The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-03-30
Prohibition Promises To Be a
Real Live Issue
I'm the Campaign for Election
of a President.
THEY SEE ROUGH TIMES AHEAD
Politicians in Big Parties WOr-
ried Over the Outlook.
Hope the Next Congress May
Provide a Way Out.

rnat national prohibition is to be
one of the real issues in the preslden-
tial campaign next year, is the news
carried to Kansas by the men VINO
for the past few months have oeen
in touch with political situations IN
Washington. Leaders of both the
Democratic and Republican parueS
will try to dodge the issue, it is quietly
asserted, but in view of the recent
gains of prohibitionists in wet territory
it is probable that the issue Will De
real live problem in 1916.
Whether the liquor question creeps
into the party platforms next year IS
causing the men interested IN nation-
al affairs to sleep uneasily when tney
think Of the issues. If the political
dope carried to Kansas from WASH
ington is at all correct-and it comes
from some we'll established authorizes
William J. Bryan will not seek a dry
plank in the Democratic platform next
year. In fact it is asserted that Bryah
will oppose the proposition either
openly or indirectly. He is said to
states should work out their own sal
walton on the liquor question.
Bryan's quiet but seeming positive
opposition to prohibition as mix
ture in national politics, may leave
the cause without a really big cham
pion in the Bourbon party. President
Wilson is opposed to the dragging OF
either prohibition or suffrage into ma
tional affairs. And so the Democrats
who have journeyed home from Wash
ington are worried about the question
in next years battle. The party in
Kansas has taken a stand for the
measure. But if their national organ
ization lodges or takes a positive
stand against prohibition, congress
siona1 candidates on the Democratic
ticket see a rough campaign ahead of
them.
Face a New Situation.
The position of the Republicans is
but little better. In Kansas they shout
and yell for prohibition. 1t is popu-
they voted for the HobSon resolution
because their constituents were for
the measure. But now they face
new situation.
Of the Republican presidential pos
sibilities, Cummins of Iowa is the only
man who has championed prohibit
ton. He has been severely criticised
in certain localities. Other candi-
dates are hardly expected to display
the same fervor for the anti-Hquor
cause. And thus the Republicans face
fight in their national convention.
Before the Kansas congressional as
pirant is this situation: To dodge,
means trouble at home; to endorse the
issue, means trouble in the wet states.
Next year the Republicans want a
president returned to the White
House. To win, they want to dodge
as many embarrassing issues as posi-
BILE. And just at this time, prohibition
is loaded with dynamite so far as the
judgment of the politician is con-
cerned. Of course the politician may
be wrong. But his opinion will carry
weight in the national convention.
The Third Party.
Then, too, is the question Of the
third party. If the Progressives go to
bat in 1915 with state and national
tickets, will they champion prohibit
ton? Answer the question and some
of the Kansas men who have returned
from Washington will breathe bit
easier. OF course the Kansas congress-
man and the Kansas United States sem
ator are for prohibition. Certainly
But behind closed doors at the nation
al convention next year when prohibit
ton is a big vital issue-well, maybe
then the matter may be debatabIe.
One solution has been offered. But
1T is vague, uncertain solution. In
fact, it may not solve at all.
1t has been suggested that the next
as 1916 is concerned by submitting
the prohibition question to a vote in
the states. Maybe that will keep the
issue on ice for another two years
Maybe it won't. In the recent fight
over the Hobson resolution, scores of
members begged and pleaded to with
hold the vote until after election A
vote was not taken until December
But the issue didn't seem to die in
December. 1t came right back to
haunt the congressman and now 1t is
camping on the trail of the presidential
possibilities and the men who will
write the 1916 platforms.
OF course the stand of Kansas on