The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-01-24
SOUNDING LEADERS
ON PROHIBITION
Republicans Feeling Pulse
for GubernatOrial Issue.
RESULT IS NOT GIVEN OUT
II Is said that Democrats Smother
Statewide Prohibition Issue-Re-
publieans VIII Treat with Anti
saloon League rs TO Candidates
and Issues-HOw Democrats stand.
spsaal 70 he washlngtan Herald.

/ SPECIAL TO The Washington Herald.
Richmond. Va. Jan. 23.-If a Statewide
Prohibition Democrat is not nominated by
the Democrats in the gubernatorial pri-
mary next summer, or If that party does
not pledge itself TO the prohibition cause.
the opinion is absolutely accepted in
political circles here that the Repub-
licans viii enter the gubernatorial con-
test with a Statewide prohibition plank
in their platform
Il became known to-day that the State
Republican committee is sounding every
leading Republican in the State regard
ing the prohibition issue as q party
measure. Letters have been sent the
| Republican leaders, asking for informa-
ton regarding the sentiment in their
/ locality on this question. SO far. replies
10 these letters are incomplete. but there
Z is q report Of a strong sentiment for a
prohibition plank in the Republican plat
form II the Democrats fail 10 make ii a
tenet Of their political faith.
May Consult Anti-SalOOu League.
II is said that If the Democrats smother
willing TO treat with the Anti-SalOon
/ League. not only as to issues. but as
/ 10 a candidate The Republican strong
I hold Of Virginia. the Ninth district, IS
] strong for temperance. and leaders from
/ down that way are inclined. It is said,
/ toward prohibition But whether they
/ can overcome the strousy anti-prohibition
1 following from Norfolk and Norfolk
/ County. at the head Of which is National
/ Committeeman Alvah II. Martin. IS an
/ other question.
/ This much can be said for certain. that
/ the Republicans viii take al opposite
stand from the Democrats on the State
wide prohibition question II the Demo
/ Gratis are swallowed by the prohIbitonists
as was the case IN North Carolina the
! Republicans viii come out for local Op-
/ ton II is also said by some that the
/ Republicans. II Il develops that the pro-
I hibition question is very strong. viii head
/ OF the Democrats. and announce for i
before their opponents DO.
How Democratic Candidates stand,
There are at present four candidates ir
/ the field for the Democratic nomination
/ They are Judge William Hodges -aann
/ Harry St George Tucker. Henry c
! Stuart, and Col Purcell. Of LoudouT
/. County Representative Carter Glass. Of
Lynchburg, is a prospective candidate
Of these five men. Judge Mann IS COM
mitte6 % local option. Air. Tucker favor:
local option. and has so expressed him
self 70 his friends Henry c. Stuart
though he has not defined his position. 1,
said 20 favor local option Col. Purcell
Is a strong anti-prohibitionist
This leaves Representative Glass. and II
can be safely said that II he gets in the
fray il wiz be on a Statewide prohibition
platform M Glass is still considering
the matter Of entering the race he {,
/ daily consulting with his friends OF
al the candidates. he is said 20 be the
most logical TO enter the fight as Z
prohibition Democrat. He has not voiced
hts views on this question from tht
/ hoUse-tops. but II IS common report tina
he has always voted with the prohibition
! Democrats on many questions
II is safe TO say, in view OF the present
political conditions IN Virginia. that the
prohibition question viii be the bigges
issue IN the next gubeTnatorial race. and
next 20 1t viii be the poll tax law as
prerequisite 10 voting.