New-York tribune., 1918-11-18
Liquor Interests Seek ).
Elect "Wet" Leaders, Sen.
ator Thompson Say,
Wants Republican
Majority Cauc,...,
Niagara Man Denies Hal.
Canvassing Votes N
Leadership Fight

The next State Legislature will,
to deal again with the question :. |'H
liquor traffic. The dry. Ren,s, 1s
of both houses, under the lessss.s,'
Of Senator George F. Tbomns s''Sall
Niagara will attempt to ratify The ~.
posed bone dry amendment to ~. ' = p'''
eral Constitution. 4' REQ
This programme was announ.
Senator Thompson last night !;
statement in which he cbars.s :.
the liquor interests were beS;r. '
movement to organize the new s.... '
50 as to insure the election of s's ~vs's
Republican majority leader. ''
Senator Thompson says the p.,.
lican majority should be caucus.a '''
the majority of the Republican, ~
"drys'" this would insure the rsts,.
tlon Of the bone dry amendment
less enough Republicans TO coo.,,.'
majority boited the caucus
Ratification Is Jssue
Senator Thompson's anuouDs.,...
that the "drys" would renew the bi,,..
night of last winter is contained n ~
following statements:
THE published statement tbs,
canvassing for votes for nv pIo.,,.
as majority leader of the ser.t, !.
ridiculously untrue. The ststsns,.
that liquor interests are interes,.s :.
the organization of the new Sepato !,
true. The Republican party with ,
majority of both houses OF the Legi,
lature, must settle this winter n.
question of ratification Of the Federl
prohibition amendment.
In my judgment there is M s.s..,
for the party except to make a ns,,
issue OF the proposition that liouor {,
a beverage or as a source of income !,
not necessary to the welfare Of ,ls
nation, and that it is essentially n,.
tlonal issue.
Democrats for "WetsY
The Democratic party as a partyhu
declared against ratification and Ia,
lost the Legislature. The overwhelmp,
majority OF Republicans in both hous,
are committed to ratification. This r.
suit has in effect amounted to instrut.
ton by the people to the elected Re-.
publican members of the next leGs
lature.
"Of twenty-nine Republicans in III.
Senate more than twenty are defnipIy
committed and would fail to represer.
their district if they vote wrong and
no claim OF personal advocacy Of this
measure viii avail any Senator who
votes for majority leader who viii
work with the Democratic minority and
brewers TO defeat ratification.
THE Republican party in New Yors
cannot afford to be less emphatic IN
favor of the moral side of this que:
tion than the Democratic party in this
state has been in favor of the immon
side.
Open Action Needed
II Iue hepuDlcdn party mas us
wisdom and courage to embrace this
opportunity to kill the liquor traffic, i.
will destroy any reasonable possibility
OF the Democratic party again carry
ing the state. The recent disclosuOs
of the scandalous activity Ct the brew
ers in politics has created situation
where the Republican party and is
representatives cannot afford to d.
anything else than deal with this ques.
ton in the open light of day, and az
gressively. If any Senator will no:
enter into or abide by the resul. Of
such caucus, the time has come wheIr
Tor the protection or the party. suea
Senator, if there be one, must tsss
the responsibility. The Republican
party should not be forced to do 80
and | for one will rot share it,