The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-02-01

VIII make its APPEARANCE IN 1920. ana
elect It's candidates for the presidency
, and ViCc-presidency and carry both
houses OF Congress. This. say the
gentle referred 10. will be followed
by the submission to the country Of
prohi bition amendment Ia the con-
stitutlon. which will be carried during
the following decade. making the
United states thoroughly prohibition
by 1870.
There Will be a strong prohibition
agitation in 1916, and as much as pos
sible will he done TO attract attention
10 the Issue; but the prohibition lead
ers will hardl expect 10 capture either
of the old parties by that time. Other
issues viii be uppermost m the pub
lie view President Wilson, without
opposition, il IS said by the we'll in
formed. iwil ne renominated: Vice.
President Marshall renomnated, and
the cam pnigu will be a national refer
endum to determine what the country
thinks about Mr.. Wilson's way of doing
things.
FaIlow Ground To Work.
Into a situation Of this kind it is
pointed out neither prohibition nor
any other outside issue, no matter
what It's intrinsic importance can be
injected. but the prohibition people
campaign of education. make capital
of the recent vote In the national
House of Representatives. throw out
their lines and pre-empt the ground
fer 1920.
This new political forecastiug points
to a contest between the present DEM
ocratic and Republican parties over
the prohibition question and To me
complete wlping out Of he present
.I,f LA tt-41r
demonstrated. say the wei informed
that third party, with prohibition as
its sole excuse for existence, cannot
hope 10 he successful. The present
prohibition party WIS organized IN
1869 and has been trying ever since,
without great success. to ret "A foot
hold am ong the people Il has never
been important enough to enter scFi-
ously into the calculations of tho two
old parties. and TO-DAY cannot poll 70
exceed zoe. 600 votes. II pulled 252-o
votes in 1912 a little more than had
as many us were poled by the Social
lists.
While sentiment for prohibition has
steadily increased as the years have
gone by, the prohibition party as
political organization has steadily de-
creased in influence 1t continues to
nominate its candidates for President
ana Ice resident. bN{ N'lHPut INV
slightest hope OF success. or even Of
being factor In the result.
Alignment Favored.
hut things would be quite different.
It IL pointed out. II the Democratic
or that Republican party would
pouse the prohibition cause. The OBJ
vious plan of campaign for the LIQUOR
7 forces. II is said. In case II were
seen that prohibition had become
great national issue, would be 10 try
to secure support in one Of the TWO
parties. concentrating their strength
to that end, and not wasting il in mn
( effort to secure support in both. IT
/ Il were apparent that one or the other
of the two great parties was naturally
inclined to prohibition, by reason OF
history. tradition or present aliCn
ment. that party would be permitted
without protest by the liquor forces
to become the champion OF the prohi-
bition movement. Tho liquor forces
would then turn to the other party,
and the issue would be fairly Joined.
Under such conditions 1t is likely
that the prohibition question would
become as acute, in some respects as
was the slavery question in the years