The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-12-02
EDITORIAL OF SECRETARY IN
COMMONER POINTS OUT Ills
STAND FOR NATIONAL
STEP.
Congressman Hobson on warpatl,
Against ttc Use OF Rum--Probablc
Plank In Party Platform at Next
National Convcntion--Iiobson Pro-
hibition Measure to Como ncSorc
Congress-.

In favor of national prchibition--for
that Is what his recent editorial In
the Commoner Is generally understood
To mean--has caused more comment
In political circles here than any 9TH
er incident since the congressional
elections. The comment may not
have been loud. but 1t has certainly
been deep.
Both of the big parties are more
afraid OF the liquor question than Of
anything else. They recognize II as a
sharp two-edged sword and they are
nervous when IL Is I'm sight. The ap-
parent inclination of Mr.. Bryan to
lead fight for a prohibition plank
In the next Democratic platform Is
causing no end OF uneasiness II Is
not believed that President Wilson
approves OF the idea. for he has sew
eral times called liquor a state issue.
Inasmuch as the Democratic party
has not been any more identified with
the so-callcd liquor interests than the
Republican party. the Secretary of
State evidently means. when he sug-
sests that the Democracy must di-
vorce itself from all connection with
these interests. that 1t should take a
positive national stand for prohibition.
One OF the ardent followers of Mr.
Bryan n prominent Southern Demo-
cratic congressman. who Is not a
prohibitionist. and whose State has
three times voted against prohibition
comforts himself with tho theory that
the Commoner means to suggest ma
tional prhbition only by the independ-
ent, cumulative action OF the States
IL so IL Is exceedingly strange that
Mr.. Bryan did not say that he re-
ferred to independent State action,
particularly as the Commoner editora
appears on the very eve of renew
nj OF the federal prohibition fight In
congress.
Ever since the adjournment of con-
gress Representative Hobson, OF Ala
bama. has been preparing to make q
supreme effort In December to get q
vote on his proposal TO submit a pro-
hibition constitutional amendment.
He has been sheliing the woods with
literature by way of preparing for
the charge which he and his forces
are going to make when the leglsa-
tors reassemble. "a Is whispered that
Capt HoSson Is not very enthusiastic
about Mr.. Bryan rs a leader in the
national prohibition movement, whicl,
Is the one on which the Alabamian has
hopes of riding TO the presidency.
However. the Bryan deliverance is
going to have influence I'm the meas
urins of forces for anu against the
Hobson resolution at the approaching
session. Mr.. Hobson has before the
rules committee request that De-
cember l5 be fixed as a date for a
" on his amendment resolution. lie
appears TO be confident that he can
set this vote I'm some way before he
sethNS tAtbh tOhkltrN, ON lilt 1ln III
March. and he has decided hopes OF
being abe to obtain the vote before
the holidays. At all events. there Ii
going TO DC red hot fight over the
matter I'm the committee and still
hotter Ooc I'm the house IL the COM
mittee lets go"
Should Capt. Hobson fail to cap
ture the majority of the house com
mittee on rules he has another string
To his low i'm the subcommittee
which TIE senate committee OH the
judiciary appointed last summer To
consider tho prohibition amendment.
faiherod on that side by Senator Shep-
pard. OF Texas. The chances are that
the HObson-Shcppard resolution will
bo brought to a vote in some way al
the coming session. though the 20.
ltical instinct Of the majority of
both parties Is against IL and its path
Is fun of parliamentary pitfalls.
Perhaps the most interesting cxpla-
nation or Mr.. Bryan's course in
throwing out lines To the woman suf-
frasists aud the prohibitionists with
In the p'st few mouths is that lac
realizes The rapid dissolution of the
hull Moose party. 1ud Is trying to at
tract To himself ant bcmocracy at
he understands IL as mnuy of thc r,I,.
and file IT the dyinE uratuiIttiru. .-
he can. Hc knows that most cr u.,
Roosevelt followers will SO hack into
the regular Republican party ur,,s.
some special di,crsi0n - m1uc W
Democratic circles 1" eaten their ,,t-
tcntiOn ana interest
The outlook ls chat just as Mr.. iirn-
an was rhc centre pf excitement 90,
tho Baltimore convention iu 1912 b,