The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1916-02-16
SUMS CORRESPONDENT
Tours South and Makes Interesting Obser-
vations on Politics and Prohibition.

T. R. Porter, staff correspondent of the
New York Sun, is touring the entire South
feeling the pulse of the Southern people to-
wards President Wilson, Mr.. Roosevelt, Mr..
Bryan, preparedness, neutrality, prohibition
and other features which will have a bearing
on national politics. He has already been
through Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mis-
sissippi and Louisiana.
Only One
There is only one democrat spoken of in
the states | have toured so far" says Mr..
Porter. That, of course, is Woodrow Will
son. There is no second choice. With Will
son eliminated, and that would come only of
Mr.. Wilson's own accord, Southern democ-
racy would not know where to turn. But
certainly, from what | have heard during
my tour Southern democrats will not turn
to Mr.. Bryan.
Yet Mr.. Bryan has many friends in Ala
bama. The democratic state committee,
manded that all delegates be pledged to Will
son, is composed of three-fourths Bryan
men.
Stand BY Wilson.
In the matter of preparedness the South
will undoubtedly stand by Wilson. Espe-
cially does this seem to be the case where
the navy is concerned. The South seems to
be willing to stand for policy that will give
America the strongest navy on earth. AS
for an army that is something different.
Each Southern state talks adequate prepa-
ration, whatever that may be- but they leave
it to the military officials to decide upon the
size of the military establishment.
Not For Teddy
Roosevelt? l find nightly little senti-
ment for Mr.. Roosevelt. Over in Louisiana
there is live progressive party. And of
course the members are for Roosevelt.
But there is a decided anti-Roosevelt SEN
timent in the ranks of the real voters in the
republican party. Some of the leaders of the
party seem to be willing to compromise on
Roosevelt, but not in the rank and file.
Kentucky will be instructed for Fair
banks, because Fairbanks has come over the
Ohio river many times and helped Kentucky
republicans fight their battles. But Ken
lucky republicans don't want him nominated
just the same. They fear he cannot win,
and while the delegation to the national con-
vention will be instructed for him the dele
gates will be glad to flop to the best avail
able man after the first vote. A similar con-
ditiOn exists in Indiana, am told by Indiana
political leaders.
Hughes Looms Up.
There is a feeling in the air that Hughes
of New York is the strongest man the repub
licans can nominate. Hughes has declined
to permit his name to be used in several
Western presidential primaries. Personally,
believe that Hughes will consent to run
II ne can secure DOIu the republican anu pro-
gressive nominations.
81 have found no sentiment for Root, Es-
tabrook, Weeks nor any of the other candi-
dates except Burton, of Ohio. For Burton
there is considerable sentiment in Louisiana,
as we'll as in several other SOuthrn states
Prohibition.
THE big state issue in every state in
which l have gone seems to be prohibition.
Every one of these states has drastic prohi-
bition laws such as should make them dry.
But in not a single one have | found the
people satisfied with the practical workings
of their sumptuary laws They are all reach
ing out after some other law, just beyond,
that will make prohibition prohibit In
Montgomery they told me that each day dur
ing the holidays $4,000 were sent out of
that city alone for whiskey and brandy and
the like In Nashville wholesale Whiskey
dealer told me if the temperance people
would quit ordering whiskey from me I'd
have to go out of business in month In
Mississippi the express companies enlarged
their Offices when the prohibition law went
into effect The South is reeking with boot
leggers. In Savannah-well, you know Sa-
vannah better than l do | am an absolute
temperance man myself, but have been
offered more drinks south of the Ohio than
north of the river