The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1914-11-20
ANOTHER FIGHT
FOR PROHIBITION
Staged for Next Fall, When II Is
Hoped Politics VIII Not
Enter Into Contest.

The question of State Wide Prohibi-
tion will be re-opened for vote next
year and it is expected that a fight will
be had on the question next fall. So it
was decided by unanimous vote Of the
Board of Trustees of the Ohio Anti-Sa-
loon League. The trustees held, at Co
mmbus, on the 18th, a prolonged session
during which time the situation was
freely discussed. There was unanimity
in demanding that a vote be had in the
fall of 1915. All angles of the prohibi-
tlon interests were represented. Face to
face came the Willis prohibitionist, the
Garfield prohibitionist, and the Democrat
who voted for prohibition.
Hot shot was hurled back and forth
and some plain truths were told. 1t is
reported that a vigorous charge was
made that forty dry counties were sacri-
feed to beat Governor Cox and elect VIII
lis, and that the slogan in these counties
was Anything to beat Cox" Both VIII
lis and Cox came in for a scoring, where
in it was alleged that neither Of them
gave substantial aid to prohibition in the
last election Another speaker took his
confreres TO task for giving the most ac-
tive aid to Willis. when James r. Car
field, the Progressive candidate, whose
party platform had declared for prohi-
bition, had the call for support.
In argument for an early presentation
of the isues which went down to defeat
this fall, it was said that Prohibition in
1915 would have an open field for its can
vass and that no party issues would then
be presented to involve the trading of
votes along political lines. Reference
was particularly made to the alleged
deal in Hamilton County whereby liber-
al interests were persuaded to give addi-
tional support to candidate Willis, there
by injuring the prohibition cause in the
county
A declaration of principles, pledging
another prohibition vote in 1915, reads as
follows:
The adoption of the so-called Home
Rule amendment, through a deceptive
title, corrupt methods and an unfair
count is a challenge to the manhood of
Ohio To allow it to remain as part
of our constitution longer than the first
opportunity to remove it would reflect
on the patriotism and intelligence Of our
citizenship. We are therefore convinced
that the fight should be renewed at once
and that vote should be taken as origi-
nally planned, in 1915, for the following
reasons:
Temporary defeat of a righteous
cause brings it one step nearer to vic
tory.
1.-THE battle on November was far
from decisive. The vote reveals the fact
that the temperance forces have more
reason for assurance of ultimate victory
than the liquor froces have to believe
that public opinion will much longer toll
crate the traffic in Ohio
"Twenty-nine wet counties voted dry.
and outside of Cincinnati and Cleveland,
the State voted for prohibition. More
than 100000 voters in Ohio are ready for
the abolition of the saloon and so voted
on November 3. Seventy nine counties
voted against the Home Rule amendment
and seventy counties voted for prohibi-
tion.
In 1915 there will be no State or Ma
tional election to furnish an opportunity
for political vote trading.
1.-THE counties now are organized and
delay of two years will require reorgani-
zation and an extra effort to start the
work anew,
Every day we delay saloons will null
tiply in Ohio, and every saloon will be a
recruiting station for the enemy, and
another fort that must be taken.
IAN expression of more than thous-
and churches, committees and supporters
of the cause demonstrates that the pref
erence for a vote next year is avrwhelm-
ing. To postpone action is to allow the
fires of enthusiasm to cool and permit
county organizations to disintegrate and
give time for the enemy better to en-
trench itself.
"We-appeal to all good citizens to help
perfect county organizations, close up
the ranks and strengthen the weak spots
in our armour, pledging anew their de-
votion to the cause until we have a sa-
loonless State.
ITO this end we recommend that pc
titions be circulated at once, and that
they be filed as soon as county organiza-
tions are perfected, and that conven-
ton be called at Columbus by the Head
quarters Committee in January, 1915 Tor
reports of progress and for completing
the plans of the campaign. We depend
for success upon the same leader VINO
commanded Moses to speak to the chlld-
IN of Israel that they go forward