Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1909-04-29
STATEWIDE PROHIBITION.

'A'AS Oo party " SOdISWiuS pronlDlt1On
as an issue in the approaching State
election. These gentlemen, no doubt,
sre taking this position from moral con-
viction as well as party policy. And
there are many Democrats who are
equally as eager to have the Virginia
Republicans commit themselves to a
doubtful political ism. These latter,
however, are not influenced by any de-
sire to help the Republican party or the
cause of temperance. They are con-
trolled by purely selfish partisan mo-
tives. For they believe, and with ample
reason, that Judge Mann will be the
Democratic nominee for Governor; and
they know that the entire temperance
vote of the Democratic party will stand
by and vote for him at the general cleo
ton, no matter how ultra may be the
platform declarations of the Republi-
cans for prohibition or temperance. In
other words, Mann has perfect cinch
on the Democratic prohibition and tenn
perance vote, through the work and in
fuence of the artful Cannon, who has
manipulated the Anti-Saloon League so
as to make it side-show for the Demo-
cratic organization.
The Democrats who are anxious to
have the Republicans declare for State
wide prohibition also believe, that, if the
Republicans can be induced to make
such declaration in their platform it
will either force the anti-prohibition
Democrats to vote for Mann at the gen
eral election or cause them to refrain
from voting for the Republican candi-
date. In this superstition the Demo
cratic machine is as substantially cor
rect as it is in its certain knowledge
that the Democratic temperance vote
will be solid for Judge Mann, at both
the primary and general election.
If there is anything in the prohibition
issue that can be made of substantial
political benefit to either party or its
candidates, that benefit has already
been preempted by the Democratic ma
chine through its manipulation and cap
ture of the Anti-Saloon organization,
and will be used exclusively to further
the candidacy and secure the election of
Judge Mann. The shrewd politicians
who are in charge of the two machines
are conscious of the fact that the pro-
hibition question has created wide dis
sensions in the Democratic party; and
they will be delighted to see it intro
duced into the Republican party with
the absolutely certain prospect of max
ing discord in its ranks.
Win the Virginia Republicans be wise
if they do the very thing their political
adversaries are maneuvering to have
them do-that is tie themselves to an
issue that will bring discord into the
party ranks just as it has brought con-
fusion into the Democratic party? Will
the Republicans forfeit all opportunity
to attack the very bad record the Vir-
ginia Democracy has been making for
the past twenty-five years? This will
ha tho roox1lf 80 hA
hoodwinked by the effort the Machine
Democrats are making to have the
liquor question the paramount issue,
overshadcwing and concealing what
it is the purpose of the Machine to hide
and keep out of the campaign.
What more can Republicans who look
upon the liquor question as a great
moral issue want than local option,
which was first introduced in Virginia
by the Republican party and was after
wards appropriated by the Democrats?
Has not local option been doing splen-
did work? Has it not proved the most
effective temperance instrument that
has ever been originated? Are not the
Anti-Saloon managers and their candi-
date, Judge Mann, clinging to it with
n strong grasp, while reaching out for
Statewide prohibition?
Does not local option in its workings
in Virginia compare more than favor
ably with Statewide prohibition as
adopted and administered in those
States at the South that are now ex-
perimenting with it?
AS matter OF wise party policy and !