Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1919-01-31
POLITICAL ISSUE
FOR FIFTY YEARS
PROHIBITION PARTY PERSISTED
IN WHAT SEEMED LIKE
HOPELESS BATTLE.
Women Have Been Prominent in
Movement Through w. c. T. u
Frances Willard Won World
Wide Fare.

Nationwide prohibition has been a
political issue In the United States for
the last fifty years because Of the
activities Of the Prohibition party.
Other organizations, including the
Anti-SalOon league, the WOmen's
Christian Temperance union and 9th
ers. which passed out Of existence
after careers extending over various
| periods Of time, have fought for state
and national prohibition, but the Pro
hibition party has continued In exist
ence for longer period Of time than
any other antiliquor organization, and
It has continued in the face Of discour-
aging defeats.
The Prohibition party will celebrate
its fftieth birthday next September.
It was formally organized at a con-
vention held in Farwell hall, Chicago.
in September, 1869, when 10 states
were represented by 800 delegates.
For several years the formation Of
such a party had been discussed be-
cause the leaders Of the Republican
and Democratic parties had virtually
The Good Templars, organized in 1851
as a society Of total abstainers, urged
such action. and other leaders believed
it necessary. At a state temperance
convention held in Pennsylvania in
1867 the plan was first publicly breach
ed. and two years later on BIay %,
1859, the call for the Chicago conven-
ton was put out by the grand lodge Of
the Good Templars in session at Os-
wego. y. 7. A committee TO formulate
the plans was named, comprising John
Russell, Detroit; J. A. Spencer. CIeve- J
land. O.; James Black, Lancaster, Pa;
John y. Stearns. New York. and Dan /
lei wilkins, Bloomington. III. The con- I
vention called by this committee or /
ganized the party on September l.
adopted a platform and appointed a /
national committee Of which John Rus
sell was chairman.
First National Ticket
Nearly three years later, on Wash
ington's birthday, 1872, the new party
met in convention in Columbus. O., 10
place a national ticket in the field.
James Black was nominated for presi-
dent and John Russell for vice presi-
dent Mr.. Black was 8 prominent Good
Templar and also was one OF the
founders Of the National Temperance
Society and Publication house and Of
the Camp Meeting association at
Ocean Grove. N. J. Mr.. Russell, also
a leader Of the Good TempIars and q
Methodist minister, was known as the
father Of the Prohibition party, for he
published q newspaper, the Peninsular
Herald. which led the way in advocat-
ng the organization of the party for
political action
With all their devotion TO the cause.
he Prohibition leaders had no hope Of
success in the election Of 1872, and
hey were not disappointed Their
ticket received only 5.607 votes. This
lid Tot discourage them, and four
ears later they put Green Clay Smith
Il Kentucky and Gideon T. stewart
n the ticket. These gentlemen re- !
ef4ed e,737 votes. General Neal Dow
( Maine, who had gained fame as the
uthor Of the Maine Prohibition law, :
ras the next presidential candidate,
D 1880. with Il A Thompson In sec
nd place on the ticket. They poIled :
My 1896 votes.
St John's Hot Campaign
When th- plans were being laid for :
he campaign Of 1884, Frances E. vii =
lrd and her fellow workers Of the W.
/. T. q. entered the field They sent ;
, the Republican convention a great
etition asking that consideration be q
wen the pleas OF the temperance ad- L
0cateS. but il was ignored and even >
lrovn into the dirt on the floor, and :
-iss Willard promptly turned 10 the :.
rohibition party. Her help was vel =
,med and John P. ST John OF Kan Il
IS was put at the head Of the cold
alter ticket Already he was a nota-
e figure, for he had fought in the 1
vii war as lieutenant colonel OF the o.
Sd regiment OF Illinois volunteers Il
ID later served two terms as COVER OF
II OF Kansas. He was q Republican.
II his party thought him too warm a h
lend Of the prohibitionists and he a
as defeated for reelection in 1852 W
,cepting the Prohibition nomination. py
went into the campaign with all VI
: vigor and delivered stirring ca
eeches all over the country. eSpe- TO
lily paying attention 10 New York sc
ite. where the fight between James Sc
Blaine and Grover Cleveland had II
lde things very warm. ST. John was 20
t to beat the Republicans. and he tic
cceeded. for the Prohibition vote an
s large enough 10 let Cleveland win Dr
W York state and. in consequence. Til
nation. The Prohibitionists polled 20
surprisingly large vote OF 15O.626.
The Prohibition convention OF 1896 be-
it the party over woman suffrage for
I money. The free silver minor ms
formed a Liberal party. with Bent tn