The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1923-01-30

awe Paramount Issue in 1924 Pres
dental Campaign. Johnson May
Load G. o. p. Moist Division.
WESTINGHOUSE umblings and
.,.nenyering in both republican and
dor,ocratic parties indicate that the
distract question of prohibition and
the concrete question Of the restora-
zion Of beer and light wines are likely
70 furnish major, if not paramount
;ssue to the presidential campaign o.
1924.
II President Harding decides to seek
-onomination it will be on a dry plat
form one Judges from his present at
titude on the question. His most talk
ed of prospective opponent Tor the
republican nomination is Senator
Johnson, OF California, who is classed
as moist"
With the president and Senator
Johnson the outstanding contestants,
The prohibition issue might produce
some paradoxical results in the repuD-
i;can primaries Mr.. Harding will not
unlikely prove more than match tor
Johnson in bone dry progressive west
ern states which otherwise Johnson
wouId be expected to carry, while the
president might find himself endorsed
in several important wet, conservative
eastern states, where the senator or
dinarily would encounter tough going.
Fear Loss of Some States.
There are several big states the re-
nubIcan leaders fear they are going
70 lose in 1924 if the republican can
didate is dry and prohibition proves
controlling issue. Among them are
New York, Massachusetts and New
Jersey, which disclosed a preponder-
ance OF wet sentiment more or less de-
cidedlv in the election last fall, and
Illinois, if that state is really as wet
as the result of the referendum on
beer and light wine would indicate.
The democrats are going to have a
row over prohibition, too, and prob
ABLY one more spectacular than that
at San Francisco in 1920, as the wet
democrats are booming Gov. Al
Smith, OF New York, for the nomina-
ton. and according to reports from
Albany in the last few days Al is in
terested,' though perhaps not to a
greater extent than necessary. to pre-
vent William Randolph Hearst from
capturing the New York delegation.
Mr.. Hearsts ambition to be president
is recognized as unirnpaired, but he
does not appear to center his hopes
just now so much in the democratic
party as in a third party, one reason
ably may infer from his recent resur-
rection OF the independence league.
McAdoo on Middle Ground.
William G. McAdoo is generally re-
gardcd as an entry in the contest Tor
the democratic nomination, and was
dry in 1920 Some of the McAdoo
shouters, however, are convinced he
will prove reasonable" on the prohl-
bition question, though not promising
that he will be as wet as either Al
Smith or Senator-elect Edwards, OF
New Jersey.
In and about the corridors of the
capitol William Jennings Bryan was
observed today buttonholing demo
cratic statesmen and discussing polit1-
cal prospects. He is girding Tor the
beer and light wine fight in his party
but refuses to concede prohibition
paramount issue.
Issues as Seen by Bryan.
There are three big issues" said
Mr., Bryan, interesting the American
people today. The first is relief to the
farmer, who is the greatest sufferer
at present. The second is protection
OF the rights of the laborer, who
comes next to the farmer in the
amount of injustice that he is suffer
ing. The third is curbing prohteer;
who are preying on both the farmer
and laborer. OF course, no one car
say at this time to what extent inter
national affairs may divert attention
from domestic questions in 1924.
What do you think of develop
ments in Europe, the occupation O
the Ruhr by France, for examples
1T is a menace to world peace
iraught with great danger to Francs
herself. | think our government wa:
nght in Withdrawing our troops IRON
German territory"