Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-08-03
Primary Contests of Both
Parties Pitched Upon
"Wet'' and "Dry'' Issues,
Ponnerene Confident
BY LOUIS SEIBOLD

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Aug. If it
were possible to squeeze the wet.
dry and moist influences out of the
Ohio primary contest little would re-
main to mark any actual differences
between the Republican and Dem.
ocratic parties.
With the prohibition fermentation
out, the situation presents the
aspects of a wild scramble for party
nominations to be conferred a week
from tomorrow. There is little if
any dignity displayed by the can
didates who describe themselves as
Republicans or Democrats; rather
more by the latter than by the
candidates Of the party Of which Mr..
Harding is the commander-in-chi
but of which the Anti-Saloon league
has taken full charge.
The dry organization has defined
the paramount issue of the nominal
ing campaign, okayed the Republl-
can candidates who are to be favored
because Of their subserviency to it's
edlcts; tried to drive off dangerous
competitors and tighten it's grip on
systematic organization and leader
ship to say nothing of the most eff
fective sinews of political warfare,
the Anti-Saloon league leaders are
going to make sure that there shall
be no backsliding in the state where
it first imposed it's dry will.
There is, of course, a great deal
of antagonism to the plans Of the
dry organization in both parties.
There can be no question, however,
Of the skill and strategic finesse
shown by the dry organization in
hitching it's water cart to the party
which it believes has the best chance
of winning in the November cleo
ton. They have simplified the sit
uation by jockeying the Democratic
organization and it's candidates into
an obstructive position, though some
of the Democratic candidates are
quite as dry in a personal sense as
those favored by the Anti-Saloon
league.
PrOhi Issue Paramount
It is quite apparent that the
league is not going to take any
chance Of losing the Strengthened it
has gained on the voters of Ohio,
where even a trial by jury is denied
offenders of the Volstead act. The
majority of the Democratic candi'
dates and quite Il number of lndlg-
nant Republicans who are eager to
back up against the official pay
rolls of the nation and state are nigh
ly incensed over the arbitrary atti-
tude of the dry crowd. Wherefore,
the undetermined army of citizens
who declare the dry law to be
failure and who want their beer and
light Wine, with the saloon left out,
are putting up a vigorous fight for
candidates who have mustered VI
| courage enough to defy the dry or
| ganization or as in some cases are
advocating the modification of the
dry enforcement law.
1t is upon the wet and dry issue
| that the primary contest of botf
parties for United States senator,
state and legislative ticket and lr
| fact purely local offices will turn
| The advantage appears to be witt
the drys at the present moment, due
as said to more efficient leadership
it's definitely defined program ano
| it's splendid organization.
Considered as a political contes
pure and simple, the Ohio primary
| contest seems to be governed b!
standards that completely ignore the
ancient and respected policies o
both parties. None of the real issue:
that used to determine political rival
ries are cutting much figure in thu
present function. Policies of tn
Harding administration are casually
supported. The policies of the VIII
son administration are general,
ignored for the reason that Senator
Pomerene, who is certain to win ;
denomination, did not always sta.
on the League of Nations reserva
ton.
The Democratic senator who ha
displayed his independence on man,
occasions has been conducting dig
nified campaign based upon the fail
ure of Republicans to keep thei
pledges. He has refused to b
coerced by either the Anti-Salool
league, the mildly aggressive farm
ers' organizations or certain radica
groups in the party supporting tn
unreasonable demands of labor.
Fess for Everything
DIR. Simon Fess, the dry Reput
Lean candidate for Mr.. Pomerene'