New-York tribune., 1918-03-07
Drys Won't Merge
With New Party;
81 Delegates Bolt
100 Other Prohibitionists
Announce They Will
Join NationaIists

CHICAGO, March 6.-Fifty-one del
egates to the Prohibition National Con-
vention bolted to the new National
party, and approximately one hundred
others, including the national commit
tee chairman, Virgil G. Hnshaw, signi-
fed their intention Of joining the new
party, which was formed by Socialists
who bolted from the st. Louis convcn-
ton.
Earlier in the evening the delegates
had voted to cooperate with the Ma
tional party in furtherance Of certain
mutual aims, but rejected proposal
for complete merger.
The action was taken because Of
failure of the Prohibition party con-
venton to vote for a merger with the
National party.
The fifty-onc boilers, led by Ma
tional Convention Chairman II. ?.
Faris. of Missouri; W. J. Calderwood,
of Minnesota. and State Senator +. +.
the convention hall while the National
proclaimed their desire TO join that
party A secretary was appointed 70
take their names, and, after paying
dues and receiving membership cards,
they were admitted to the convention
and allowed to vote.
In addition to the individuals who
bolted, it was announced that number
of states would completely dsband
their Prohibition organizations and join
the national party. Delegates from the
following states announced that their
state conventions would take this
action-Mnnesota, Wisconsin. New Jer-
sey, Massachusetts,, New Hampshire,
Kansas, Oregon. Washington and North
and South Dakota.
Delegates predicted that many other
states would take similar action.
Majority Favored Merger
On test votes to- day the majority of
the Prohibition party delegates clearly
stood in favor of the merger. but it
was impossible to obtain the two-thirds
majority necessary. Later several
resolutions were introduced in an effort
to reach an agreement satisfactory to
the delegates as a whole, but it was
lmpossibleto pass any of them.
The split did not come as a complete
surprise, for the merger faction had
given warning on the convention floor
that 1T intended to join the National
party IN event the merger resolution
failed. 1t was not generally believed
however, that the split would be so
complete.
The Prohibitionists, although defeat
ing every attempt in the convention to
authorize complete merger, voted To
cooperate with the National party.
he resolution to this effect was intro
duced as compromise by DR.. Charles
Scanlon, of Pittsburgh. who led tbc
anti-merger attack. This measure did
not IN any way meet the approval of
tne merger faction, and it was impos-
% %sIoiG TO gam even majority for it
uht'l ~ was certain that a two thirds
majority IN favor of the merger could
never be reached.
Merger Faction Yields
Inc merger faction then, worn out
by two days of bitter debate. Welded
and the resolution passed bv a vote
ol zo3 to %. The convention then ad
Jourhed and the Prohibition National
committee went into session.
Alter 1T became apparent that LARGE
number of prohibitionists would bolt
resolution was brought before tho
committee by antimcrger delegates
suggesting that it place an interpreta
tlon upon the Scanlon resolution which
would amplify it, The COMMITTEES
then sent its Interpretation to the Ma
tlonal party convention saying that the
prohiblton's committees, state. local
and national, could withdraw candidates
q, any time in favor of national candi
dates and that any one who bolted to
the National party could retain his
membership in the Prohibition party If
he desired,