Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-05-10
BRYAN IN ALABAMA
PRIMARY BATTLES
His Prohibition Campaign Is
Met With Claim He Is
Anti-SaIoon Agent.

fSIhMlNNIftaM. Ala. hdH /" wy 'iiS
Associated Fress) .-Democrati Not-
ers of Alabama in the primary cleo
tfon tomorrow will nominate two can
didates for United States senator
presidential electors. delegates to the
national convention at san Francesca.
a national committeeman. president of
the public service commission. two
Judges of the state supreme court.
Judge of the court of Appeals. state
commissioner of conservation ana
many other aspirantS Tor county an"
local offices
The contests for the two senator
ships have furnished one of the most
Interesting chapters in Alabama po-
litical histo DRY.
Prohibition has been the only ma
tional issue to play an important
part in the campaign; but loca. s aur
tions have developed bitter feeiins
and all candidates have made speak
ing tours which carried them INTO the
farthest corners of the state.
One Candidate Withdrnws.
At the outset there We're hNc can
diGateS for the Short-tcrm senator
ship. to fill the seat made vacant oS
the death of Senator Rankhtad. hu.
DIR. John w Ahcrcromhie Withdrew
sentative J. Thomas Helm, former
Gov. O'Eeal, Capt. Frank White and
Ray Rush,on.
Hardly had the contest openen
when Mr. ONeal declared for chahSe
in the federal prohibition amendment
nermitting the sale of light wines and
beer. He declared the dry law was q
clear invasion of states rights, that
it ignored the sovereignty OF each
member of the Union and that its pro
visions would result in the appear
ance Of great number OF govern,
ment "spies and informers" and
would destroy the home life OF the
neople by search and seizure meth
DDS. rs
The three other candidates defend
ed the amendment. Capt Nhite op-
nosed O.Neal in a series of joint de-
hates. Representative Heflin, who
made his appeal personally upon ms
record in Congress. declared the state
prohibition law would prevent the
sale of wine and beer. even II tn cs
federal amendment were wiped OH
the statute books. and Ray Rushtoh
ridicuIed the whole question as
dead issue.
Senator UnderwOOd's Fight.
Tn tho other race, for the nominal
ton to the senate. are Senator IN
derwood who seeks reelection; l.. b
Nusgroye, who has received the m
dorsement of union labor ana aiso
of faction of the Antl-Salooh
League. and Judge Samuel y. "eah-
ley. a.,
out of this contest there came an
Injunction suit directed by certain
labor leaders against Lloyd HOOPER
campaign manager for senator oh
derwood. a newspaper syndicate anu
several daily newspapers. IN Wn .,:.
the complainants sought to proniDi.
the publication of an advertisement
in the interest of the senator's can
didacy.
feet that labor union ieaders anu
supporters of Mr. Musgrove were al
yocates of social equality between
the white and negro races. AFTER
obtaining the injunction, which pro-
hihifed publication of the advertise-
ment Musgrove supporters went vpon
the stump and denied the charges.
which had leaked out despite TIC
action Of the court.
During the final days OF the campaign
William Jennings Bryan spoke IN fve
cities in support of all the prohibitlon
and against Senator IhasT
wood and former Gov. O'Neai. Ine
Nebraskan declared in each OF MS
speeches that the prohibition question
was still live issue and urged his audi
ences to vote against Underwood ana
ONeal, whom he characterized as the
leaders Of the "wet' forces in this state.
Bryan's Activity Resented.
Mr.. Bryans appearance brought Wig
orous protests from O'Neal. whom he OPP
posed, and Judge Weakley. whom ne
supported. Both claimed Bryan is the
pajd agent of the Anti-Saloon League
and resented his interference" in Ala
bama politics.
Throughout the campaign the Anti
Saloon League has officially endea vored
10 maintain an attitude of impartiality
toward Musgrove and Weakley In the
race for the long-term senatorship and
between Hefiin. Rushton and White In
the short-term contest Several weeks
axo, a so-called committee of seventy"
league leaders issued statement In
which they called upon Judge Weakley
to withdraw from the short-term race
in order to concentrate all the prohibi-
ton vote for Musgrove. The judge.
however, refused to do SO and has con-
tinued his campaign with vigor.