New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-13
DeUts
Ueber Allies
BRYAN WILSON'S
PROHIBITION ALLY
Latest "COmmOner" Edi-
tOrial Puts Woman Suf-
frage Up to States.
rFrom The Trlbun, Bureau

Washington. Dec. II. - Secretary
Bryan made public to-day in advance
of its publication an editorial in "The
Commoner" defining his position with
regard to the campaign for woman suf-
ferage and national prohibition. Mr..
Bryan has decided to align himself with
the President as an advocate of state
control of the liquor business and state
control of the question of votes for
women.
Less than a month ago-to be exact
on November 21-the Secretary of
State was assuming the attitude that
the divorce Of the liquor interests from
any alliance with the Democratic party
was necessary. In his latest editorial
he finds that the liquor interests are
hardly sufficient to destroy the party
of jefferson, for he says:
"The Democratic party cannot be
killed even by association with so con-
Eliminating an influence as the liquor
interests.
"Some of the Democratic editors pro-
fess to misunderstood the import of the
two editorials in the last issue of The
Commoner.' one entitled The Alcoholic
Milestone and the other an editorial
in support of woman suffrage.
"These editors seem to consider the
aforementioned editorials as an in
dorsement of national amendments
favorable to prohibition and woman
suffrage, but a careful reading of them
will reveal the fact that while the for
mer plainly protests against the DOM
ination of the Democratic party by the
liquor interests and the latter as plain
ly supports woman's suffrage, they re-
late to these issues as they present
themselves in the various states.
"A two-thirds vote Of the two
houses Of Congress is required for the
submission of an amendment to the
national Constitution, and then the
amendment must be ratified by three
fourths of the states.
"There is no reason to believe" says
THE Commoner." chat a prohibition
amendment or a suffrage amendment
would at this time be ratified by three
fourths Of the states, even if it secured
a vote Of two-thirds of'the two houses.
Believing in both woman suffrage and
the abolition of the liquor traffic, |
would vote for either amendment if
submitted but the time does not seem
opportune for the submission of either
Of these amendments.
"These questions are, however, at is
sue in the states, and as a Democrat
| am interested in seeing the party
take the moral side of both questions -
the side that appeals to young men
who are coming out of our schools and
colleges and who assume the obliga-
tons Of citizenship with vision of
better things.
1.-THE Democratic party cannot be
Killed pgpn bv association with so con-
Eliminating an influence as the liquor
interests. but why should the party al
low itself to be debauched and dis
graced? II would take "A decade or
more 20 remove the odium that the
representatives of the triple curse
the saloon. the gambling hall and the
brothel-will bring upon the party if
they are allowed TO dictate its policy"
On November u "Thc Commoner"
said regarding the position of the
Democratic party:
"The Democrats OF the nation have
sn issue to face, and they may as well
prepare for IT, The liquor interests
are at bay; they are on the defensive.
They realize that they have but few
more years in which to fatten upon the
woes of their victims, but they are
fighting desperately.
"The Democratic party cannot af-
ford 20 shield the brewery, the dis
tillery and the saloon from the rising
wrath of a determined people. Democ-
racy is the nations hope on political
and economic questions; let II not by
taking sides with the liquor interests
repel those who put moral issues first.
The liquor interests are a milestone
about the party's neck