Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-11-06
Prohibition Stands
Alone in Importance
In National Contest

of voters who will go to the polls
next Tuesday to participate in the
national contest of ballots, one of the
most interesting features will be the
question of prohibition. which will
come up in different forms in virtu-
ally all sections of the country.
Illinois and Ohio appear to be the
favorite stamping grounds of the
vets. Both states will submit the
question Of prohibition direct to the
people in the form OF rcfcrendums to
amend the state and J ;lcral laws in
such a manner that tnCy will legal
ize the manufacture and sale of beer
and light wines. The Issue also has
been reflected in the Congressional
campaigns in both, states. Illinois
has IA candidates for Congress who
are prepared to stand or fall with the
vets, while seven others are as defin-
ately pledged to the drys. In Ohio
II candidates are opposed to prohib-
ition and % have come out in favor
of it.
An analysis of the situation in Is
middle western S t at S, however,
seems to be more comforting to the
drys than to the vets, for of some
226 congressional candidates who
have pledged themselves on the
prohibition issue, 175 arc avowedly
dry and only 81 wet. In Texas, six
are wet and "a dry. Every cam
didate in Oklahoma's eight districts
is dry, while Kansas, Minnesota,
Michigan, North Dakota and Ken
lucky ignore the question.
California and Massachusetts also
will submit the wet and dry issue to
the people, although in forms less
direct than Illinois or Ohio. In
California it appears on the ballot as
a referendum measure known as the
Wright Act, which would adopt the
Nolstead Act as state law. In
Massachusetts the people will vote
on measure to formulate state pro-
hibition enforcement regulations in
harmony with the Volstead law.
Prohibition is 4 secondary issue in
several other states including New
York and New Jersey, for the DEM
ocratic organiZa tons in both states
have inserted wet planks in their
platforms. Governor Edwards of
New Jersey, who has been an I'M
compromising opponent of prohib-
ition since long before the Volstead
Act became effective, is running on
a platform containing a plank fav-
Oring the return of beer and light
wines, and condemning the prohib-
ition law as having encouraged
bootlegging. 1t is pointed out, how
ever, that the plank is not so damp"
rs the one on which Edwards was
elected governor three years ago.
At that time he was quoted as say
ing that he would make New Jersey
as wet as the Atlantic Ocean,"
Senator Frelinghuysen, republican
senatorial candidate to succeed him
self, has declared for law enforce
ment and the upholding of the Vol
s:ead Act. He stated in a recent
campaign speech that if the Consti-
tuition prohibits the manufacture and
sale of Intoxicating beverages, any
modification that would permit beer
and light wines is null and void and
unconstitutional, and that as long as
the 18th amendment remains Il part
Of the Constitution, beer and light
wines cannot be brought back. Those
who advocate them, he added, make
of themselves nullifcationists.
In New York state the issue has
not been attracting particular at
tention in the gubernatorial race
although from the angle of congress
sional candidates substantial ma.
jority are said to be lined up on the
wet side.
In addition to the prohibition issue
considerable interest has developed
throughout the country in regard n
the soldier bonus sentiment, which
will be expressed by referendum
vote in five statcs-California. III
inois, Iowa, Kansas and Montana.
In California the voters will deter
mine whether they desire an amend
nent to The state constitution which
will validate a bond issue of $40 OO0
geo already voted to assist forn,o,.
service men in obtaining farms or
homes.
Illinois will vote on a measure To
provide the sum of $4,000 Oo0
through bond issues and by d;rec,
taxes to pay interest and princ;noI
on soldier bonus.
The people of Iowa will detorr,i,.
by referendum a proposal tn raiso
s22,ooo,ooO for the purpose of pavins
a bonus to former soldies and nurses
One RI