Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-03-01
PROHIBITION TOBE
PARAMOUNT ISSUE
National Conventions May Side
Step, but Candidates Must
Face the Music.
gDRYS" HAVE "a LITTLE LIST"
20 Have the Vets, and Lo! the
4 Name of Governor Edwards
Il Leads All the Rest.
DRYs" HAVE "a LITTLE LIST"
ny ). FREDEn1cE EssAnr.

WASHINGTON. Feb. oa.-Prohibitlon
!. tissue In the coming campaign
'anIqts be escaped, according TO the
3 'es Aspolitical Judgment in Washing
ifSS on Sfuday. The national conventions
T nay manage TO sidc-stcp il. although
q MS STdoubtful, but candidates for of
Eleo ohlho national tickets must face
he nusic." They must be wet" or
they must DC dry" There will be no
ncutral ground.
Already the prohib!tionsts have
Fatty announced that they will oppose
}all candidates at the fall elections who
Lave as a wet record. The Anti-saIoon
low in public life who have voted
| nisht. or voted wrong. and that or
;Ydrx ;amixatson ,sn;. Is prepared TO prescribe
senate and the House. who voted
tGainst the Nolstcad hill. or even wav-
[ 'red In support OF the eighteenth
Challenge Net by "1yets..,
q This challenge has now been met by
Fnt wet" forces. who have done a
titGe cataloguing Of their own. and
yhho announce that they viii under
he Anti-Saloon League clairs, as its
Hwn. and they are mobilizng their
orGss r:rne for .ws,s a "s,lh!o%.down. =! sc'io,S,.
,onncement from wet" hcadquarters
lcre. have adopted the succcssfui
Methods OF the Anti Saloon League in
met In the political arena by. grea,
l Naturalization Leagnc,' doing poll
4 les after tho most approved methods
Soi the dry organization"
"Wctn" Against the saloon.
The The wet" announcement con,inu g:
me great majority OF Americans 9
DeHeEe. arc against the eighteent;,
amen dment. On the other hand. the
majority are nnalterabIy opposed 10
L. shed. Thousands OF them hay.
voted prohibition for their own CON
tmng,Sies; nn.gn put they arc opposed TO i'm
apoHhS their VIII on other cornmubi
y Whcre public sentiment does not
,ort such measure. They arc
rsScai 70 Join any m.yement ,ha, viii
raption Of American principles. eHnt Hmt.
they arc avcrse 10 joining sncn n
movement. II II IS backed By the LIQUOR
The sudden. almost mctcoric, rise Of
Governor Edwards. of New Jersey. 10
H. .pos!tion OF national interest is
pointed 70 by the antiprohibitionists
IS taking place thsous hout the country
upon the liquor question. Mr. Ed
Yards. totally unknown outside o: his
state Few months ago is nov IN
avowed candidate for The prcsitie,am an
on Il wet platform. and is attrac,inS
sire myth shat has amazed prohibitions
80 poiltlS!ans.
br!nn sponsors Edwards Boom.
\ The answer of The "drys" to this dec
ration is that Governor Edwards
3 you'd have remained in the back
# -ound and In obscurity from a ma
Il ionai standpoint IL William J. Brvan
q CS statesman an undue measure Of
&nvertisinG. The fact that Mr.. Brvan
yaded n,ns., into 10, Governor Edwards. de-. J.
lk M out OF tho Democratic partv. savn
Sf0e Jcrsay man standing which he
I 9ntn not otherwise have achieved
,r,ls nT 'fst ia can,na; as it may. G9yernor Ed
" dozen States for delegates, and
aoGs eds ID aGsence -Tn OF more acceptable
amendment and rigid enforcement
measures meas rs, into force which will make
lcisco convention assemblies.
The antiprohibitionists appear TO
lviion n,aGe Etscaisr hope in the attitude
Wards this question. Notwithstanding.
SMr. BRYAN, than in the course which
ne Repubiican convention will fol-
sPnrty is The more liberal. and because
IA Republican Congress- passed the
RRNolstead bin they believe there is lit
ltic chance TO make terms with ihc
iscpu bIic:ru leaders.
President Wilson'S Aid.
Moreover, President Wilson is the
sanly man in public position who has
riYen the antiprohibitionists any en-
ouragcment. His veto OF the Volst ead
tict, preceded by his appeal in behalf
tot beer and light wines. induces the
tWcts to hope that he Will cndcavor
TO persuade the leaders to come out
lboldly for n liberal platform.
4 Further encouragement has been
given the liberals by the nomination
|3t cambridge Colby to >bc Secretary
;of State. There has been no more
Fadical wet" in public life in recent
wears than Mr. Colby. He appeared
pefore a committee OF Congress-, as a
Ricmbcr OF the Shipping Board, and
IMPOSED the whole prohibition move
Snent. For this. dry" propaGandists
hreaten to prevent his confirmation,
H,ut the indications are that they will
Vail.
4 While the eighteenth amendment
nay be invalidated by n Supreme
q !ourt decision or by popular referen-
um in enough States to render 1t nuga-
*orA, the prospect of outright repeal
1T the hands Of three -fourths OF
4 he States is il remote possibility, and
Ho the more practical antiprohibition
eaders are in favor Of united at
II ack on the Volstead enforcement act
(which can be amended, to increase the
&olume Of alcohol in beverages to a
boint where beer and light wines can
6,N manufactured and sold without do