The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-08-08
PROHIBITION IS
An ISSUE NOW IN
ALABAMA PRIMARY

Montgomery. Ala, Aug. 7-Prohibi-
ton is the paramount issue in the
democratic campaign in Alabama
which will virtually close tomorrow.
The general primary will be held next
Tuesday, when the qualified voters
will go to the polls to express their
preferences for candidates for United
States senator, ten representatives in
congress. governor and other state Of
ficers, and members of the legislature.
The democratic primary in this state
is equivalent to election.
On account of the necessity of the
next legislature passing upon the fed
era1 prohibition amendment, the wet
and dry question has oeen made the
chief issue of the campaign, particu-
larly as regards the choice of the gov
ernor and members of the legislature.
The anti-amendists are well organized
and have conducted a vigorous cam
paign with a view to electing the gov
ernor and a majority of the legisla-
ture. In their campaign they have re-
ceived the support of Senator Oscar
w. Underwood, who at first planned
to stump the state in opposition to the
amendment, but was prevented from
doing so by President Wilson'S ultima
tum that senators and representatives
remain on the job in Washington and
allow politics at home to take care of
itself.
OF the four aspirants for the gov
ernorship, Thomas e, Kilby, of Annis-
ton, is the only one who is avowedly
supporting the dry amendment. Will
liam woodward Brandon, of Tusca-
loosa county. who is considered Mr..
Kilby's strongest opponent. is making
his appeals alike to voters who are
for or against the amendment. John
H. Wallace, Jr., and Charles B. Teas
ley are seeking the governorship
through the votes of the anti-amend
lists John Purifoy, fifth aspirant,
has made his campaign largely on a
reliance in the strength of his personal
following, irrespective of their views
on the liquor question.
The federal amendment issue has
permeated the entire campaign, al
though it is not expected to exert the
same amount of influence in the con-
tests for congressman and minor state
officers that 1t is playing in the fights
for the governorship and the legisla-
ture. Every candidate for the legis-
lature has been made to declare his
stand on this one issue and in conse-
quence the line is sharply drawn be-
tween the amendists and the anti
are located the larger cities of the
state the legislative contests are be-
ing hard fought
The congressional contests, or the
majority of Them, have been rather
tame. The loyalty issue which has
been injected into similar contests in
other sections of the country has not
figured to any extent in the Alabama
contests for the reason that the mem-
bers of the Alabama delegation in the
house have almost invariably given
their support to the president in all
measures relating to the prosecution
of the war.
Of the ten Alabama congressman at
least four will have to overcome Sc
rious opposition if they return to
Washington next March. They are
Oscar L. Gray, of the first district;
Henry B. Stegall of the third: John
L. Burnett, of the seventh, and George
Huddleston Of the ninth.
Friends of John FL. Bankhead arc
confident that he will be reelected
to the United states senate. He is OPP
posed in the primaries by Frank S.
White.