The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-09-23
The Contest Of 1908.

b. Editor The Washington Herald:
The trend Of popular sentiment for pro
hibiton is unQuestionably a powerful
factor in our politics Just now While
neither Of the political parties has quite
the courage to assume the burden Of the
temperance propaganda, which is quietly
sweeping over the country Ike "a still.
small voice" yet they do not ignore or
oppose il altogether-using it on the side
wherever a vote can be gained by a sort
Of patronizing tolerance Of it. The old
adage Of carrying water on both should
ers applies in only a sort Of half an at
titude-i e., water on one shoulder.
whisky on the other
A candidate is good temperance man
at his church on Sunday, but ostenta-
tiously drains his moderate glass at the
club or at a public function, at the con-
ventional or official banquet. thus. dem
onstrating TO the teetotalers and the tip
piers alike the adaptabiIity Of HIS ac-
cOmmOdating good nature. He don't take
up for the saloon. for that would drive
away all who are on the other side of
its bar,
ton Of his own personal habits is q
large factor in his political prospects.
He must be both JekyIl and HYDE, and
nobody the wiser. The LIQUOR element
and the temperance element must be
simultaneously conciliated and drawn to
his support for different reasons, to be
sure; but no matter, he must have both
or his name is Dennis
He would be happy with either dear chamer
Were tother dear chsrmer away.
In this hide-and-seek game woe 10 the
candidate whose propinquity is too pub
ucly disclosed to both simultaneously!
Nine-tenths of the American men and
substantially 400C0.0O0 women are for pro-
hibitiOn really. II the two great parties
make il an issue, the result is not al all
doubtful Witness the cyclOniC move
ments Of the temperance propaganda in
the last year or two in Ohio. in Georgia,
Kentucky. oklahoma. (Oh, politicians.
''Dinna We hear that slogau?)
The party that espouses 1t wins out, and
the movement is gathering strength every
day. There is not a Congressman or
Senator, North or South. for instance
who dare proclaim that he favOrs the
liquor element, or who dare publicly drink
whisky Either would be the death OF
any man. North or South. in the present
state Of public opinion. So il is, you see.
a ticldish question. When you get d
proposition YOU dare neither affirm nor
deny, you are in close place. tell you,
sir, There is just where we are. That
is just where both parties are at to-
day. Suppose the people take it into their
heads to demand a show Of hands.
SEDDusn in lQiN fQT QEumU1A fEaxr
mand not only a positive statement of
party attitude 10 the corporations, tariff.
and currency. but a clear and definite
declaration for or against the liquor
traffic; then what must follow? One of
two things, and no alternative beyond
this one pOssible-the other party must
follow suit and make a stronger profes-
sion of temperance or fail Of success-One
OF other, sure, 1 should not wonder yet
if one party or the other mot the Pro-
hibition party, but the Republican or
Democratic party, or both) shall be forced
10 face the music and plant itself Cor
themselves squarely on a prohibition
platform, when all elements of antago-
nism now existing would be merged at a
breath in the party so avowing temper
ance. provided it have a candidate who
touches not tastes not, and handles not
the popular demand il such demand come
It's a new factor. Il strong factor, and
aside from all these things the poll
ticians talk about nOw-away up and
above all. will decide the complexion Of
the next Congress and Presidency.
Both parties have tiptoed and shifted
and hedged around this prohibition issue
and each in turn sneeTed cOntemptuously
at the temperance cranks, called them
vile names, as the abolitionists were long
called by both parties until both parties
were in the end glad TO embrace abOli-
tionism as their chief text. and declare
they always were for abolition! Find a
man to-day who was not always. by his
say so, an abolitiOnst. and I will present
you with a white crow.
SO comes down the steep Of time this
avalanche Of prohibition urged on by the
better sense Of men and all the fine
fervor of exalted wOmenhOOd with a
force not less than OmnipOtence, for God
is behind H. and no man can stop IT,.
1t is moving on. East, West North,
South, and IN its Onrush the fimsy party
lines are going down. The politicians
can't dodge it much longer. A Prohibition
party so largely as the present Prohibit
rarkrr T.. -