The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-07-25
THE CONVENTION OF THE.
P RO \ |b|T|ON PA RTY

This year, for the first time, the
national convention of the prohibi'
ton party can assemble to consider
prohibition as, in one sense, an ac
complished fact throughout the United
States. Not only has the constitutional
amendment been fully and properly
ratified, but a very reasonable en-
forcement act has been passed, up
held by the supreme court and put
into actual operation with gratlty'
ing success throughout the country.
In previous presidential campaigns
the securing of prohibition has been
an issue: this year the continued en-
forcement of il in accord with the
fundamental law of the land is ad'
mittedly one of the chief issues OF
the campaign. Such enforcement ought
of course to be the sincere aim or
every party and every candidate.
Thorough observance of a law which
embodies the united reasoning OF the
people on this important subject ought
to have the enthusiastic support OF
all who are seeking to be elected
TO public office. The prohibition party
however may still have its function
in the development of this general
cooperation.
1t is indeed interesting to consider
how steadily public opinion has been
uniting for some years in favor OF
prohibition Though the prohibition
party has never elected its candi-
date to the presidency, and very
rarely one of its candidates to congress
it has always acted as a very whole
some means of education for the
/ public. as we'll as for candidates OF
other parties. This work may well
be continued. Any reaction after
accomplishment has to be prevented,
and constant progress in enforce
of prohibition cannot be relegated to
a secondary place among the issues
nor can the people generally be
duped into a relapse from the high
standard of reasoning which led 20
the adoption of the constitutional
amendment. Just as both the men and
women Of the country will have to be
consistently educated to see and take
advantage of the full meaning OF
equal suffrage, once it is achieved,
so they must now be encouraged to
understand all the benefits of prohib-
ition. 1t is even more necessary to dis
cern and profit by the progress al
ready achieved than to look forward
to that of the future. In this con
structive activity the prohibition party
can still be decidedly valuable to th-
nation and, as an example, to the
rest of the world.
The convention at Lincoln, Nebraska,
therefore, will be an interesting les
son to the public on the need for
continuing in we'll doing even after
a great initial success. Persistent
activity in the right direction al
ways succeeds A great deal OF credit
belongs to the prohibition party for
both the constitutional amendment
and the enforcement act; and great
deal Of credit will be due to all those
who may carry this work still fur
ther forward. Where others may have
tended merely to acquiesce in vague
general terms or to follow a trent
that is inevitable, the prohibition
party has been unremittingly true
to its standard. There can be no
question that this stanchness has been
an increasing inspiration to those
of all parties who have seen the right.
ness of this issue and yet may have
seemed to be temporarily more oc'
cupied with other considerations. What
is right, however, can never be long
suppressed. Unjust criticism, ridicule
all the subtlest attacks Of those who
have been involved in the whole
business of liquor production and
liquor selling, have not been able
to prevent the demand for prohib,
ton and for it's thorough enforce
ment. If the prohibition party does
this year engage actively in the cam
paign, with presidential and vice
presidential candidate and a vigorous
platform, the party's campaign will