The Washington herald., 1914-11-01
LIQUOR Fight
RACES in Ohio
Wet and Dry Issue Clouds
All Other Issues in the
Buckeye State.
LIBERALS ARE WORRIED
Willis Declares Himself an Out-and-out
Prohibitionist and White Rib
boners Flop to Him.
LIBERALS ARE WORRIED
snecisl to The w.shinEtOn Herald.

SpeClal to The washington Herald.
Columbus, Ohio, Oct. a.-Within the
last twenty-four hours, at the very close
Of the campaign, a determined effort is
being made to submerge the contest for
governor in the bitter and, in some parts
Of the State, unreasoning controversy
over the liquor question.
This week Frank B. Willis, Republican
candidate for governor, declared him
self a prohibitionist and for the pro-
hibitiOn amendment as a candidate Tor
governor as well as a private citizen. 1t
is an appeal to the dry Democrat as well
as to the dry Republican.
In making his declaration Mr.. wins
seeks to cut the ground entirely from
underneath James r. Garfield, who, as
the Progressive candidate, is basing his
appeal entirely to the dry vote. II
marked complete abandonment OF any
hope of securing the radical liberal vote.
Liberals Are Worried.
These developments indicate. in the last
moments Of the campaign, that while Mr..
Willis as a candidate is dry as a pow
der horn, the organization presumably
supporting him in Southern Ohio is drip
ping wet.
Leaders in the liberia! cause today ex-
pressed concern over the 'Stest develop
ments. Aside from the confu.-An existing
as to the position of the Republicans as
a party, and entirely aside from the pos
sible effects on the gubernatorial contest,
many liberal leaders say the character of
the eleventh hour assault on Gov. Cox
is calculated TO intensity the fight against
the home rule amendment and for pro-
hibition.
Word reaching the headquarters Of both
the Democratic and Republican State
committees at Columbus yesterday from
all parts of the State was to the effect
that the action of the Hamilton County
organization in assailing Gov. Cox on the
ground that he had succeeded, under the
license law, in forcing closed saloons on
Sunday was one of the worst blunders of
the campaign.
Politicians today agreed that the candi-
date polling a total Of from $4,000 TO
$4,000 is certain to win the election. At
Democratic State headquarters the state |
ment is made that the reports from the |
county committeeman indicate Gov. Cox |
will poll a total vote of not less than !
So. 900. On the other hand, the statement |
from the Republican headquarters is that |
Mr.. Willis will poll more than 100000. |
MuddIes State Contest.
The effect Of the wet and dry fight
in muddling and compliCatinG the con-
test for State officers Ind for control |
OF the Ohio delegation in the next Con-
gress is not confined to the governorship |
alone. An important eleventh hour de- |
velOpment has been the reputation by |
the Anti-SalOon League of the Senatorial |
candidacy Of Warren G. Harding
The controlling committee of the leagUe
has decided that Mr. Harding is not |
right on the temperance issue, and that
the votes Of all true temperance advo-
Gates should 20 to Arthur L. Garford,
the Progressive candidate. There are
other phases of the Senatorial campaign
which seem to indicate that Mr. Garford
as the candidate for United States SEN
ator will lead the Bull Moose ticket,
and that he will poll a larger vote. by
a decided margin. than that cast for
Mr.. Garfield for governor.