Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-04
The Temperance Issue.

Former Senator Dietrich in an inter-
view says:
THE most important political feature
i'm Nebraska is the fight for local option
or prohibition. 1t is not question
whether the candidate is republican or
democrat. The question is whether he
is in favor of local option. Both political
parties have ignored the issue in their
platform, which, however does not at
all minimize the importance of the ques-
ton.
There is curiosity as to what erect
the presidential campaign is going to
have on the temperance issue. Nobody ex
poets the prohibition party to poll large
vote. Neither of the two great parties is
committed on the subject. So what shall
we see after the smoke of the November
battle has cleared away?
1t is asserted In some quarters that
prohibition received serious set back in
the defeat Of Gov. Smith for denomination
in Georgia. He had signed the prohibition
law In that state. and had administered
1t vigorously. His record was a feature
of the campaign. But Joseph Brown,
who defeated him, is not pledged to a re-
peal of the law, and until the law is re-
pealed the governor of the state. whether
he be Smith. Brown or Jones, can do no
less than execute it. Until a legislature is
elected. therefore, charged with repeating
the law. and does repeal it. it cannot be
safely said that prohibition has been dis
posed Of In Georgia.
The temperance issue is very much
alive In both Ohio and Indiana. and in the
local races is causing divisions In both
parties The democratic candidates for
governor in both states have, in effect,
taken the wet end of the issue and are
being supported by the saloons and the
general liqnOr interests. This explains the
betting in favor of Harmon and Marshall.
But should the liquor interests win, that
will not settle the temperance issue. It
will still occupy attention, and prohibi-
tionists and local optionists alike will grid
I'D for another battle as soon as one can
he arranged. Ohio and Indiana may wit
ness struggles dercer than any that have
gone before.
In Kentucky next year there will be
city and town contests where the rower
of the saloon in politics will again be an
issue-the issue. And parties IN the Blue
grass state are divided. There are wet
republicans'' as there are dry demo-
Gratis"
Turn in any direction, and examine the
present situation in any aspect. and you
can. see that the temperance issue will
continue very much In evidence. no mat
ter what happens next month. 1t has
gained SO great an impetus by local tri-
;Imphs In the past few years, and espe-
cially in territory where there Is prac-
Iically but one political party, that the
temperance people are heartened beyond
anything they have ever felt before. They
are not likely to fight for the same thing
at every point. Here 1t will be prohibit
ton: there. local option; yonder. higher
license and more rigid inspection. But
everywhere. the saloons, in one form or
another, will be challenged.
The result? That is beyond forecast.
But there are politicians-not champions
of the temperance cause-who believe
that the next great moral issue to be
submitted to the national electorate is
now forming.