The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1910-05-23
'DRYS' TO SELECT
ENTIRE TICKET
Fear OF Divided Vote on Four candi-
dates viii Cause Prohibs to Unite
on One Man.

Guthrie, okla, May 2S-The pro-
hibitionists of Oklahoma have be-
come alarmed over the fact that all
the democratic candidates for COVER
nor but one have ayowed the prohi-
bition cause. The growing strength
of Leslie P. Ross, the local option can
didate of the democrats for COVER
nor, has awakened the fear in the
minds of the leaders Of the Anti
Saloon League that with Ross against
the field the prohibition vote may be
divided among the four other demo-
cratic candidates fox governor on the
democratic ticket. The "antis' have
also taken cognizance of the move
ment among the republican anti
prohibitionists and local optionists to
bring out Frank P Stearns Of Shaw
nee, mayor of that city, as a candi-
date for the republican gubernatorial
nomination. While all the republican
candidates have not avowed their po-
sition on prohibition. 1t is presumed
that they will stand for the present
law, which, in the event Stearns
should consent to run, would create
a situation analogous to that among
the democratic candidates.
AS a result of this situation George
d. Conger, president of the Okla
homa Anti-Saloon League announces
that the prohibitionists propose to Sc
lect complete state and local tickets
from both parties, including one man
for each Office upon whom the pro-
hibitionists can unite and announce
this selection by June Is. If candi-
dates already in the race cannot be
found that will meet the approval of
the prohibitionists, new ones will be
brought in.
The situation is considered critical
by the prohibitionists in view of the
fact that a proposed constitutional
amendment is pending, which proposes
to resubmit the prohibition question
and substitute high license and local
option for absolute prohibition. This
raises the prohibition question directly
in connection with the campaign, not
withstanding the fact that the gov
ernor may talk at issuing a cali for
the election on the question, with a
possibility that no vote may be Sc
cured upon the proposed amendment
during the present campaign.
President Conger of the Anti-Saloon
League does not attempt to conceal
the alarm felt among prohibitionists
as result of the strange situation of
having too many prohibition candi-
dates in the race fer governor. He
says in a signed statement on this
point:
ut is gratifying that nearly all the
candidates for governor have declar-
ed in favor of prohibition and law en-
forcement, but this is fraught with
grave danger.
"The liquor people are trying to
bring out enough prohibition candi-
dates to split up the prohibition sup
port to a point where a resubmission
or liquor candidate upon whom they
can unite would be nominated, al
thought perhaps by small percent
age of the vote. This is possible un-
der a primary law. The attempt is
being made in both parties, and we
are in possession of actual evidence
of the transactions.
"This makes it imperative that the
prohibition forces unite upon candi-
dates to vote for at the election. We
are therefore asking people to rer
frain from obligating themselves or
the league to the candidacy Of anyone
for governor. In ample time, probably
by June Is, we will submit candi-
date in each party for their considera-
ton. The only way the liquor people
can defeat us is by dividing out vote,
and this il about the only way they
could accomplish that"