The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-01-19
BLOWS HOT AND COLD.
Wilson a Prohibitionist in Texas and
an Anti Elsewhere.

an Anti Elsewhere.
St. Louis. Jan. 19.=St. Louis Demo-
Gratis who looked with favor upon the
candidacy of Governor woodrow VII
son for the presidential nomination
were stunned by the publication OF
the Watterson statement. The general
opinion was that it had made wilson s
nomination extremely improbable on
top of the Watterson letter 1t was
brought to light here that Governor
Wilson wrote letter on July last,
strongly indorsing state wide prohibit
ton in Texas. Copies of the letter as
published in Texas papers at the time
and the authenticity of which vas
never questioned, it is said, were ex-
hibited by prominent Democrats as
proof of the statement
1t seems as the prohibition move
ment in Texas warmed up, John N.
Edwards, a former ST. Louis newspa-
per man, who was conducting the
publicity end of the anti-prohibition
pealing to the presidential possibilities
of both parties. In a little paper
called Facts published at Dallas he
printed portraits of the men most
prominently mentioned for both the
Republican and Democratic nomina-
lions with the statement that all of
them opposed state wide prohibition
This statement was challenged by
Rev. DR.. D. D. Rankin of Dallas, edi-
tor of a publication called Home and
State, which was devoted to the pro-
hibition cause.
On July %, Home and State publish
ed what was purported to be a letter
from Governor woodrow Wilson advo-
eating statewide prohibition in Texas.
Tho letter was addressed to E. w Gro
gan of Byers, Tex. It was reprOduc-
ed in the Dallas News. Galveston News
and other Texas papers and created q
profound impression, as both United
states senators from Texas and q ma
jority of the members OF the lower
e-{e
opposed to prohibition. The letter to
Mr. Grogan follows:
The Letter.
State of New Jersey, Executive De-
partment, July 6, 1911.
Mr. e. w. Grogan, Byers, Texas.
My Dear Crogan:-You nistook me if
you thought I treated your first letter
If you supposed that I was trying in
any way to avoid the important ques-
ton you put to me.
The reply that I made was made in
all sincerity. I believe that for some
states statewide prohibition is posi-
Bile and desirable because of their rela-
tive homegeneity, while for others I
think that statewide prohibition is not
from what I know of the circumstan-
ces that statewide prohibition is both
practicable and desirable in Texas.
In my reply to you / was only try
ING 10 state WHAT IHl1'k must always
be kept in mind-the wide divergency
Of conditions which make it impossi-
BILE to reply to any single question,
like that of prohibition, in terms which
fit the whole country.
With much respect, cordially and SIN
cerely yours,
WOODROW WILSON.
In the Maine prohibition campaign
in September last Governor Wilson is
said to have taken q stand similar to
the one indicated by the GrOgan let
ter.
Considers Wilson Out of 1t.
Omaha, Neb., Jan. 19.-Saying that
Woodrow Wilson is now eliminated as
a presid entail possibility, due to the
Watterson and Harvey statements,
Mayor James c. Dahlman of Omaha
has called q statewide meeting of
Democrats to discuss the situation. The
meeting. according to the call, is not
in the interest of any particular can
didate but is to prevent acrimonious
dfssension within the party. In clos
ing, the call says:
with the elimination of Wilson as
possibility, there must of necessity be