New-York tribune., 1919-01-17
Predict Passing.
OF Boss AIone
With Saloons
1920 Election Expected To
Be First National Cam
paign Shorn of His Rule
By Carter Field
Ncao York Tribune
WGshinQtON EurecM

WASHINGTON, Jan. 16.--The Presi-
Dental election of 1920 will be the first
ever held in this country in which no
interest will be taken by saloon
keepers. This issue, not as a moral
question, but with regard to its bearing
Oh the political situation, was upper
most III conversations around the
Capitol to-day, and it is pretty gen
orally conceded that the effect of the
change will be enormously in favor of
the Republican party
AS it was pointed but here the saloon
in every big city in the country, which
IS not already dry, has been one of
the most valuable assets of the party
in power. In New York the saloon
vote always has been for Tammany;
III Boston, for the Democratic ring;
! in Chicago, for Bathhouse John,
Hinkey Dink, Roger Sullivan and the
Democratic Organization generally. in
Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati
and St. Louis the saloon vote generally
has been for the Republican machines,
and so on down the line of all the
big cities.
1t is fact much commented on,
however, that from ehc National poll
tical point OF view, the saloon always
| has been great asset of the Demo
cratic party, while, where it has work
ed for the Republican party, it has
for the most part merely increased
pluralities already assured, such as
| that of Pennsylvania.
Most Big Cities Democratic
1t has been the rule in the United
Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, that the
big cities of the country were Demo
cratic and the country districts Re-
| publican This rule, of course, does
not apply to the Solid South.
In every big city which has been
wet-.and virtually all of them were in
the 1916 election-the saloon has been
an asset of the local bosses in a
variety of ways. 1t was in the resi-
lences over saloons that much of the
! cclonizing of voters was done.
Residence properties owned by
saloon keepers and brewers but not
maintained as saloon properties pro-
/ vided equally fertile spots for lodging
"repeaters" and "colonists" who were
! eager to vote for whatever candidates
the gang selected.
In addition to this, some Of the bust
! est workers at the disposal of the gang,
| the bows who could be depended upon
| without Instructions TO obey orders
! down to the crossing Of st." were the
saloonkeepers themselves and their
! employees.
! Many ;angents led off from this con
! tact between the dominant party in Il
! city government and the sslcons which
served to strengthen the hold Of each
i particular gang upon the city, and TO
enable it to pile up najorities for the
| candidates. be they state. municipal or
| national
Politicians here thought this element
| might not be diminished. but increased.
! although instead Of saloonkeepers be-
/ ing the PAYERS Of tho resultant graft
and the workers used by the organiza-
| tion prohibition would mean that IL
licit distiilcrs and bootlcgycrs would
supplant them.
Passing of Big Bosses.
| This was answered by those who
said 1t would not be the local officials
( who could give protection to illicit
distilling and bootiegging, but Federal
officials alone. whercupon differences
/ Of opinion arose as TO whether such
temptation might lead to general cor
ruption Of the Federal revcOae officers.
In any event the power to prote: ii
the liquor traffic, and the power to
grant special privileges to violate cx-
else laws, has passed from the hands
Of the local political machines. to all
intents and purposes. The saloon keep
!, cr, his employees and his election day
/ "boardersv will no longer be at the
disposal Of the political bosse9 Of the
big cities.
+ All Of which Is construed here to
mean that the big cities, no matter
what the politics OF the men control
ling them, no longer will give as big
ina!oritieD to their parties, with the
result that New York New Jarsey and
Illinois will 20 Republican more ire.
qusntly; Massachusetts will 90 Demo
cratic even less frequently than she
has in the past. Missouri will GROSS TO
the Republican column at rarer inter
yaig, while Fcnngylvania Will remain