Gov Wilson And Prohibition.

New York Times 100 years ago today, August 13, 1912:
    Gov. Wilson is entirely sound in his opinion that the liquor question should be kept out of State and National politics as far as possible, and the adoption of local option both serves that end and provides a good way to treat the matter. It is hard to find any reasonable objection to his statement:

    I am in favor of local option. I am a thorough believer in local self-government and believe that every self-governing community which constitutes a social unit should have the right to control the matter of the regulation or the withholding of licenses.

    But while this is not open to any reasonable objection, there will be plenty of earnest and convinced voters who will utterly repudiate it, and will insist on complete State prohibition of the manufacture and sale of liquors. Party leaders who believe with the Governor that this is not a proper issue in larger politics may decline to take sides on it, but, unless the leaders of both, or, at present, of all three, National parties agree on this policy, the question will play a considerable part in determining the result. The attitude of Gov. Wilson is, however, sensible, manly, and characteristic, and it will command the approval of intelligent voters.