The Union daily times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1918-current, 1922-10-03
ROHIBITION Is
CAMPAIGN ISSUE

washington, Oct. Z.-Wh1le 1t has
been the boast of the Anti-Saloon
League that John Barleycorn is dead,
1T is a significant fact that in Ave of
the most important states Of the
union he will be more or less an issue
in the elections slated for November.
In each instance, furthermore, it
is the Democratic party which advo-
Gates relaxation from Volstead re-
strictions. In New York, the Demo-
cratic convention adopted a damp
plank" In New Jersey, the Demo-
cratic senatorial candidate, Governor
Edwards, is "wet." In Massachusetts,
the party stands for amending the
Volstead act. In Missouri, Senator
Reed, Democrat, declares in favor of
wine and beer.
The Republican party, in each in
stance, with possibly one exception,
plays politics. It apparently knows
the power of an organized, well fin
anced binority to overcove an unor
ganized majority which has no treas
ury.
In New York, all Democratic and
Republican candidates are "wet."
Gov Miller is no more convinced of
the wisdom of Volsteadism than for
mer Governor Smith. And Senator
Calder is no more "dry" than his
competitor, Mr.. Copeland. The only
difference is that the Democratic can
didates are declaring themselves,
while the Republicans are maintain
ing cautious quiet.
In New Jersey, Governor Edwards
is openly telling the people that Vol
steadism has made the nation one of
lawbreakers. Senator Frelinghuy
sen, on the contrary, after admitting
that his cellar is stocked with excel
lent wines and liquors, breaches the
glory of prohibition. In Massachu-
setts, the Democrats demand wine
and beer. Senator Lodge, always
"wet," is taking no position.
In Missouri, Senator Reed declares
that he voted against constitutional
prohibition because he believed that
the issue was one for settlement by
the states; and he advocates an
amendment of the Volstead act. His
opponent, R. R. Brewster, declares
himself, powder dry" and challenges
Reed to debate the prohibition ques'
etion as the issue of the day.
There is an unique situation in
Ohio. The Democratic senatorial cam
didate, Atlee Pomerene, was too able
a man to have been demagogic or IA
natical on the liquor question when
it was real issue. And today he is
too able to contend that as prohibi-
tion is the law of the land, the law
should not be observed.
In view of these facts, he is listed
by the Anti-Saloon league politicians
as satisfactory" At the same time
these politicians are grouping them
selves behind S. d. Fess, Republican
candidate, who has always been a
professional "dry." Democrats, fur
thermore, are held by the Anti-Saloon
league as responsible for the sub
mission to voters of referendum on
the liquor question.
The Anti Saloon league which
maintains its expensive headquarters
in Washington, is very alert to the
situation, and the assistance it rem
ders will tend to handicap Democrats.
The league is as we'll financed as ever
it is apparent.
The situation is very much like the
situation in 1920. Both Governor
Cox and Senator Harding were "wet. y
But the Anti-Saloon elague threw its
influence to Harding. William Jen-
nings Bryan "knifed" the Democrat
ic ticket the day it was nominated, al
though he knew that the oposition
ticket was just as wet"
And win the consent and approval
of President Harding, the govern
J of the United States is IN tt" liquo,
business, and above the heads of its
bartenders, flaps the flag of the Unit.
ed States.
There is no bootlegging more con
temptuous of the spirit Of the con
stitution, than this administration
which for purely financial reasons
l saI1a linuor on its passenper vessels