The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1916-12-29
PROHIBITION MAY BE AN ISSUE.

TltUHEBllIUN MAY DE AN 1881 H.
While congratulations were in or
der in Democratic circles, about two
weeks ago, and while William Jen-
nings Bryan was receiving large
share of them because the mid West
ern and Northwestern States, in
which he had addressed great meet
ings during the campaign, had nearly
all voted for the reelection of Wood
row Wilson, it was remarked by close
observers that the former Secretary
of State dWelt with greatest satisfac-
ton on the fact that the cause of pro-
hibition had come out of the contest
with some notable victories. Asked
to express himself on the result of
the balloting, he said, at Denver, Col,
two days following the election:
prohibition is sweeping the country.
1t will be a presidential campaign is
sue in 1920 if a constitutional amend
ment is not submitted by Congress to
the States by that time" This re-
FORM" he added, like every other OBJ
tanned in the last twenty years, is
moving from the West and South to
the North ard East. National prohi-
bition will be an acute issue four
years hence, unless the amendment is
submitted to the States before that
time, which is possible" Throughout
his stamping" tour for the national
Democratic ticket Mr.. Bryan spoke
everywhere for prohibition, although
doubts were expressed in some quar-
tiers as to the expediency of such a
course
AS to the ''inexpediency" of his
course in urging prohibition upon the
multitudes whom he addressed in be-
half Of his party ticket, the election
returns furnished sufficient answer.
AS one of President Wilson's most in
innate friends has put it, william
Jennings Bryan brought in his
States" The fact that he did so may
be taken as pretty conclusive evidence
that the States to which he gave
closest attention and in which he
pleaded equally for prohibition and
Wilson were not offended by his
course 1t is only fair to say how
ever, that the President was not one
of those who questioned Mr.. Bryan's
political acumen in standing for a
dry" nation.
Clearly, Mr.. Bryan has allied him
self with the prohibition cause. He
is under no illusions as to the oppo-
sition he will meet within his own
party. He has shown in some Of his
speeches, that it will be necessary
either to convert a large section of
the Democracy to prohibition, or to
invite the opposition Of this section
by insisting upon the adoption of pro-
hibitiOn as a party issue. The Demo
cracy in some of the larger cities of
the country will not countenance this
course without protest; the Demo-
cracy in some of the States will OPP
pose it until opposition shall become
to be Mr.. Bryan's task to educate the
anti-prohibition Democrats to the
point Of accepting the inevitable. He
began his educational work in In
diana last week; he has continued it
in Illinois this week. All indications
lead to the conclusion that he has
enlisted in the war against liquor
with the purpose of remaining in the
forefront of the fight until victory
shall be Won
He neither beat about the bush nor
offered apologies when telling the
Democrats of Indiana that their first
duty to the party, as well as to the
country, was to make the State dry"
His Indianapolis address, indeed, par
took rather of the nature of a chal-
lenge than an appeal to the political
organization of which he is one of the
most influential leaders. THE Dem
ocratic Party" he declared, has no
power to say whether there shall be
a fight for prohibition. The fight is
on. If the Democratic Party refuses
to endorse prohibition it will take a
stand squarely against the States that
gave their votes to President Wilson.
And l say now that the Democratic
Party is under no obligations to party
bosses who depend on the liquor in
terests for their power in politics."
Mr.. Bryan, it is plain, is talking for
a new Democracy, a Democracy that,
in the future, will not anywhere be
used as convenience by the liquor
interests. Judging by his experience
in Indiana and Illinois, he will not be
disappointed in the response of the
Democratic rank and file to the pro-
hibition issue.-Christian Science
Monitor.