Evening star., 1926-10-12
DRY VOTE TO BEAT
POMERENE IN OHIO
Prohibition Issue Is Declared
Determining Factor for
Success of Willis.
BY G.. GOULD LINCOLN.
Staff Correspondent of The Star.

COLUMBUS, Ohio, October IT,
The wet and dry issue is likely to set
tie the senatorial election in Ohio, al
though to date neither Of the candi-
dates has stressed this issue In his
campaign speeches.
Ohio, the home Of. the national or
ganization Of the Anti-Saloon League,
Is faithful in its allegiance to the dry
cause. No man in public life has been
more consistently dry than Senator
Frank B. Willis, the Republican nerai-
nee to succeed himself. Former Senator
Atlee Ponlerene, the Democratic NOM
inee for the Senate, personally dry. Is
nevertheless regarded as a wet for the
purposes of this campaign. And
whether he desires it or not, he will
stand or fall, in all human probability.
on the prohibition issue. The Ant1-Sa-
loon League and the w. Z. L. u.
both have indorsed Senator Willis,
and they will leave no stone unturned
in his interest.
Dry by 100000 Votes.
Four years ago the voters Of Ohio
rejected by a vote of 90S. .522 to 719.O50
a proposed constitutional amendment
leealiZine wine and beer. Allowing for
some turnover IN sentiment in favor
of the vets in recent years, Ohio Is
still a dry States. 1t has its wet spots.
Cincinnati. Cleveland, other industrial
centers. But take it by large, the
State is dry today by at least 10O,Ooo
votes and probably more.
Senator Willis has other issues to
aid him in this fight. Senator Pom
70 CIYffrA
while Willis favored it. The women
in this State have long memories and
they still hold this against Pomerene.
The Republican leaders are tanning
the flames Of resentment. Further
more, In the Democratic primaries
this year Senator Pomerene, COM
ing out as an eleventh-hour candi-
date, defeated Judge Florence IL.
Allen of the State Supreme Court for
the Democratic nomination for Sena-
tor. This rankles in the minds OF
some Of the women in Ohio. In a
measure, Senator Frank Willis Is the
political Rudolph Valentino to the
women of Ohio. He has stood con-
sistently for the two things in politics
which have had the earnest support
Of the women-prohibition and
woman suffrage-And he Is to reap
the benefit now in his race with
Senator Pomerene.
Labor Opposing Pomerene.
A third element Of Willis strength
is organized labor. It Is not that
labor loves Senator Willis 50 much
as that it loves Pomerene less. The
labor vote was credited with having
had a large hand in the defeat of
Senator Pomerene in 1922, when Sen
ator Fess succeeded him. Railroad
labor particularly has it's knife out
for Pomerene, and yesterday it was
announced in Cleveland that the rail-
road workmen's organization would
support Willis. w. G. Lee, president
Of the Brotherhood of Railway Train
men, speaking not only for his own
organization, but also for the Brother
hoods Of Locomotive Engineers, Loco
mtive Firemen and Enginemen, Rail
way Conductors and allied organiza-
tions. declared their support Of Willis.
During the primary campaign, the
railroad brotherhoods. sent a special
edition into this State in the interests
Of Judge Allen and against Senator
Pomerene.
To cap the balance still further for
w 4llASs OAlAO 40 Ou6Iy xbO~
publican. It has a great regard for
President Coolidge and his admins
tration. President Coolidge carried
this State in 1924 by a plurality Of
340, 900 over <the combined vote for
Davis. Democrat, and La Toilette,
Progressive. His plurality over Davis
alone was nearly 100000. It is only
fair to suppose that part Of the vote
which went to La Toilette was nor
mally Republican, and that had there
been only Coolidge and Davis in the
race, the Coolidge plurality would
have been 500, 900 more.
"Stand BY Coolidge"
Senator Willis, campaigning Wig.
orously throughout the State. has
been ringing the changes on the need
of sending Republican Senator back
to Washington to support the Presi-
dent. President Coolidge and his ad-
ministration. he insists, would be re-
pudiated by the election of Senator
Pomerene. To effect the strength Of
the appeal, Senator Pomerene has
said that he would consider votes cast
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