The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1920-09-27
PROHIBITION TICKET MAY
BE WITHDRAWN
Ready To Quit On Enforcement
Pledge BY Cox Or Harding.

WdSnlHSlOH, OSpI' -o'
Harding and Governor Cox were
promised today by Aaron S. Wat
kins the Prohibition party's presl-
Dental candidate, that he would
withdraw from the race if either OF
them pledged his support to the dry
program.
Mr.. Watkins announcement was
made in an address before the Inter-
national Congress Against Alcohol
ism. He said later that he would en-
body his proposal in kilograms to
Candidates Harding and Cox.
81 ask only two things of the 9TH
er candidates." Mr.. Watkins told
the congress. "Whenever any one of
them pledges himself to enforce the
18th amendment and enforce the
Volstead act, if elected, and to use
all of his power and influence to re-
tain them as a part of the nations
law, will agree to ask our national
committee to release me from the
ticket" 4
The assertion of the prohibition
nominee followed a series of infer
ential as we'll as direct statements
by speakers at the congress that the
Prohibition party might be the
cause for overturning the dry ma
jority in congress through detection
of sufficient votes from "known dry
candidates." P. A. Parker, general
superintendent of the Anti-Saloon
league, precipitated a near clash by
and dress, the trend of which was an
appeal for all prohibition workers to
support the dry. candidates on the
major tickets and thereby avoid pos
sibiiity of anti-prohibitionists being
elected locally.
Fighting For Cause
At the conclusion of Mr.. Parker's
speech, Mr.. Watkins hurried to the
platform and declared his intention
to withdraw when the other candi-
dates had given a proper pledge.
The prohibition nominee asserted ne
was "fighting for a cause and not
for a party and when that party
stands in the way, will hurry to
nv national committee and say,
Lets dissolve this party for all
time There were numerous men,
bers of the Prohibition party in the
audience and many of them Joined
in a chorus of "Noes," declaring
they proposed to stick by their par
ty. Others without obtaining rec
ognition from the chairman criticl
zed Mr.. Parker's attitude and the
congress for several minutes was in
uproar. E. C. Dinwiddle, president
of the congress, after restoring or
der, apologized to the delegates say
ing it was "a burst of enthusiasm
which is likely to manifest itself in
most any way" He explained to the
foreign delegates that while they
were not familiar with American
politics the days proceedings should
convince them and dry workers
here were mot overlooking oppor-
tunities that might be wasted"
DR.. Harvey W. Wiley, former
chief chemist of the department Of
agriculture, in a speech earlier in
the session expressed the belief that
the Prohibition party should not
have nominated a national ticket.
He believed its work was practically
finished when the 18th amendment
was adopted, he sadi.
A delegate interrupted to inquire
where he would task a Christian to
cast his ballot"
81 would leave that to your con-
science" DR.. Wiley replied. "But l
do not think vote on the Prohibi-
tion ticket will get anybody any
where"
Prohibition Pays.
DR.. Wiley also declared the prohi-
bition amendment never would be
repealed or softened because the
"country's business would stand
like rock against it," since it was
found that prohibition pays"
Papers by DR.. p. Almaldi, direc-