The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-22
PROHIBITIONIsTs IN NEW YORK.
Explanations of Their Decreasing Vste in
Recent Years.


While the general impression 10 that the
Prohibition party in the Empire State does not
amount to much. one would hardly expect
corroborative testimony from 80 ardent Pro-
hibitionist as J. II. Durkee OF Batavia, State
Chairman. During the last Ave years the Pro-
hibition vote Of New York instead OF incroas-
ing to keep pace with the population has act
ually fallen on and compared with the State
election Of eight years ago the Prohibition vote
is about one-hali Of what 1t was at that time.
and in the rural districts the proportion OF de-
cline is larger.
There are three explanations for this change.
the first OF which may be described as para
do1ica. the second as purely practical. and the
third as somewhat disputable. When John
Bidwell OF California ran for President OF tho
United States on the Prohibition ticket 10 1892
he polled $4,000 votes in New York. At last
years election the Prohibition vote was 1900
only. and. as the Prohibition party deals with
a State issue. constitutional prohibition. the
falling off could not be readily explained under
any ordinary system OF political logic. The
reason for it 10 to be first found paradoxical as
such a statement may seem to be, in the pres
emit ballot law OF the State. So long as the Pre-
hibitiouists. who are zealots to the vsge OF rad
icalsm In the support Of their particular notion
OF governmental duty. were obliged to
print and distribute their own election
tickets, the active members OF the party
devoted themselves with assiduity to
the task. makinR. In some cases. large contrl-
buttons to the cam pAign expenses and devot-
ing considerable time to the task OF bringing
voters to their way OF thinking. Since. how
ever. tho State took up tho work OF printing
the election tickets OF the Prohibitionists ON
terms OF equality with the regular party the
occasion for such zeal has departed and tn 0
Prohibition canvass is now generally per-
mitted to take care OF itself The second and
very practical reason for the falling of in the
Prohibition vote In New York Is to be found In
the present statute regulating the sale OF
liquor and more popularity known perhaps as
the Rai mes law. In its practical operation this
law, which contains a local option feature and
which has been OF considerable benefit to rural
onstituencies in reducing taxation and limit
ing the number OF saloons. has deprived the
Prohibition party OF most OF its ammunition
for political campaign ing.
The third reason to be assigned in expana-
ton Of the decrease in the Prohibition vote OF
but is a valid reason Just the same. The
Prohbitionsts. Judged in their political as
poet. are irreconcilabea. Their object is not
TO win and elect their candidates, to promote
the adoption Of the principles which they hold
dear or to reinforce themselves by the control
of the machinery OF elections. but rather by
realizing sense q the snormity Of III. import
PeS pear t"s william Brysn the pemocratPfo
leader and as tho radical advocate Of some
tics. the former irreconc able Prohihitonists
have allied Themselves with the PoDulists and
the Democrats. while those most conservative
leRiance, leaving the temperance party with
comparatively little popular support and very
little prospect OF any substantial increase.