The Nevada County picayune., 1921-03-17
LETTER FROM REV.
 PHILLIP CONE FLETCHER
Editor The Daily Picayune:

opened to my unproyoked critics, l feel sure your fine sense of fairness will ac- cord me an opportunity to make brlef reply. l do so not to reflect upon my traducers-for abuse is never argument and is quite out of place when ought to-be friends are engaged in controyer- sy-but merely to place the question Ill the true light.
 From the pulpit of the First Metho- dist church, Little Rock. on Sunday night. February 13, to an audience or probably 1,50O people, referred Ill mr sermon to the anti-cigarette law ,ybich the Arkansas General Assembly had under discussion. l advocated new aw. inasmuch as the old law had never been taken seriously and would never he enforced. l did this ny re- onest of number of good people among them persons connected with the Arkan- sas Health Deparement, all of whom desired law winch would keep minors from using cigarettes. The audience seemed to fully agree with my posltloh, ond had no idea that would stir mn hornets nest" down in Prescott hv my sane remarks.
 was very careful to say T do not use tobacco. I have never used 1t i'll any form. very much wish that every man might be able to say the same thing" Then I said, rather by way of parenthesis, q recognize, of course. that this is question which be- longs to the realm of personal priyi- lege if a man wants to smoke, let him smoke"
 AS the result of this last clause, have been made the target for the abuse of few well meaning folk, who, at a distance. have quite misunderstood me and have seen fit to seek to injure my influence.
 It is rather remarka ble, If not tragic, that these persons should have select cd for slaughter" not a man who has used tobacco all of his life, not man who has done evil and opposed good not an avowed enemy of public righ- teousness and private morality; but minister who has for twenty-five years made his pulpit forum of righteous ness, who has championed every great moral movement of his day, who has fought for temperance, woman sutt- rage. q single standard of purity, and political integrity; minister who has for quarter of q century worked, heart and hand. with the good women of the Women's Christian Temperance after day. been attacked behind his back and without any chance to reply, | only make answer now because l love the young manhood of Arkansas and dislike to have them misunderstood me. I believe my friends need no eXplana- ton. Those who desire to be enemies do not wish To understand.
 In my remarks l had not one word to say about Liberty" The papers that reported what l said put that in of their own accord Had my critics heard my remarks there would have been little room for division of opinion. l am not responsible for what the papers say. A reporter was not present and what went in the papers of Little Rock went in from "hearSay." The whole discus sion has been one of those tempest in a teapot" affairs. which ought to have no place in great life. The whole in tent of my remarks was to plead for better law for the protection of the young manhood of Arkansas against the use of cigarettes.
 do appreciate most heartily the ar tiele of my good friend, the Rev. Dr. J. A Sage, pastor of the First Metho- dist church. Prescott. It was in keep ing with his great heart and his prince ly Christian character.
 
 I have not seen the article in Can did ORinion. edited by my good and great friend, the Hon. H. E. Mckenzie. With so many mighty wrongs to discuss wrongs such as greed, graft, political corruption, war, impurity, intolerance, hypOcrisy-it is remarkable that he should devote his rich gifts and val uable columns to criticizing one of his ministerial friends because he failed to put the use of tobacco in "the cata- logue of crimes" Friendship is indeed precious jewel. Alas that so few possess the real thing "A friend is one who understands" and I would add who does not jump at conclusions" and hurl anathemas before hearing is had
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