Gilpin observer., 1908-07-16
PROHIBITION
CONVENTION
LEADERS WILL STRIVE FOR CAM.
PAIGN ON THE ONE GREAT
ISSUE.
VARIOUS SU R MISE
REGARDING ACTION OF THE MA
TIONAL CONVENTION AT CO.
LUM6Us, OHIO.

Columbus, GA fight against
platform of numerous issues and in
favor of one confined to the single is
sue of prohibition was started at the
ton convention Monday afternoon by
Temporary Chairman II. l.. Peeke OF
Sandusky. and will be carried to the
national Prohibition convention.
Chairman Peeke, in an address
which consumed more than two hours,
assailed woman suffrage. which mas
come to be regarded as an established
tenet of the party, declaring that
women drink more and men less than
they did a decade ago, and that the
weakest laws regulating the liquor
traffic are in the woman suffrage
states of Colorado, Idaho, Utah and
Wyoming.
He assailed the Indifference of the
churches to the prohibition move
ment, criticised the Anti-Saloon league
and praised George B. Cox of Cincin-
natl for refusing to credit any votes
to temperance that were not cast for
prohibition tickets.
Bearded and white-haired men were
in majority among the delegates,
and a dozen women were enrolled as
alternates.
Prominent Prohibitionists declared
that there will not be any bitter fight
over the Endorsement OF the Anti-Sa-
loon league by the convention, which
opens here Wednesday. The senti-
ment of the men directing affairs IN
the party is epitomized by the nation
al chairman, Charles B. Jones of Chi
cago, who said today:
mo delegate will have the temerity
to introduce resolution indorsing the
Anti-Saloon league. The sentiment of
the convention is against it. There
will be no fight on this proposition" ="
Some of the anti-saloon men insist
that they will bring the attention of
the convention to the question, and
that 1t may come up in the state con-
vention, but the general opinion seems
to be that there will be no serious con-
tention over the subject.
The contest for the nomination for
president started Monday in earnest
when many of the delegates began
coming in. According to high officials
OF the party, Seaborn Wright of Geor-
gia must soon state his position or he
will have no show for the nomination
Mr.. Wright has an enthusiastic fol
lowing, but he has not said whether
he would accept the nomination. Rev.
S. H. Taft of California arrived today
as delegate. He said:
Il am a relative of Judge William
H. Taft, the Republican nominee for
president, but would not vote for him
were he my father. Any man who
would advise the people of Oklahoma
/ to vote against the prohibition cause
| in 10 nct of hor
oughly before l could give him my
support"
Another relative of the Republican
presidential nominee who will be pres
ent is Rev. William N Taft, first
cousin, Methodist minister. He will
be at the head of the Connecticut dele.
| cation.
Some of the Indiana delegates who
want to go outside the party for the
nomination advance the somewhat
startling proposition to nominate Gov
ernor Hanly of Indiana for president.
He will be acceptable to the prohibi-
tionists, although Republican
Others want to nominate Governor
/ Glenn of North Carolina, and others
are talking of Congressman Charles E
Littlefield of Maine. who supported the
bill to prohibit the transportation of
| llquor IN Interstate commerce under
certain conditions.
The national committee has in its
war chest 100000 and contributions
are coming in fast, especially from the
South.
The largest vote polled by the Prohi.
bitionists was in 1892, when their can
didate secured a total vote of 209 400
Chairman Jones estimated Monday
that the vote will pass this high water
mark this year because of the marked
increase in prohibition territory. nc
estimates that the number of people
embraced in prohibition territory has
grown since the last nation"' "'"ot'~-
I .ro... 9a.ooo.ooo to 10000, 900 platfIr-~
makers say today that all Issues will
be subordinated to the liquor question
in the platform.
There are 1859 delegates to the con.
vention and it is estimated that the
convention will bring from 1000 to s..
900 visitors to the city.