The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-11-21
Convention Delegations Will Be Sought in Order to Make an Impression on Congress
FAVOR PRIMARY IN ALABAMA IN ORDER
 TO WIN CONTENTION
Object Is to Keep in Back ground Any Antagonism Toward Wilson and Strive With One Purpose
By HIGH w. ROBERTS


 In order that pressure might be brought to bear against Congress in favor of Legislation denying the serv- ice of the mails to periodicals con taining liquor advertisements, the pro-
 hlbitionists of this and other states are preparing to capture the national conventions of the democratic and re- publican parties.
 Within the past few weeks, the leaders of the dry element in Alabama have been unusually busy. But from what can
 be learned, their activity has not been in the interest of William Jennings Bryan or Richmond Pearson Hobson; has not been inimical, in fact, to Woodrow Wil- son. The prohibitionists are not, it is said. even hopeful of securing the adoption of a dry" plank in the platform of either great party, or of securing the passage of a federal amendment. But they are desirous of yielding the power in the conventions of next year, and of so in- pressing the nation with their strength that they may count on Congress to grant concessions-and especially that which
 would deny the mails to those papers and magazines which now circulate in dry territory spurious and vinous advertise
 ments
 The state democratic executive commit
 tee. under call of its chairman, Bibb
 Graves, will convene in Montgomery dur
 ing the month of December. In that ses-
 sion the political flood gate will be opened
 wide, the eominant prohibitionists will
 show ther hand, and the fight for and aganst their propaganda-destined to be bitter and sensational-will be initiated
 NO STATE CONVENTION The prohibitionists have discussed acquisition of the control of the delega- ton from this state. It is said that the leaders in the beginning were divided as to whether they could gain their object more surely in a convention or through a primary It IS reported that the latter l plan was u,timately adopted, the leaders having been impressed with an idea that they could not cope in a convention agalnst their political adversaries, but that the people, when called upon, would respond as on other occasions to the fu- rious beating of the tomtoms.
 This very point is destined to be the
  around and about which valiant orators will clash with wit and eloquence. In other days. the committee has named the primary date, and determined the style of election which should obtain. The law, however, as a result of legislative
 achievement has assumed these func- tons. and without action of the commit tee the primary MI be held in May, and the nominee vii, be determined as the nfc nf hal
 There will be division. of course. re- specting the advisabiIity of ordering a state conv vention for the election of na- tional convention delegates But as the prchititionists are in control of the party machinery, the division will amount to little 1t is definitely determined it is said, that the delegates shall be named in a primary.
 BEFORE THE PEOPLE | Before the people, can the prohibition ists win?
 they can, unless their struggle is popu- larly regarded as a struggle against MT. Wilson. as a struggle behind which looms the shadow of William Jennings Bryan. It is regarded as possible that the people may so believe, for 1t is no secret that the prohibtionists cannot tolerate certain of the democratic and liberal views of the cnleI eACCutlNt dHu II IS pGlcVeu lQdt they would. should they consider the move possible of success. attempt to strike him down and elevate one in his stead who would respond with peculiar gyrations to the lute and the tom tom.
 The early indications are that the fea- ture of the campaign will be the effort of the prohibitionists to impress the peo- pie with the sincerity of their contention, and the effort of the "antis'' to impress the people that their energies are ex- pended solely in the interest of MT. Will son as against MT. Bryan or Captain Hob son. From the careful preparation under way at the present time. the struggle promises to he gory. There is every indi- cation that both camps will have their orators on the stumps of the state. and will lose no opportunity to present their cases under as favorable light as possi- ble.
 LOBBY'S LOCAL SUCCESS The prohibitonists--o rather the lead
 CTS who made themselves so conspicuous