El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-06-17

continued From previous Page-)
Worth and FL Paso, 61s miles, there is
not more than one county that is not
dry. The enforcement of the local
option laws in the rural districts has
been going on steadily for several
years. 1t is claimed that these laws
are for the most part rigidly enforced
and that prohibition actually prevails
in practically all of this big area
None of the large cities has as yet
been placed in the local option col
umn, although attempts have been
made at different times to bring about
such a condition in Austin and other
places. 1t is claimed by the men who
are leading the fight against the adop-
ton of a constitutional statewide pro-
hibition amendment that the present
local option laws afford the people an
ample opportunity to put into effect
prohibition in their respective Districts
or counties and that it should not be
forced upon those parts of the state
where public sentiment is opposed
to it.
One Of the significant political fea-
lures of the situation is that both SEN
ator J. W. Bailey and senator c. A.
Culberson have come out against state
wide prohibition All of the members
of the Texas congressional delegation,
with the exception of Morris Sheppard,
of Texarkana, are also aligned with
the prohibition faction of the
present fight. Senator Bailey was an
avowed statewide prohibitionist until
recently. He supported the proposition
in 1887. as did also Gov -Colquitt.
Opposition to Colquitt.
Should the amendment be adopted
ave nv = fNr.ffx ~,
probably mean the political death of
Gov. Colquitt and would be an assur-
ance that the prohibitionistS would
put a candidate in the field against
him for the second term as governor.
In fact this will probably be done
even should statewide prohibition be
defeated by a not too large majority.
1t IS already certain that senator
Bailey will have opposition for reelec-
tion two years from now, irrespective
OF how the coming election on the
prohibition question results, but if the
prohibitionists are in the saddle at that
time, his chances for being returned
to the senate will be materially re-
duced. The charge is already made
that Bailey played two-faced game
in the last gubernatorial campaign;
that he caused Judge William Poirdex-
ter to enter the race against ColQuitt
Tor governor on prOniOlIlOn issue
merely to bring about the defeat of the
strongest candidate of the latter fac
ton. who was Cone Johnson BY thus
dividing the prohibition vote senator
Bailey caused to be brought about the
nomination of Co1quitt, 1T is charged,
thus aiding materially the anti-prohi
bitionists In their fight. Since that
event senator Bailey has openly an
nounced that he is opposed to state
wide prohibition.
Congressman C. B. Randell has al
ready announced as a candidate for
the senate against Mr.. Bailey. Mr..
-Randell, however, is also an anti-pro-
hibitionists, and should this issue be
the predominating factor in the cam
paign for that office, Mr.. Randell will
probably be defeated. and If there
should be only one prohibition candi-
rate in the race the latters election
might be brought about, it is claimed
by those who have given the situation
some thought.