The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1918-02-01
PROMISES WARM
OHIO CAMP AIGN
Wet and Dry Issue VIII
Dominate.
COSTENOING FORCES LINING UP

Liquor Interests Of state Under
Heavy Handicap as Their Forces
Are Not Harmonious and War Con
dltlons Are Adding TO the Popular
ity Of Prohlbltlon-Drys NOW Busy
Recognizing County Federatlons.
Columbus, Ohio. - Persons ac-
quainted with conditions in Ohio are
prophesying a wet and dry campaign
in the state this year more intense
than any fought in previous years.
Unless a special session of the legis-
lature is called this winter and the
National Prohibition amendment rati-
fled, the campaign this year will be
not only for statewide Prohibition,
but also for the control Of the next
General Assembly.
The liquor interests are fighting
with their backs to the wall. They
have been losing ground so rapidly
they realize the tide is strongly
against them and the war is adding to
their troubles. They held the state
last year by only 1877 majority, and
on top of this virtual defeat. came the
action Of Congress in submitting the
National Prohibition amendment.
To not only check, but to turn back
the victorious dry forces is now the
task which confronts the brewers Of
the state.
The brewers must wage the battle
almost single-handed for the distillers
are out of the running, as Congress
last fall put the ban on the making of
whisky for beverage purposes. Cen
orally speaking, the saloonkeepers
are not in financial condition to be Of
any great assistance.
The brewers will have to wage the
battle'under heavy handicap, for the
feeling is strong that through the Ger
man-American Alliance, many brew
ers are in sympathy with Germany,
and the people Of Ohio are not inclined
to look with much favor on any pro-
German activity.
Besides, Congress prohibited the
selling or giving of beer as well as
whisky to soldiers, in uniform, and
the people while heartily approving
the law, are strong in the belief that
if liquor should be kept from the SOL
liopc fO 1ooalya fhaY,o afHainnf n ]
should also be kept from those who do
not wear uniforms, for they must be
equally efficient in backing the boys |
who do the fighting.
Then, too, Ohio voters are realizing /
as never before the wastefulness of
the liquor traffic and they know all
waste must be stopped in order to win
the war. In these war days, Ohio
needs as never before the $4,000, 1000
spent annually in this state for liquor,
and the other millions spent in taking
care of the criminals, paupers and dis
eased caused by drink, to say moth
ing of the foodstuff and fuel wasted in
liquor.
The drys are starting the year by
lining up their forces and already
score or more Of counties have or
ganized and others are getting ready
to organize. All the dry elements are
working in perfect harmony and the
outlook is for even stronger fedora
tion of the dry forces than was had
in last years campaign.
Ohio drys polled 522,590 votes for
Prohibition last year as against 1884,
969 votes in 1915. The wet vote last
year was 523, ,727 as against 54O,277 in
1916. The object of the dry drive this
year is to adopt statewide Prohibition
and also elect legislature which will
ratify the National Prohibition amend
ment.
The drys realize they have a hard
fight and do not intend to overlook
anything. The vets realize if they
ose Ohio this year, all is lost, and
while their camp is divided, they will
make a mighty effort to pull their
'orces together. One of their fears :
s that both political parties will line
ID against them.
Seasoned observers are Of the
opinion that the year "Opens with the
advantage decidedly with the drys.