Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-03-12
CAMPAIGN OFF
WITH A RUSH
Sproul Opens Headquarters
and O'Neil Gets Methodist
Preachers Backing

Senator William C. Sproul yester-
| day opened his headquarters in Phil
\ adelphia and twitted Highway Com
| missioner J. Denny O'Neil with
wanting to have prohibition all to
himself as an issue, while Mr.. O'Neil
secured the endorsement of the big
Methodist Ministers Association at
Plttsourgh and again declared that
this Is no time for "deathbed repent
ance' on the prohibition amendment.
Asa a. Weimer. the Lebanon legisla-
tor came out as a "wet" candidate
Tor the Republican nomination for
Governor. The campaign seems to
nave opened with a rush, although
the primary will not be held until
May Il, more than two months away.
The Democrats. as usual, do not
Know where they are at.
Philadelphia newspapers saw that
senator SprouI received many teIe-
grams congratulating him upon his
stand for the prohibition amendment
ana that he has gained in strength.
ne opened his headquarters yesterday
ana VIII begin a tour of the state
@oout April 1, meeting all comers,
ana II is predicted that his speeches
VIII be even more vigorous than his
forthcoming declaration.
For the Amendment
In reply to a question as to wheth-
er he was for prohibition. the PhiIa-
delphia North American says the
senator said: "I am for national
prohibition, and I do not see how
there can be any misunderstanding
as TO my position with regard to so
vitally important a subject"
To the Philadelphia Bulletin Sena-
tor Sproul spoke in a laughing way
about Mr.. O'Neirs attack upon him
for his declaration and said: 81.
Denny seems to be disappointed and
excited. thought he would be glad
to have some assistance in working
out the prohibition proposition, but
he seems to want it all for himself.
AS far as I am concerned, 1 hope
everybody, Democrats and all, will
turn in for it. 1t is a moral and
economic issue, and it will be bless
ing when it is removed from the field
OF politics. For years it has been a
Favored feeding ground for political
scavengers and now some people, not
satisfied with the profits they have
personally made from the liquor
business, are seeking to monopolize
prohibition for their own advantage,
and to ride it for further profit"
The Philadelphia Inquirer says:
Among ward leaders affiliated with
the Ware combination it was manifest
yesterday that since Senator Sprouts
CO - III
hibition issue he will unquestionably
get the endorsement of the Repub-
lican City Committee, in which the
Wares have a majority"
O'NeiI Endorsed
Meanwhile at Pittsburgh Mr.
O'Ne1 received the unanimous en-
dorsement of the Pittsburgh Metho-
dist Episcopal Ministerial Associa-
tion, the largest in the city, at it's
weekly meeting. O'Neirs stand
against the domination of public af-
fairs by the wet" interests was
strongly praised by the clergymen,
and church members are to be called
upon to give him their earnest sup
port and votes. When he heard of
it Mr.. ONeil said:
II like the expression, this is no
time for deathbed repentance and
that fits the case of the so-called
platform of w. c. Sproul. the man
who is being pushed by the liquor
men and who has been endorsed by
the booze men all over the state. I
am glad that at last the ministers
and church workers have become
aroused. They have kept out of poll
itics too long now. but 1 hope they
will make up for lost time by strik-
ing telling blow at the whole Ii
quor bunch"
Weimer's Last Stand
The North American in a Lebanon
dispatch says Representative Asa A.
Weimer declared to-day he would
champion the liquor cause in his can
vass for the nomination. Possibly he
was encouraged to do this by the
fact that Senator William C. Sproul
and ]. Denny O'Neil, the generally
recognized candidates in the Repub-
lican party. both have declared in ia
vor of national prohibition. The
Lebanon statesman said the economic
issue as to liquor is overdrawn and
that it is not wise to decide such
controversial question at this time
and force prohibition upon the people
when agitations of all kinds are in
imical to the country's interests in
the war. He is convinced that the
people of the state are not in favor
of the prohibition amendment"
The Philadelphia Record remarks:
"Tf the Democratic voters of Penn
sylvania want to elect a Governor
they must nominate a man of integ-
rity and capacity, one who not only
knows what is needed to reform the
state government and run it in the
interest of the people. but who Will
when elected have the courage and
the tact necessary to force results"
NJ ~ - "a ~