The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1916-11-24

New York, Nov. l5.-Wllllam Jen-
nings Bryan predicted here today that
prohibition would be the big issue in
the next national campaign, four
years hence, and announced that he
viii devote all of his time between now
and then to make the Democratic par
ty declare in favor of it.
"My work during the next four
years will be to contribute whatever
l can toward making the national
Democracy dry, Bryan declared.
"When an issue arises it must be
met, and the prohibition issue is here.
Our party cannot afford to take the
immoral side of a moral issue. The
Democratic party cannot afford to be-
come the champion of the brewery,
the distillery and the saloon. The
members of the party will not permit
it to be buried in drunkard's grave"
The prediction that prohibition is
to be the big issue four years hence
came in answer to this question; In
what way will the result of the cleo
ton affect the future of the Democrat
ic partly"
an two ways" said Bryan. an the
first place, four years more Of exper-
fence under Democratic reforms will
make it impossible to repeal the laws
passed. By 1920 the country will
have adjusted itself to the new laws
so that conservatism will support the
laws that are, as against proposed
change.
"This will leave the Democratic par
ty free to take up new issues, such
as equal suffrage and prohibition, and
the election returns make it easy for
the Democratic party to take the lead
in both of these reforms. 1t does not
owe anything to the political bosses
who control the politics Of the wet
cities, and, besides, a considerable ma
iority Of President Wilson's elector-
al vote comes from dry territory"
Bryan was asked to estimate the
Democratic strength in the dry States.
He resumed:
"Of the 90 dry States, II with a
total of 162 electoral votes) went for
Mr.. Wilson. two more were very close,
while prohibition has ben practically
decided upon in four other States
which he carried. 1t happens, also,
that Mr.. Wilson carried nearly all the
States in which women vote. If the
Democratic party takes the liquor
side of the prohibition question, it
will risk a loss without certainty of
gain, even if it could be supposed
that it was willing to make an even
trade Of dry votes for wet ones.
Says G. o. P. Needs Issues.
at is worth noting, Also" contin-
ued Bryan, chat the Republican par
ty, having been defeated on the old
issues, will be looking for some new
issue upon which to make the next
fight, and, since the wet vote was not
sufficient to give it victory-and
several more States will be dry before
1920-it may champion prohibition in
the hope of winning back the dry
States of the West.
at is not at all impossible, there
FORE" was Bryan's conclusion, chat
the two leading parties will, in 1920,
enter into active rivalry to obtain the
dry vote of the country"
Bryan was asked what will be the
effect of the apparent shifting of po-
litical power from the East to the
West and South He replied:
"The first effect is to teach the East
a lesson in geography. 1t has been
enjoyable to those living beyond the
Allegheny Mountains to hear such
plaintive INQUIRIES as, Where is New
Mexico?' How did Arizona go?'