Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1918-02-01
PROMISES WARM
OHIO CAMP AIGN
Wet and Dry Issue viii
Dominate.
CONTENDING FORCES LINING UP

Liquor Interests of State Under
Heavy Handicap as Their Forces +
Are Not Harmonious and War Con
ditions Are Adding to the Popular
ity Of Prohibition-Drys NOW Busy
Reorganizing County Federations.
Columbus, Ohio. Persons &C.
quainted with conditions in Ohio are
prophesying wet and dry campaign
In the state this year more intense
than any fought in previous years
Unless special session of the legis-
lature is called this winter and the
National Prohibition amendment rati-
fed, 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. Gen
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 th'
selling or giving of beer as well al
whisky to soldiers, in uniform, anc
the people while heartily approving
the law, are strong in the belief tina
if liquor should be kept from the sol
diers to make them more efficient, i
should also be kept from those who d,
not wear uniforms, for they must b.
equally efficient in backing the boy
who do the fighting.
Then, too, Ohio voters are realizing
4 as never before the wastefulness O
I the liquor traffic and they know a.
waste must be stopped in order to wi
! the war. In these war days, Obi
needs as never before the $11O,000,0O
spent annually in this state for liquor
Z and the other millions spent in takin
care of the criminals, paupers and dis
: eased caused by drink, to say moth
ing of the foodstuff and fuel wasted i
7 producing liquor.
The drys are starting the year b
2 lining up their forces and already
1 score or more of counties have OF
T ganized and others are getting read
/. to organize. All the dry elements ar
+ working in perfect harmony and tn
: outlook is for even a stronger feders
+ ton of the dry forces than was ha
I, in last years campaign.
+ Ohio drys polled 522,590 votes fc
8 Prohibition last year as against 484
!. 969 votes in 1915. The wet vote la:
& year was 523, ,727 as against 540,377
+ 1915. The object of the dry drive tn
1, year is to. adopt statewide Prohibitio
+ and also elect legislature which wi
& ratify the National Prohibition ament
+ ment.
I, The drys realize they have han
+ fight and do not intend to overloo
8 anything. The vets realize if the
T lose Ohio this year, all is lost, ar
E while their camp is divided, they wi
make a mighty effort to pull the
forces together. One of their fea;
is that both political parties will lii
lie up against them.
90 Seasoned observers are of Il
10 opinion that the year opens with tt
i. advantage decidedly with the drys.