The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1908-11-12
ANTI-SALOON
League Eliminated as a
Political Factor
in Future
ADVICE BE UNSOUGHT

the late campaign OF Governor Harris
to class the Ant-Saloon league as Ii
ability.
At the statehouse they have viewed
the campaign from every angle possi-
| Bile, and this estimate of the league
has been reached with a degree of
unanimity that leaves little room for
debate.
There are those among the COVER
nor's advisers who express themselves
openly on the proposition, declaring
the league has ceased to be political
entity.
There is a deep pang of sadness over
the fate of Governor Harris, but it is
not unmixed with feeling of gratifi-
cation that the Anti-Saloon league has
been eliminated as political quantity.
A Republican state senator from the
Western Reserve reached the city Sat
urday. He said he was pleased over
the result for one reason, and that was
that the Anti-Saloon league had now
succeeded in eradicating itself as
ally of either of the leading political
parties.
1--WE can go on with legislation this
winter without having club hanging
over our heads" said this senator.
The senator said just what they are
saying in various offices in the state
house, In various state institutions
and in Republican political circles gen.
orally.
Politicians have figured the matter
over carefully and have come to the
conclusion that the Anti-Saloon league
has been claiming credit for victories
1t did not win and has been able to
make itself appear as powerful polit-
ical ally, when in fact it's support is
not to be classed as an asset.
Those who have looked into the sub
iect closely declare events have shown
conclHsively that the Anti-Saloon
league ltad little or nothing to do with
the election of John M. Pattison as
governor. 1t has been shown to the
satisfaction of the friends OF Gov
ernor Harris that Pattison was elect
ed on the same issues that elected
Judson Harmon-the graft and boss
for change in the conduct of state
affairs
1t is argued by the governors
friends that the speech of Judge Taft,
the attacks on Cox and the general
campaign against bossism, were direct
ly responsible for the Pattison victory.
Governor Herrick, who was beaten by
Pattison, explained his action with
reference to the Brannock temperance
measure satisfactorily. The fact that
the bill passed in an effective form
was evidence enough as to that. 1t
was the other issues in the campaign
that defeated Governor Herrick.
This year the Anti-Saloon league was
behind Governor Harris. 1t laid out
plan of canZaign and the party man
ayers foifOwed the plan to the letter.
How practical politicians at Republi-
can state headquarters could have
been led into the error is not apparent,
save on the theory that there were no
practical politicians at Republican
state headquarters this year.
The chief tactical blunder that is
lad at the door of the Anti-Saloon
league is the holding of numerous
county option elections. The theory
OF these elections was that they would
stir up the temperance question and
Governor Harris. In every county op-
tion election the Harris game was
played to the full extent He was re-
ferred to by all OF the dry orators I'm
the option campaigns, his llthograph
adorned the walls of the meeting
places and his cause was put forward
with much vehemence.
But somehow the Democrats did not
become panic-stricken. Counties be-
gan to go dry, but the Democratic
managers preserved their equilibrium.
There was great rejoicing In the Re-
publican camp every time a county
went dry, and that was pretty often.
They thought sure the thing was work
ing their way
But there was another way to view
1t. Every county that went dry meant
Just so many more dry Democrats
dropping the temperance question and
turning their attention to the issues
of the state campaign. They had
made their fight on the temperance
question. were satisfied with having
won it. and turned their attention
to something else.
Not so with the losing side. Dry
Democrats laid aside the bitterness of
the option campaign and came out
solidly for Harmon on state issues.
Wet Republicans, losing the county
option fight, were still mad. In that
condition they went to the polls.
The Anti-Saloon league showed 1t
was powerless to control the dry vote
in dry counties. That vote did not
belong to the Anti-saloon league,
though they have been laying claim
to every dry citizen Of the state. Each
dry vote belonged to the man who
voted IL. Just as each wet vote be-
longed to the man who voted it.
Counties that voted dry by 1000
turned around and gave the candi-
date the And-SalOOn league was
opposing big majority.
In this. the friends of Governor Har-
ris point out, the Anti-Saloon league
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