Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-03-02
DRY" SENTIMENT
IS GROWING FAST
Looks Like Central Pennsyl-
vania Counties Will Elect
Pledged Members in Fall

1t is not unlikely in view of the
rapid growth of sentiment favorable
to ratification of the prohibition
amendment that the Republican
leaders of Dauphin county, like those
of York and Cumberland, will fall
into line with those in the Juniata
valley and declare for nomination
and election of legislators pledged
to vote dry in the 1919 Legisla-
ture. Dauphin county has classed
in the wet" column for years, but
upon a couple of occasions legis-
lators, but not a whole delega-
ton, have been elected dry" De-
mands for increased efficiency due
to industrial and railroad expansion,
the developments of business have
strengthened the sentiment for the
amendment immensely in the last
two or three months, there being a
trench in that direction noticeable
even before Christmas.
Legislators opposing the amend
ment would have no more show now
among the Republicans of Cumber-
land and Franklin counties than
they would in the Juniata valley and
there are strong intimations that
Lancaster county, which has been
giving a couple of votes for local
option lately will increase the meas
ure, while the dry people are con-
fldent that they are going to make
headway in Lebanon. The state
capitol is also hearing reports of
manifestation of dry" sentiment in
some anthracite counties, especially
in the western end of the field.
Dry Sentiment Here
In the last week men active in
the Republican organization have
been visited and written to by a
number of men connected with the
party in Harrisburg and in the
county districts, urging that a stand
be made for the prohibition amend
ment and that the leaders declare
for nomination of men who will be
dry" Some of them are strongly
inclined to do so. They will be i'm
portuned more than ever now that
the time for circulating nominating
petitions is at hand. The Demo
cratic leaders are being subjected to
the same sort of pressure.
1t is regarded as certain that Rep
resentative Ramsey Black will be
renominated by the Democrats of
he city district and likely an Alli-
son Hill Democrat named to run
With him.
The Soldier Vote
Considerable interest is being
manifested at the state capitol
whether any further court proceed
ings will be taken as a result of
the decision of the Carbon county
courts that B. NJ. Arthur was elected
burgess of Lansford by the soldier
vote. Question was raised in a
dozen or more counties last fall
when the soldier vote came in as to
the effect it would have, but only
one or two court tests were inaugur-
ated. The contention that the SOL
diers had a right to vote at local
elections was sustained by the Car
bon county courts and seems to
have been the generally accepted
condition.
What is interesting the capitol is
whether any one is going to raise
questions which will affect the SOL
dier vote this year. Soldiers will
not vote at the primary, apparently,
but this fall they will vote in the
state and congressional and legisla-
tive elections as they did in 1916
when they were at the Mexican
border. This voting is being done
under the act of 1864, the Legisla-
ture of 1917 not enacting any new
legislation, although in session after
the war began. The Governor will
have the naming of commissioners
again, but owing to the fact that the
nominations will be made in May
and that nomination papers can not
be filed after September 6, there
will be no trouble over the ballots
as occurred last year.
To nominate a state ticket by
nomination papers this year would
require 3,519 signers.