Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-04-22

- the vote OF the House against
the Williams bill-it was mere
ly set back two years. Local option
sentiment is stronger throughout the
State to-day than ever before.
Two years hence, with Governor
Brumbaugh leading the fight, Local
Option bill will be passed by an over
whelming vote. All OF the signs point
in that direction.
1t is regrettabIe that the local option
sentiment of the State was not de-
finitely expressed in the vote of yes
terday, but there can be no doubt that
the session of 1917 will tell a different
story.
AS the Telegraph pointed out dur
ing the campaign last Fall the Anti
Saloon League bosses, closing their
eyes and stopping their ears to the
self-evident facts of the situation, un-
mindful of the protests of earnest sup
porters of the movement and needless
of the dangers involved in their stupid
course, exerted their utmost efforts to
defeat Governor Brumbaugh, notwith-
standing his pledge to the people to
1DOuI the GndCllueHl VI a. lOCetl
option law. So intent were these fool
ish leaders upon defeating the man
who was overwhelmingly elected in
spite of them, that their real work
the election Of members of the Senate
and House pledged to local option
was shamefully neglected. But not
so the liquor men. They saw to it that
~ local
elected, realizing that both the leading
candidates for Governor were certain
TO encourage and approve such legisla-
ton. Instead of wasting their energies
in the gubernatorial race, as was the
case with the men at the head of the
Anti-Saloon League, the opposition to
local option centered its attention
upon every senatorial and legislative
district and so cocksure were the
liquor forces of their position that they
declared soon after the election re-
suits were announced that local option
would be voted down in the Legisla-
ture.
Only the magnificent fight in behalf
OF the measure under the leadership
of Governor Brumbaugh saved a
worse defeat. He found it impossible
TO move many men who had enlisted
in the army Of the opposition and
who, admitting their mistake, declined
TO change front under fire; but since
the beginning of the session the Gov
ernor did not save himself in his su-
preme effort to put upon the statute
books a home rule regulation of the
liquor traffic. No champion of the
right of majority rule could have done
more. He embodied in this memor-
able struggle the best traditions of a
GSuYdy and independent people, and
Throughout the State and the entire
country. wherever men and women
admire untiring and courageous lead
ership, the noble fight of the Pennsyl-
vania schoolmaster for a great princi-
ple-the rule OF the peoples being
applauded.
Governor Brumbaugh declared sew
eral weeks ago his purpose in the
event of the defeat of the Williams
bill to carry the fight into the leglsla-
tive primaries next year and even
party regulars cannot criticise his in
tention in this respect. He will exer-
else his right as Republican to urge
the choice of candidates favorable to
local option and the voters must then
determine whether they want local op-
ton. There will be no confusion OF
the issue.
Friends OF local option should not
be discouraged. Local option was not
killed" by the vote of yesterday. II
was not even put to sleep. 1t is the
livest issue in the State to-day. AS
Governor Brumbaugh says: Great
reforms are not accomplished in q
day." But the movement is growing
by leaps and bounds. The first re.
quirement of legislative candidates
next year will be how they stand on
local option.