The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-11-16
VOTERS .ROUT
DRYs, SWEEP
OUT KLUxERS
Colorado Deals Smashing
Blow to voIstead Act in
Democrat Victory.
COMPLETE G. o. P. UPSET
Normal Republican District
Swung Over Solely on
Booze Issue.

RB United Press
DENVER, Nov. 18.-Running on
platform denouncing the Volstead
act and calling for its modification,
s. Harrison White Tuesday was
elected to Congress from the Der
yer district in perhaps the most
sensational special election in the
citys history.
White, a Democrat. won a con-
vincing victory in a city which is
normally Republican by at least
5000 votes. White ran on an out
and out dry law modification plat
form, while his opponent, State
Senator Francis j. Knauss, Repub-
lican, adopted an uncompromising
dry stand and was actively sup
ported by the Anti-Saloon league,
the w. c. T. U. and the Ku-Klux
Klan.
Complete returns gave White 3d.
lit votes and Knauss 27,457. Two
independent candidates, George Kin
del and Huston NJ. Marrs, polled
less than 5000 votes.
Death KnelI Of KlaH
Not only was the White victory
a staggering upset for prohibition
forces, but it also marked the death
knell of the Ku-Klux Klan in Den
yer. The Klan, which only a few
years ago had controlled Denver
politics, rallied behind Knauss un-
der the leadership of Fred Arnold,
grand dragon of Colorado.
White was elected to the Con-
gressional seat made vacant by the
recent death of Congressman Will
Vale of Denver.
The Democratic nominating con-
vention, in which SIS per cent of
the delegates were women, adopted
a resolution denouncing the Vol
stead act as failure and calling
for its repeal and the candidates
fought the campaign out on the
question of prohibition, with other
issues almost completely disre-
gafded.
National Tinge Given
National significance was given to
the campaign by Republican charges
that White was nominated and
backed by the Al Smith group of
Colorado Democrats and that this
victory would be used as a lever to
get an instructed Smith deleation
from Colorado.
Although White denied that Smith
forces were interested in his cam
paign or had contributed toward his
election fund, the Smith charge was
hurled by Knauss throughout the
campaign.
The election was a sweeping up
set for the Republicans, as Denver
normally gives that party heavy
lead in State campaigns. It was also
a heavy blow to the Arlti-Saloon
League in a State which has been
dry since 1914 and which has been
regarded as a prohibition strong
hold.
Party Lines Thrust Aside.
Party lines were cast aside as re-
suit of the prohibition issue. A num-,
Der of leading dry Democrats bolted
the party, while Republicans adj
mitted that even some of their pre-
cinct captains went over to the
Democratic ranks. N
Republican forces today blamed
their defeat partially on the fact
that they were forced to change
candidates in the midst of the cam
paign. Finley L. MacFarland, auto
dealer and capitalist. originally was
nominated in a convention which
carefully lodged the prohibition is
sue.
In statement on the night Of his
nomination, MacFarland demanded
that the Volstead law be strength
ened and thus drew the prohibition
issue clearly. A week later he with
drew on plea of i'll health. Knauss,
accused of Klsn Affiliations, then
was chosen as a substitute candi-
date
The newly elected Congressman
formerly was chief justice of the
Colorado Supreme Court. Although
the election was local to Denver,
White received the backing of the
Democratic State administration
and Governor William H. Adams
issued strong statement denounc-
ing the Volstead law.