Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1908-03-21
THE PROHIBITION ISSUE
win Ether Bryan ar Taft, If
Nominated Stana For Ii.
Al QUESTION or ExPEDlENCY
onesTfSrd Of Revenues of the Gov.
ernmens Come From Taxes On
Distilled spfrita

Washington, March 16.-If tart ana
Bryan are the respective party nomE
nees this year win prohibition figure.
in the national campaign?
Prohibition leaders claim that they
have something W their sleeve in con-
ueetipn with the coming cam 9aign ana
fhe wiseacres here cannot see what 1t
Is unless w J Bryan believing he
has clnoh on the nomination OF his
party. intends to either openly or in
directly squint at probable national
prohibition. Outside OF this nobody
knows Of any political possib ity IA
vorable TO prohibition this year. Every
candidate for the republican nominal
ton, including President Roosevelt
himself should he be again named. In
liberal on the drink question. They
are abstemious but not one tee
totaler. Secretary Taft prefers that
wines and shiskeys be not served at
hanquets and dinners he attends. but
he does not attempt to say that others
shall no drink because he abstains.
Furthermore he has record OF utter
ances on the vhiskey quertian that
would not be accepted by prohibitions
lists az orthodox He IS ortspokenly
for the canteen for the soldiers of the
army and has been severely criticised
for his position on this question. In
utferances some Years ago he Is quot
ed as declaring against tho effective.
ness OF prohibition and Is understood
TO still hold the view that morality
and sobriety cannot be IegIslated into
mankind.
On the republican side OF the ques-
ton, therefore. the prohibitionists
have little or nothing to hope for, no
matter who may be nominated As to
Bryan his position Is not so clear. His
public utterances do not indicate that
he Is decidedly one way or another on
this question The political expedien-
cy OF supporting prohibition would
have to be determined by him Could
he be elected OH the prohibition issue?
So far as the South Is concerned he
could probably get the electoral vote
but as to the Northern and Western
states necessary TO give a majority
Would New York. New Jersey. Massa-
chusetts. Connecticut give him cleo
toral votes on such an issue? With.
out them could he be elected even if
he carried a few of he Prohibition
states OF the West like oklahoma and
North Dasota? Would It ne possible
for enough of these states to support
him TO insure his election?
The almost unanimous view Is that
Mr. Bryan. with all his radicallsm.
would not undertake TO add prohibis
ton to the other ideas he carries aione
With him Into political fight. II Il
practically agreed that the platforms
Of the national convention will nor
contain anything on this subje : n 1t
should come UP afterward II will be
because Mr.. Bryan projects II him
self al
One serious difficulty about either
party advocating prohibition Is In the
fact that fully one-third OF the rev
enues OF the government are obtained
from taxes on distilled spirits and
fermented beverages and until some
plan Is found to make up the loss the
national government cannot become.
dry. Out Of total revenues during the
last fiscal year Of 1868. $40. 1874 distilled
spirits and fermented beverages paid
about 1922 100000 The sum is tre-
mendous one and the government
could not continue in business unless
It found some other way to make up
the loss. ~