The Washington times., 1908-03-18
PROHIBITION PLANK
PLAN OF DEMOCRATS
"SOlid South" Will Support
Bryan If He Agrees. 1t
Is Said.
Temperance Wave Likely
to Be Issue of One
Party.

William Jennings Bryan win be able
20 enlist al the Southern statesmen
on his side IN real earnest if he will
just permit the Democrats in their
Denver platform 10 insert a plank de-
claring either for prohibition or for such
national legislation as will make # i'm
possible for the commerce clause of
the Constitution to invaIidate the liquor
laws OF the States.
Since the South has gone prohibition
by an overwhelming vote and sentiment,
prohibition is rising up with a deter
mination al last TO capture one OF the
great national parties; and, Of course,
II aims at the Democrats. Most of the
electoral votes Of the Democrats must
come from the South, and their candi-
date viii be a man who is said never
70 have taken drink OF liquor
The prohibition movement IS regard
ed in the South as the one great moral
movement now sweeping the country.
The South is enlisted for the war. 1t
watches with satisfaction the march Of
sumrtuary legislation into the North,
and il is determined that Congress shall
pass such legislation as will put an
end 10 the notification OF State liquor
laws by spreading the charitable mantle
OF interstate commerce over shipments
of liquor into prohibition States. there
10 be secure against interference be-
cause interstate commerce is solely
Federal concern.
Cannot Give the Power.
The Senate Committee on Judiciary
referred TO a subcommittee the question
OF constitutionsliyy of such legislation,
and that subcommittee has held by a
vote Of three TO Two. that Congress
can't stretch its control over interstate
commerce TO the extent of giving the
State power over liquor introduced
therein by interstate commerce pro-
Cesses. That Is. the committee holds
that whisky can be imported from an
other State, into the dryest section of
the most devoted prohibition State, and
the Federal Government can't stop IT,
The real effectiveness of the prohibition
laws depend on giving the State control
of the liquor just as soon as it gets in
side the prohibition community
The prohibition party once poIed a
million votes. and prohibition sentiment
is vastly stronger today than il was
then. Most OF those votes were drawn.
il is generally estimated. from the Re
pubIlCdns. A prohibition plank in the
Democratic platform would certainly
not lose the party any strength in the
States il is certain 20 carry. 1t is de-
clared by Democrats who advocate il
that II would make Indiana doubtful
II not DeHocratic; would help in Ohio
Michigan. Illinois. and many other
States, and would give the party one
more basis for its claim that II repre-
sents the best moral sentiment Of the
country.
Will Be in Platform.
That the plank will go into the plat
form, unless the Republicans permit
some legislation on this subject 10 get
through Congress, is generally couced-
ed And IL is all but certain that no
such legislation can pass. Both COM
mittees on judiciary are determlnedIy
opposed to 1t.
There are good many Northern
Democrats who don't want any. such
nonsense" in the national platform
They believe it would gain them nothing
in the South, and would end their
chance OF capturing New York. The
SOutherners don't admit IL. They do
not ask, generally, for a national prO-
hibitlon measure; what they want IS
the promise Of such interstate com
merce legislation as Till make prohibit
ton effective where IL is established
and they believe this Will cost the party
no votes anywhere. while greatly
strengthening it in many sections.