The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-09-24
The Prohibition Party
cities,


 seeking to write prohibition in the con stitution of Alabama are on the de- fensive. They are all the while trying to explain that the issue is not polit- ical but moral that they are not try ing to merge church and state, and that the prohibition movement in Ala bama is not meant to disrupt the dem- ocratic party or as an entering wedge to capture the states electoral vote for the national prohibition ticket in 1912. There are many features of this amendment organization that cause statewide prohibitionists who are also loyal democrats to pause and reflect. That the constitutional prohibitionists are being led into the national prohibi- ton party is apparent enough to men of clear perception who recall certain episodes of political history and cer- tain phases of political evolution.
 The founders of the prohibition par ty were doubtless sincere men. The leaders were consistent, for they prac- ticed what they preached. They may have been fanatics, but they felt it their duty to promote movement or ganized for the purpose of making the United States as a nation absolutely dry. But their cause was not regard ed seriously at the start, and in all the years from 1869, when the prohibition party came into being, it has only been reckoned with in close or pivotal states by the two dominant parties
 The prohibition party celebrates it's l fortieth anniversary today in Chicago. All the living presidential and vice presidential candidates of the party have been invited to participate in the cepted and will be heard in reminis- cent speeches at the banquet board. 1 It is to be a festive occasion, so far as a wineless banquet can be called fes- tive; but whether or no it be a gala affair, distinguished and earnest men will make it feast of reason and a flow of soul, or words to that effect.
 In reading the organ of the party, the National Prohibitionist, published at Chicago, one may infer that an ex- ultant note will be sounded at the an- niversary banquet, for 1t says:
 Point by point and plank by plank, practically every issue advocated by the prohibition pary in state and nation dur ing the past 40 years has either been championed to political triumph. or is today winning the attention and espousal of the people with every assurance of na- | tional success.
 Without the aid of offices, spells or 1 extraordinary campaign funds, the pro- hioitionist has made his party a dyna- mo of irresistible power in public af- l faivs
 The prohibition partys first pres idential ticket was headed by James Black of Pennsylvania, who received a popular vote of 56OS. That was in 1872. In 1876 the popular vote for the prohibition ticket was 9522. In 1880 it barely crossed the 10 000 mark, but in 1884, when John P. St John of Kan sas was the standard bearer, the pop ular vote jumped up to 151,S09. In 1900 it crossed the 100000 mark and last year it struck its highest level, when Eugene w. Chain received a popular vote of 260,O0O, falling about 100000 votes behind Eugene Debs. Of course with such insignificant popular returns the prohibition party has never had seat in the electoral college, but its leaders are optimistic and they look forward to 1912 with the hope of carrying at least one state; and you may be sure it has it's eye and its heart on Alabama, where recent political hysteria has played into the prohibitionists hands
 l But is Alabama going to desert the