Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1926-09-09
MITCHELL STATES
POSITION WITHOUT
EQUIV OCATION
From Great Falls Tribune

NJ t4AG uGuaCCt&sAC 6NASE COuNGheAoi
ct Helena last Saturday, Harry Nit
chell, democratic candidate for con
gress Ia this district, expressed his
views at length on the prohibition
question. His speech which wal
listened to with profound attention
and ELECTED marked applause, wal
printed in full in Sundays issue OF
this newspaper. II was q courageous
thing to do, for most candidates
knowing how their constituencies arr
divided on this subject, have been de-
clined to dodge q frank expression
on this question. There was no
evasion, no balancing Of arguments
in Mr.. Mitchell's speech. lie treated
the subject in q masterly manner,
which gave emphasis TO the state
ment Of Senator Walsh previously
to the convention, that Mr.. Mitchell
was man Of strong convictions and
had the courage Of his convictions.
The views expressed by Mr.. Mitchell
were no surprise to the editor Of this
newspaper who has enjoyed an in
innate friendship and association
with him for the last thirtysfiYe
years. Nor were these views Of his
on the prohibition question the result
Of any new convictions on the part
Of Mr.. Mitchell. A dozen years ago
he publicly expressed the same views
in a lecture given in the Unitarian
church The speech he made at that
time was practically a duplicate Of
That made Saturday before the con-
vention 50 far aa principles and pol
icies are concerned. Ilr. Mitchell Is
a strong believer in personal liberty
and doubts the efficacy Of force in
attempting to regulate the personal
conduct Of the citizen, so long as
such conduct does not interfere with
the rights and liberties Of other men.
He is a follower Of John Stewart
Mill in his ideas Of personal liberty.
Personally, he is dry. That Is to say
he does not use alchoholic liquors in
any form. Moreover, he finds that
prohibition has served his financial
interest, as it has increased the de-
mand for milk and cream at soft
drink parlors, and Mr. Mitchell runs
one Of the largest and most success
ful dairies in the state. These facts
add TO the weight Of his statement
to the effect that he regards the
present operation Of the law as
failure, and that it has not added to
but detracted from the good old fash
ioned temperance, so desirable in
public and private life. He would,
under a government monopoly, mod
fly the law as far rs possible under
he Eighteenth amendant, but he is
also in favor Of enforcing all laws
m the statute book as long as they
'emain there.
There is no point in the discussion
II the present liquor laws that Mr.
overlooked. His ideal treat
nent Of the subject would be to have
he government make and sell all
lleoholic liquors, eliminating private
JrOfit all along the line from the
inst stage Of the manufacture to the
inal delivery to the consumer. OF
ourse, the Eighteenth amendment
tands In the way Of complete re-
.lizatfon Of his ideas. But as far as
hey could be reached without the
folation Of the present Constitution
nd Statutes Of the state and nation.
fr. Mitchell would willingly go on.
left no d6ubt, however, In the
ifnds Of those who heard his speech,
hat he favored all law enforcement.
His speerh was not very pleasing
. representatives Of the Anti-SaloOn
eague who were present, or TO the ..
xtrsme prohibltionists Of the con-
ention, but was highly praised by
se more moderate delegates, includ-
* some who held pronounced dry
Iews themselves. Moreover. all Of
sezn, whatever their ideas on this {
sxsd subject may be. expressed adj D
Iiratton at the courage Of the can '
date IN thus giving frank express Z
on 20 his views on this controysr- e
al subject. As Mr.. Mitchell said in :
Is speech, he felt that the voters :
ere entitled 70 know his thoughts {
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