The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-08-23
CONFUSING ISSUES
PROVE H|nDnANCE
TO LEAGUE PLANS
Results Of Primary Election In
Missouri Not Entirely Salts
factory to Temperance
Forces.
PART OF DRY PROGRAM
Is IMPOSSIBLE NOW
Wet Steam Roller Used In st.
Louis and Kansas City With
Crushing Effect; Usual Sa-
loon Tactics Employed


loon Tactics Employed
st. Louis, Mo-. Aug. 22,--Results
of the primary election in the matter
OF candidates for governor were not
ance forces. The candidates nomi-
mated on each OF the dominant party
| tickets had openly said they would
not sign Statewide prohibition bill
with the peace, health or safety
clause attached. AT first thought 1t
might seem as II the people had posi-
lively spoken against the use of the
peace. health or safety clause as APP
piled to a prohibition bill. But there
were other conflicting issues that had
a decided influence upon the results
| Mr.. Gardner, the successful Demo-
cratic candidate, had supported the
| rural credits bill so enthusiastically
that very large percentage of the
rural vote had come to believe the
| success of rural credits depended en-
| tirely upon the success OF Mr.. Gard
ner's candidacy. This resulted In
holding in line a large part of the
vote from the sections that have to be
depended upon to cast the dry vote
OF Missouri. Before the fght was
made upon Mr.. Gardner by the Anti
Saloon League 1t was frankly admit
ted by nearly everybody that ne had
more votes than the other six candi-
dates combined. The information
given out by the league reduced his
! plurality fully one half. But there
was large number OF believers in
the land bank bill and still another
group who were not favorable to the
use of the peace. health or safety
clause that his large plurality could
not be overcome.
Lamm Opposed by League.
The league also opposed Mr..
Lamm. the Republican nominee. on
the grounds that he would not sign
such prohibition bill. Down al
most TO the end OF the campaign 1t
was admitted everywhere that his
leading opponent would easily carry
the highest vote of his party. But
at a critical time Mr.. Swanger made
the blunder that other politicians
have made in the past of attempting
to be wet In ST Louis and dry In the
rural sections. 1t is commonly be-
lieved that II he had stood solidly on
his dry policies he would have been
nominated by most decisive plur-
atty.
The net result OF this nomination Is
that the part of the leagues program
which includes the peace, health or
= safety clause must be abandoned and
; legislation without this clause at
& tached pushed through what now
: seems to be dry House and Senate.
The brewers and saloonkeepers of
the State of course, can be expected
: to take every advantage OF such leg
islation and refer 1t back again TO rne
} people and take Its chance in the un.
) Vieldly initiative and referendum
ballot at a general election.
Has Dried Out.
The State Senate and House of
Representatives, as shown by the re-
= suits of the primaries has dried out
. In sentiment nicely especially in the
, Senate. If any change is made in
the election In November by change
in political party In one or two dis
tricts, 1t will benefit the dry forces.
There is safe dry majority in the
Senate with a prospect of two chang
es from wet to dry In the general
3 election.
, In the house there will be little
change in majorities from two years
ago. The gains and losses are about
4 even.
= The dry voters of Missouri may
4 waver little in their support OF
-
o on the legislative body at all times.
which makes 1t impossible to pass
any legislation favorable to the liquor
4 interests.
. Their only hope is to hold what
e they have. but the dry forces have a
I splendid prospect of passing some
' advanced dry legislation.
Twenty OF % wards in the city OF
ST, Louis ran the wet steam-roller at
a. 4nt -. AL 80
. wards of st Louis for the two wet
candidates for governor and the
other nine candidates running for the
Q same office are as follows:
q wet candidates .43.3T4
Q other candidates -. S.47s
The other eight wards were not
quite so fragrant. but the total vote OF
: the city for the two candidates des-
1 ignated by the brewers and saloons
as wet is 52.sss, the other nine candi-
dates receiving total vote of 17,460.
Marked Machine Counting.
I In some of the precincts In Kansas
, City the machine counting was even
: more marked than in st. Louis. In
one precinct out of the 80 votes cast.
the count showed 90 for one candl-
date for each office on the ticket from
q top to bottom. In another precinct
out of 100 votes cast they reported
100 votes for one candidate for each
Office. In another precinct out OF 12S
votes cast one for each ONCE received
: either 1875, 1877 or 1913. One Of the
above tickets was Republican and two
Democrats
This Is what the honest voter OF
the country faces in every primary
and wet Senate refused to amend
/ the election laws at the last iesis-
lature SO that II would make the &C
ceptance OF such returns impossible
and gave relief at once through our
election commissioners. The contin-
uance OF these conditions Ia part of
the booze program.
, Cowboys Wcrc 'sThkcn In"
Naxv Au~ - --Mnra thnr n