Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1916-09-22
THE STATE CAMPAIGN.

Plainly there is only one issue in the guberna-
torial campaign under way--the wet and
"dry' issue. Attempts may be made to subordl-
nate it, to cover it up to push it to side, but
it will force itself into prominence nevertheless,
with the Republican candidate, Mcbride, on the
one side as the reputed candidate of the 'wets,'
and the Democratic nominee, Governor Lister, on
the other, outspoken against any changes in the
present dry law except such as will aid It's more
strict enforcement the one man who prevented
''wet'' legislation by the last Legislature
Statements issued by Mcbride, such as
that this week, declaring for "dry" state, OPP
posing the two pending bills initiated by the
"wets" and expressing his belief that the state
should stay in the dry column, will hardly
clear him of the charge that he is the 'wet" can
didate, when it is commonly known that the
'wets' worked hard for his nomination at the
primary and are working hard for his election
now, fighting Governor Lister and circulating
founded stories about him. 1t may be safely
sumed that they know what they are doing;
tainly McBride's past record gives them reasons
for espousing his cause. In other words, as long
as the "wets, y in connection with their plans to
elect wet legislature this fall, work hard for
Mcbride s election as governor, the only presump-
ton is that they want to avoid the vetoing of any
liquor legislation next winter, and it will be diff
cult indeed for Mcbride to convince the people
he is dry" He will be judged by the company
he keeps, not by the words he speaks.
We are not prepared to believe that the people
Of the state Of Washington will elect governor
who might wink at the enforcement Of the prohi-
bition law, whose nomination from a field Of eight
candidates is credited to the "wets," and whose
past associations and record would appear to
align him with that element of the states popula-
ton. Nor will the people Of this state in our
opinion, elect governor who, in the event of the
election of wet legislature for which plans
are now under way, would cooperate with that
body in weakening or destroying the prohibition
law, rather than who would fight it at every
move. And this is far more important than a
candidates attitude toward the enforcement of
the law.
There may be those among us who believe that
the dry law should be modified in such man.
ner as proposed by Initiative Measure No. "a,
which would permit those of our citizens who
want to buy beer to purchase the product of the
breweres of our own state instead of sending
their money to California. How strong such
sentiment is we do not know but we do feel con-
ndent OF TINS mat IN their present temper OF mind
the people of this state will not elect man as
governor who is the reputed candidate of the
'wets," likely to wink at the enforcement of the
law and to connive with ''wet" legislature in
scheme to repeal the law or pull the teeth out
of it,
Between now and November the issue will be
squarely before us. On the one side is Mcbride,
the ''wet" nominee, on the other Lister, who de-
clares firmly his belief in the dry law and vigor-
ously opposes any weakening of it. And Lister,
to mind, will win.