“The South is dry and will vote dry. That is, everybody who is sober enough to stagger to the polls.”
— Will Rogers
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We’ve heard from the Democrats and the Republicans now. But convention coverage wouldn’t be complete without taking note of the nation’s third-oldest political party, the Prohibition Party. Formed in 1869 in Chicago, the Prohibition Party advocates the abolition of alcohol and (nevertheless) had a measure of success, mostly at the local level in the late 1800s. And while the party still fields a presidential candidate — Gene Amondson made it on the ballot in a few states this year — the failure of Prohibition in the 1920s pretty much took all the air out of the temperance movement. Yet another lesson in being careful what you wish for.
* Number of votes Prohibition presidential candidate Earl Dodge received in 2004: 140.
* Symbol of the Prohibition Party: a camel (it goes a long time between drinks, and then drinks only water).
* Other parties fielding presidential candidates this year: Green, Constitution, Libertarian, Independent, Boston Tea, Reform, Socialist, Socialist Workers.
* Number of Prohibition Party candidates who have been elected to any office since 1959: 1.
Sources: Tribune archives, news reports, Politics1, Ballot Access News.
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nwatkins@tribune.com
