Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-22
PROHIBITION SETBACK
Net Result of Voting in Ma
ti0naI Election.
LOSSES IN THE STATES
Heavy Falling Off Where Temper
ance Was the Issue.
MIR. CHAFIN rs OPTIMISTIC
Candidate Declares a Prohibitionist
Will Be Elected President
Next Time.
MR.. CHAFIN rs OPTIMISTIC

1t Is apparent from a careful analysis
of the official returns of the election OF
November :; that the prohibition move
ment which up to that time seemed 10
he fourishinG in various section OF the
country, received decided setback at
the polls. Even Eugene Chain, the pres
identiaI candidate of the party. admits
this fact but, coupled with the admission,
the statement that as soon as many tho"-
sands of voters of both parties realize
that their organizations are controlled by
the liquor interests they will desert their
old colors and vote the prohibition ticket
Here is what Mr.. Chain has to say:
with the aid of the liquor business
the republicans carried New York city,
81 Louis Chicago and Cincinnati Every
temperance candidate of prominence on
both sides was knocked out at the recent
election, including Gov. Folk of Missouri.
This means that the fight will be be-
tween the republicans and the prohibit
1oniSts from now Oh and l am confident
that a prOhibitiOnlSt Will be elected Pres
ident in 1872.
1t will be noted that Mr.. Chain does
not assert that candidate of the pro-
hibtion party Will be elected President
in 1912. but merely "prohibitionist In
other words. he makes plain his belief
that the voters of the republican party
will insist upon the convention candidate
being white ribboner
Where> Prohibition Lost Ground.
But aside from Mr.. Chains mingled
pcssimism and optimism, it is apparent
that the personal liberty movement, which
has been put forward in many states in
opposition to the demands of the prOh
bitonists, made itself felt at the polls
on November 5 In Colorado, Florida,
Idaho. Illinois. Indiana, Minnesota. Ne
braska. New Jersey, Ohio. Oklahoma.
Rhode Island. South Dakota, Tennessee,
Texas. Washington. West Virginia and
Wisconsin the prohibitionistS lost ground
in some of these states a great deal;
In others just little.
The hottest fight with prohibition an
issue was in Indiana, although Ohio. Hill
nois, South Dakota, Rhode Island. Mime
sofa and Tennessee we're all storm centers
OF liquor and anti-liquOr activities. In
diana was considered pivotal state in
q national sense in the elections and con-
scquently both sides centered their activi-
ties there.
Gov j. +. Hanley. republican. is a
We'll known prohibition advocate and Sc
cured control of the republican state con-
veution. He secured county option
plank in the platform. The democratic
party platform advocated village and
township option. Gov. Hanley however,
progressed called a special session of the
leSisla ture, which was republican. and
procured the passage o. county option
law In this step he was ably assisted
10y the republican nominee for governor
James Watson and United States Sem
ator Hemenway. The action of the gov
crnor caused much criticism and in the
campaign county option became the issue
The state went republican President
by 10000 plurality. but the republican
candidate for governor. Watson, was de-
feated by Marshall democrat. by over
1S,Gm while the republicans also lost
the Legislature. which will now elect
democratic United States senator to sue
coed Senator HemenWaX. Gov. Hanleys
associate in the county option fight.
The Fight in Ohio.
In Ohio. the birthplace of the Anti
Saloon Lea que. the lines between the pro-
hibitionists and the liberals was sharply
drawn. The anti-saioon element cham
rioned the cause of Gov. Harris. canCi-
date for reelection Harris had been