The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-04-23
|DRYS BAR ROOT
AND WILSON IN
1916 ELECTION
Oppose Presidents Stand
On State Rights in Drink
Question.
CUMMINs, BORAH,
WEEKS, APPROVED
How Anti-saloon Leagues
Declaration Affects the
Candidates.


national campaign has been opened
when the national officers of the Anti
Saloon League issued a statement in
dicating that they will oppose Presi-
dent Wilson.
The Anti-saloon Leagues statement
indicated that the Prohibitionists will
not direct their fight against the can
didacies of Senator Borah, Senator
Burton, Senator Cummins and Sena-
tor Weeks. Senator Cummius and
Senator Weeks. all of whom are men
toned as Republican Presidential
nominees. Senator Roots nomina-
ton, however, will be opposed.
The statement in which the Pro
hibitionists announce their determi-
nation to participate actively in the
contest for the Presidential nomina-
ton was issued by DR.. P. A. Baker,
general superintendent of the Anti
widdle, executive superintendent OF
the league, who has charge of the
national headquarters here.
Here is the statement OF the Anti.
saloon League:
Just at this time, when the party
leaders are looking for available can
didates for the presidency for next
year, 1t will be we'll if they will care.
fully consider one or two things. The
try will oppose the candidacy of any
man who voted against the Webb.
Kenyon interstate liquor shipment law
or voted against the resolution TO sub.
NIT the national prohibition amend.
ment to the states, or who advocates
only the states rights policy OF deal.
ing with the liquor traffic.
"a national evil can be cured only
by a national remedy. The most sac
rio of or lie OIL
TO change the organic law of the ma.
ton when they choose. Besides the
plan OF human redemption is not con
fined to state lines. The people are
thoroughly in earnest on this ques-
ton. and have become impatient with
trihing public officials high and low"
The statement recalls the warning
given by Representative Hobson, lead
ar of the prohibition forces in Con-
gress, in the closing speech on the
resolution to submit a constitutional
amendment, that the prohibition
forces would see to 1t that a presi.
dent is elected in 1916 who would not
oppose the demand for nationwide
prohibition.
It is the latter commitment which
eliminates President Wilson from the
list of candidates who may look for
the support of the Prohibitionists.
sFEeSlueuI WILSON SApESSseu hlulSetI
: in letter to the Rev. Thomas B.
Shannon, of Newark. n. j.. in the last
presidential campaign. The presi-
dent committed himself against the
injection OF the liquor question into
national policies and declared his adj
vocacy of the settlement OF the issue
by the smallest feasible local option
units.
Senators Borah. Burton and Cum
minis voted for the Webb bill when
that measure was passed by Congress
ins1 1912, and are therefore not with
out the pale of Prohibitionist. Sen
ator Weeks, who was then member
of the House, also voted for the meas
ure. Senator Root voted against the
Webb bill and by so doing earned the
opposition OF the Prohibition forces
No candidate of either party was a
member OF the House at the last SEES
sion, when the Hobson resolution to
submit a constitutional amendment to
the vote of the states was acted upon.
Political observers attach a great
deal of importance to this early dec
laration of the officers of the Anti
saloon League. 1t is regarded as evil
dence that this powerful organization
Is determined to participate vigorous.
ly in the primary contest within each
party. The league is the chief in
strumentality through which the po-
litical force of the various state or
Plantations advocating national pro-
hibition is exerted. Its methods are
political. and it has not hesitated in
Z the past to organize and finance OPP
position to candidates for state offices.
The league has branch organizations
Z In forty states. Its revenue totalled
& S1,2o0se00 last yea-.
The evident determination of the
Prohibitionist organization to enter
is viewed with great concern by
friends OF President Wilson and other
candidates who had hoped that it
would not be necessary for prohibit
ton to become an issue in the next
national campaign. Both parties are
chary of the Issue and view Its agita-
ton In the coming campaign with
alarm.
Secretary of State Bryan Is the
only prominent leader of either party
who has expressed himself frequently
on the present political status of the
movement. A short time ago Mr..
Bryan advised members of his party
In Iowa to choose for a national COM
mitteeman a man who was committed
to the cause of prohibition vote in
the Hpuse in January Secretary Bryan
urged the members of his party to
adopt the moral side of the anti-liq-
uor law. Mr.. Bryan scoffed at those
: who invoked the state rights argu-
nfent. He explained in a later state
ment. however. that he did not be-
iieve the time was ripe for the agita-
Hon of prohibition as national is
ene-