The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-09-12
WATKINS SLIPS
 INTO MODEL CITY Prohibition Candidate for Vice
 President Talks DOES NOT EXPECT TO WIN He Says Prohibition Is the Paramount Issue In American Politics-Tariff Should Be Eliminated From
 PoIitics-Candidates
DOES NOT EXPECT TO WIN

Anniston, September n.-"Prohibition Is inc paramount issue before the Ameri- can people today Beside it every other question sinks into insignif1cance. The people as a mass realize this and despite the efforts of the politicians to belittle it, to feature other issues, find that temperance is uppermost in the minds of the voters throughout the country. It is a vital question: Che that has chal- lenged the interest of all mankind, and it is to this fact that I attribute the most respectful hearing that has been accorded me throughout the United States
 This was the substance of state ment made by Dr. Aaron s. Watkins, D.. D., IL. D., of Ada, O., vice presidential candidate of the prohibition party today.
 Dr. Watkins slipped into the Model City unheralded this morning from Gainesville, Ga. where he spoke last night. He was not expected until this evening, and his early arrival completely upset the ar engagements for the reception that had been planned by Anniston prohibtionists. Tonight at o'clock he was introduced to the people of Anniston by James T. Fain, editor of the Star, at the Calhoun county courthouse, where he delivered an address on what he says Is the para mount issue in the present campaign"
 ..Oh, yes, l talk prohibition from two points of view, the moral and the essen tially economic side," he said today, but I think the moral side of it is the more .f te I am it's champion, but if it be immoral am it's enerly."
 Dr. Watkins says the people of the south are more interested in the moral phase of prohibition than they are in it's business phase, according to his observa- ton and it is this phase that he is stressing in his tour of the southern states.
 Does Not Hope to Win.
 Dr. Watkins says that he does not hope to be elected this year, but that 1t Is universally conceded that the prohibition vote will be larger than 1t has ever been within the history of the country. In 1912 he says that his prospects will be better and that he confidently believes then that his party will get the electoral vote in Minnesota, Illinois and a few other cen tral states. He says that he seldom discusses any issue other than that or prohibition, but that he has lately begun to pay more attention to the tariff ques- ton. When referring 10 this, however, he says that he confines himself to a plea for its exclusion from politics. He says that 1t is too big for any one man to understand and that it properly should be placed In the hands Of a commission.
 MT. Bryan and Judge Taft are placed on the same level by Dr. Watkins. He says that they are openly opposed to pro- hibition, and that Is enough to arraign him against them both. He has no choice as between the two. Hearst's party, he says, may cause some division in New York, but that It's greatest weight will be felt only in states where Its candidates reside. He says that they will not cause a ripple in Ohio and the central states
 Dr. Watkins goes from Anniston to Tallapoosa. Ga, thence to Atlanta, where he will preach three times Sunday. From Atlanta he goes to Texas, where he starts tour of the west. He will end the month in Michigan, then goes to his home at Ada, O., for short rest.