The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1894-02-02
Prohibition in the sos.

The Voice is publishing history OF po-
litical parties in their relation to prohibit
ton of the whiskey traffic in the SOS, in the
State of New York, and the lessons these
"reminiscences teach ought to cause the pro-
hibition political partisans to seriously con-
slider whether the Influence they are exerting
as distinct political party is not far inferior
TO that exercised in the sos.
Then. to use an apparent paradox, they
had no politics, but were intensely political.
The liquor men seeing the power likely to
be welded by a solid prohibition vote
thrown against any candidate or party which
was not committed to prohibition, speedily
declared for a nou- partisan stand and a solid
liquor vote against every candidate and any
party which was not pledged TO their
interest. The liquor men Of all shades have
held to the position taken in the sos,
improved, perfected and strengthened their
associations till they are today one solid
phalanx, with full +" army chest" and
completely control both old parties, and
have held undisputed sway over Congress,
the Presidents and Cabinets for at least four
administrations, while the present admins
tration and Congress are more debauched
and controlled by the liquor influence than
previous ones.
The prohibition leaders discarded the
wisdom of the rumseller, set up "a distinct
political party, with candidates and plat
form all their own. This was 20 years ago.
From that day to this prohibition has
steadily lost political power and influence.
The saloons have multiplied and almost
kept up with the national vote of the distinct
prohibition party. The saloons number
upwards of 100000 in the country the
Prohibition national vote at the last Presi
dental election was about three hundred
and twenty or thirty thousand. A saloon,
say, for about every vote and half that
the political prohibition party could muster.
Every saloon at moderate average Can cast
five votes against any candidate or party
which will not pledge to not interfere with
their trade. While the prohibition element
cannot be combined against the most objec-
tionable rum candidate, or rum measure
which either Of the old parties haye been
compelled to nominate or endorse by the
pressure of the organized saloon, the
prohibition party cannot draw the ptohi-
bition voters to it, and has made it impos-
sible 10 organize a prohibition league of
national power and cohesiveness to throw a
solid vote against rum candidates or rum
dictation in whatever party found.
In the face of these facts which stand out
like sunlight at MONDAY, is it not time for
the prohibition party 10 ask where il is at?'
1t is the interest Of the Voice to keep up
a distinct political party organization, let its
voting numbers be ever so small, hence will
admit no arguments on the above line to its
columns. lest the more discreet members of
party see the fallacy and impossibiiity OF
advancing on the line occupied by the
present distinct party organization. This
helpless, hapless prohibition party dissipates
the power of prohibition sentiment, and to
thai extent strengthens the rum power. 1t
lies as boulder in the public road, obstruct-
ing and impeding progress.