El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-01-12
.L0ONEY IS OUT FOR GOVERNOR
ON A PLATFORM Of PROHIBITION
Asserts Also That State Is Too Extravagant Taxation
Is Unequal and School Teachers Are Underpaid;
Says State Must Drive Out Saloon to Help Win
War and Not Wait to Be Whipped Into Line.
UsTN. Tex jan IAN

4 USTN. Tex, jan IAN
u nouncement Of B. F. Looney as
, a candidate for governor Of
Texas. was made today.
He comes out strongly on a prohi-
hilton platform
The brewery and liquor interests
have for years welded the balance OF
power and dominated political af-
fairs 70 such an extent that with rare
exceptions they have elected our Of
ficials and controlled official conduct;
certainly this is now apparent to
everybody" says Mr.. Looney. Unless
We are ready to meekly surrender to
the liquor overlords, the time has ar
rived 10 drive them from power. No
better evidence Of their continued in
reference in governmental affairs is
needed than the defeat of submission
at the regular session OF the present
legislature 4 majority OF the people
demanded submission: a. was the
plain duty OF the legilature TO comply,
yet by oulrks. turns, hiding behind
1limsy excuses. by being absent at
psychological moments, and by other
methods, the amendment failed Of sub
mission and the People put TO shame.
No Middle Ground Exists.
There IS no middle ground, no twi-
light zone between clean and corrupt
politics, between morality and vice.
You cannot serve these two masters
either you are driving out this cor
rupt political influence, or you stand
with II and for It This is the logic
OF the situation, and no candidate
should be permitted to pussyfoot his
way through the coming campaign on
this vital issue, or disguise his stand
IN with these evil influences
Il present. therefore. as one OF the
dominating issues OF this campaign
the destruction Of this liquor machine,
and stand committed to the enact
ment OF such laws as will accom-
plish that result
National Prohibition.
NO question OF states rights Is here
involved, for the simple reason that
the states themselves expressly pro-
T-ded for the submission OF federal
constitutional amendments and when
such amendments, so submitted, are
ratified, they become the action Of the
states themselves. Such an amend
ment with respect to the liquor traf-
1ic having been regularly submitted,
favor its Immediate ratification by
our legislature at its first session.
whether that session be a called one
or the next regular one This amend
ment, when ratified by the states, viii
solve the question for the future. But
II does not. and cannot, give the i'm
mediate relief urgently demanded by
these times and conditions. This
amendment cannot 60 into effect for
some years and maybe not until 1926:
IN fact, we cannot be certain that IL
viii be ratified by the required num-
Der OF states within the seven years
fixed therefor, and II not, according
10 its terms II becoms q nullity.
State constitutional Prohibition.
II have actively supported every
proposition heretofore made TO require
the 81 omission OF an amendment TO
our state constitution, and in every
instance where such an amendment
has been submitted I have actively
advocated its adoption As a citizen
and az 2 candidate favor the submis-
sion OF the question TO the next iegis-
lature OF an appropriate amendment
10 the constitution heretofore demand
ed by the people. The command of a
majority OF the people, unequivocally
expressed at the last primary, should
be complied with by the legislature.
This command has never been re-
Fersed, II is outstanding with imper-
alive force; Il has been defeated up
TO this time by the institution against
which & is directed; IL IS binding until
compiled with, and I appeal to the
people OF every senatorial and repre-
sentative district in the Etate. at the
next election, 20 send to Austin men.
as representatives and senators, who.
when the vote Is reached on the Ques-
ton, will not be talking or 'pursu-