Prohibition Party

The Prohibition Party (PRO) is a political party in the United States best known for its historic opposition to the sale or consumption of alcoholic beverages. The Party was an integral part of the temperance movement and, while never one of the nation's leading parties, it was an important force in US politics in the late 19th century and the early years of the 20th century. The party has declined dramatically since the repeal of Prohibition in 1933. Today, the party is a small fraction of its previous size, having earned just 643 votes for president in the 2008 election. It advocates a variety of socially conservative causes, including "stronger and more vigorous enforcement of laws against the sale of alcoholic beverages and tobacco products, against gambling, illegal drugs, pornography, and commercialized vice." ^[1]

History

The party was founded in 1869. Its first National Committee Chairman was John Russell of Michigan. [1]. The party succeeded in getting communities and also many counties in the states to outlaw the production and sale of intoxicating beverages.

National Prohibition Convention, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1892.

At the same time, the party's ideology broadened to include aspects of progressivism. The party contributed to the third-party discussions of the 1910s and sent Charles H. Randall to the 64th, 65th and 66th Congresses as the representative of California's 9th congressional district. Prohibitionist Sidney J. Catts was elected Governor of Florida in 1916.

The party's greatest success was in 1919, with the passage of the 18th Amendment to the United States Constitution, which outlawed the production, sale, transportation, import and export of alcohol. The era during which alcohol was illegal in the United States is generally known as "Prohibition".

During the Prohibition era, the Prohibition Party pressed for stricter enforcement of the prohibition laws. In 1928, for example, the party considered endorsing Republican Herbert Hoover rather than running their own candidate. However, by a 4-3 vote, the party's national executive committee voted to nominate their own candidate, William F. Varney, instead. They did this because they felt Hoover's stance on prohibition wasn't strict enough.^[2] The party became even more critical of President Hoover after he was elected. By 1932, party chairman David Leigh Colvin thundered that "The Republican wet plank [i.e. supporting the repeal of Prohibition] means that Mr. Hoover is the most conspicuous turncoat since Benedict Arnold."^[3] Hoover lost, but national prohibition was repealed by the 21st Amendment in 1933.

Decline

The party has faded into obscurity since World War II. When it briefly changed its name to the "National Statesman Party," in 1977 (it would change it back in 1980) Time magazine suggested that it was "doubtful" that the name change would "hoist the party out of the category of political oddity." ^[4]

The party has continued running presidential candidates every four years, but its vote totals have steadily dwindled. It last received more than 100,000 votes for president in 1948, and the 1976 election was the last time the party received more than 10,000 votes for president. In 2008 its presidential nominee received only 643 votes.

Secession of 2003

The Prohibition Party experienced a schism in 2003, as the party's prior presidential candidate, Earl Dodge, incorporated a rival party called the National Prohibition Party in Colorado. Dodge held a rival nominating convention in his living room in August 2003, attended by eight people, and was nominated as the president of this rival party.^[5][6].

In February 2004, Dodge's rivals nominated Gene C. Amondson for President. Neither the Dodge faction nor the Amondson faction recognized the other as legitimate. Amondson filed under the Prohibition banner in Louisiana. Dodge ran under the name of the historic Prohibition Party in Colorado^[7], while the Concerns of People Party allowed Amondson to run on its line against Dodge.^[8] Amondson received 1,944 votes, nationwide, while Dodge garnered 140.

The death of Dodge in November 2007 left the Dodge faction without a presidential nominee.^[9] In the spring of 2008, the Dodge faction nominated Amondson for President, but they retained one of their own, Howard Lydick, as their vice presidential nominee.^[10].

In recent years, the two factions have been fighting over payments dedicated to the Prohibition Party by George Pennock in 1930.^[11] The fund pays approximately $8000 per year.^[12] To avoid litigation, the two separate parties agreed to divide the money, with the Amondson faction getting slightly over 50%.^{[citation needed]}

Electoral history

The Prohibition Party has nominated a candidate for president in every election since 1872, and is thus the longest-lived American political party after the Democrats and Republicans.

Elected officials

• Governor of Florida Sidney Johnston Catts: 1917
• U.S. Representative from California's 9th congressional district Charles Hiram Randall:
• Argonia, Kansas Mayor Susanna M. Salter: 1887 (the first woman mayor in the United States)
• Thompson Township, Pennsylvania, Tax Assessor Jim Hedges: 2002-present^[13] (first and only known office-holder of the 21st century)

See also

References

Further reading

• James T. Havel, U.S. Presidential Candidates and the Elections (NYC: MacMillan Library Reference, 1996)
• S.B. Hinshaw, Ohio Elects the President: Our State's Role in Presidential Elections (Mansfield OH: Bookmasters, 1999)

External links

• Prohibition Party website - Pro-Dodge faction
• Prohibition Party website - Anti-Dodge faction