The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-09-16

Election forecasts are vain things,
and too numerous to be popular In a
presidential year, but the probability
that California, South Dakota and
Nebraska will go dry in November Is
so obvious that prophecy is justtfi-
able. There Is a possibility of victory
in Michigan and in other States where
minor fights are on.
The decided defeat of prohibition
in California the last time 1t was
voted upon was accomplished in a
manner which left the people with
a feeling that they had been bun
koed." The saloon hid behind the
grape vine and the voters were not
willing to crush the vine in order
to get at the thing they hated.
But the men and women in Cali
fornia are now awake to the true
merits of the situation. They have
learned that nobody profits from the
grape vine industry of California ex-
cept the wine trust. Business men
are freely asserting that, without
regard to the liquor question, Cali
fornia agriculture would be better
placed II every vine grape vineyard
were destroyed.
A hefty and substantial STRAW"
showing the direction of the politi-
cal wind, Is Congressman Randall.
who has had the distinction of be-
ing the lone representative OF the
Prohibition party in the sixty-fourth
Congress. Mr. Randall was elected
from the Ninth California District,
which contains the city OF Los An
geles. In the primaries the other
day, he won the nomination of the
prnhfhittnr loo, ',
and Progressive parties. 1t Is the
first time such a thing has hap
pened in California politics and pos
sibly the first time any man has had
the nomination of four parties in
any State Of the Union The sgnif1-
canoe OF the matter Is startling.
Pacific Coast is for Prohibition.
If California goes dry the Pacific
Coast will be a solid phalanx for pro-
hibition. Throughout the entire west
and northwest the morale of the pro-
hibitionists Is high; they are aggres-
sive, well informed. we'll organized,
and confident, while their opponents
are bewildered. disorganized, and APP
prehensive.
The members Of the Hughes cam
paign party were deeply impressed
with this undeniable fact and came
East convinced that prohibition will
soon be looming over the capital.
The Cruise of the Water-Wagon.
One of the unique features of the
Western campaign Is the cruise of the
Methodist water wagon, under COM
mand of Clarence True Wilson. gem
eral secretary of the Board OF Tenn
perance of the Methodist Episco pal
Church.
The water-wagon" is a six-cylin-
der motor car and the story Of its
service will record thousands of miles
OF campaigning. The theory of the
Board of Temperance has been that
too often when the temperance peo-
pie wanted new votes. they have gone
straightwav to the rock-ribbed pro-
lhibitionists and argued the matter.
TT is all very we'll to stir up our
own people and to have rousing mass
meetings in the churches" says Dr.
Wilson. but meanwhile we propose
to go to the section hands, the la
borers' camps the incoming factory
workers the negroes and immigrants
and the men and women in the small
villages which cannot pay the expense
of big meetings What is more, they
have lives to be made worth while.
property and loved ones to defend