We believe that it should do TINS
because law enforcement should be
recognized and supported by politl-
cal body, the same as by body OF
citizens.
But we do not believe that the
democrats. at the San Francisco con-
vention, should be guided in their ac-
ton of incorporating the dry plank
into the platform, BY the wants and
desires of any fanatic or class Of
fanatics.
We do not believe that the long
haired men and short-haired women,
the professional anti-.iquor orators
and anti.liquor writer's, gave the peo-
pie of the United States the present
prohibition law.
On the contrary we sincerely be-
lieve that they, honest though the
intentions of many of them doubtless
are, were to great degree responsible
for the years of delay in the ulti'
mate submission of the prohibitory
amendment To the voters of the Unit
ed States.
We believe that the average pro-
tessional prohibitionist lacked that
sincerity OF purpose which impresses
the mind and moves the heart of the
average man or woman.
We believe, and we would not seek
to cast blot Of disparasement upon
the escutcheon of those who were
really sincere endeavorers in the cause
of prohibition, we believe that there
we're too many paid workers in the
ranks of the professional and political
prohibition eXponents, as there are,
unfortunately, TO-DAY, for the result
ant stamping out of the curse Of
strong drink. We believe that the
vast army of American mothers, Am
erican fathers, American wives, Ameri-
can children, all wronged by the wiles
OF the saloon-keeper's business, 1T
last brought about the submission Of
ihe Eighteenth Amendment to the
voters Of this country.
And believing thus, with all due re.
spect to Wayne Wheeler, of prohibit
ton fame, and TO William j. Bryan.
Of sixteen-to-one and grape juice and
Chautauqua lecture and perennial
candidacy fame, We believe that they
are. as representatives of the dry
movement, stepping beyond the bounds
Of reason. beyond the bounds Of poll
iical good sense, beyond the bounds
Of common decency when they, both
or either of them say that the fanat.
. ical element of the dry country shall
dictate whom the democrat party
shall name as its candidate for the
presidency Of the nation.
Mr.. Bryan is honest and sincere in
his advocacy of the enforcement OF
the Eighteenth Amendment But Mr.,
Bryan is obcessed now, as he has
been obcessed for years, with the
idea that he is the democrat party
of America. And while Mr.. Bryan
is a sincere and honest exponent of a