The daily banner., 1919-05-22
Did Prohibition Hurt Williams

The ntl-PrOhlbltlOnlStS are trying
to ascribe the defeat of Mr.. Williams
for Mayor of Baltimore to the fact
that, in a speech, he admitted that
he had not taken liquor for 20 years,
but that he was wet and always
voted wet.
We often hear the liquor gang say
that men do not have to drink their
liquor, and the saloon only exists for
those who desire to drink. We did
not hear any criticism of Mr.. Will
liams during his campaign because
he did not drink. He was the pride
of the Klecka bunch. We do feel
dead sure that Mr.. Williams would
have been far better off in the cam
paign if he had not tried to back the
booze gang. His reputation is that
of a clean, sober man, and If his cam
paign had been made in keeping with
his private life, instead of trying to
make his campaign to suit the
booze-histers and spigot-twisters, he
could have Well claimed right to
the vote of the city lined up against
this crime-breeding, soul-wrecKing
drunkard-making institution.
The ti-Prohtbitionists blame Gov
ernor Harrington for Williams de-
feat and the only reason they give
is that the Governor brought Will
liams Jennings Bryan to Annapolis
to speak for the ratification of the
Prohibition amendment The only
thing about this is the accusation
against the Governor is not true.
Governor Harrington did not know
that Mr.. Bryan was coming to An
napolis until arrangements had been
completed for him to speak there.
He came to Annapolis on the invita-
tion of the Superintendent of the
Anti-Saloon League, and, we may
say. paid his own travelling expen-
ses, spoke before the General Assem-
bly, and would not accept any re-
muneration whatever for his servi-
ces. Governor Harrington was asked
to introduce Mr.. Bryan. He accep-
ted this honor and we take it that
any man in Maryland would consider
it an honor to present to body Of
men and women such a character as
William Jennings Bryan. The Gov
ernor. during his term of office, has
ono h, f0 hn hond1od
by the booze gang. We imagine that
he soon found that if he permitted
this bunch Of law-breakers to die
tate his policy his administration
would bring disgrace upon the State.
We congratulate the Governor on the
fact that he has not drawn his in
spiration from Baltimore booze
joints and that he has been big
enough and independent enough to
attend public meetings of whatever
character whenever he desires; that
he has presided at meetings held by
the Church and different civic orga-
nizat1ons, and that he has done so
without asking any liquor licenses
whether or not he should do it. We
are also glad to say that Governor
Harrington recommended in his mes
sage the ratification of the Prohibi-
ton amendment and that he rem
dered much service to the State by
doing so. 1t ill becomes this bunch
of rummies to abuse the Go 7ernor OF
the State when they find themselves
disappointed.
We did not hear them criticizing
the chief executive for his help in
the primary campaign; we did not
hear them saying that he was liza
bility then, but now they are trying
to seek for some excuse and they are
as hard up for an excuse as they
have been for a reason for the con-
tinuance of the liquor traffic 1t is to
be hoped that no clean, decent, re-
spectacle man, announcing himself
for public Office in the future, will
feel called upon to grovel in the
lmire for booze votes.-American Is
sue.
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