Prohibition Party historical and political background



This page gives some background on the Prohibition party; their beliefs in morality, honesty, and social responsibility in government
and their position in educating the public about the negative aspects of drug and alcohol use

America's oldest 'third party,' the Prohibition Party, has been striving since 1869 to enhance the freedom and dignity of the individual and to protect the welfare of the family. We're interested in many problems which directly impact the home: debt, gambling, job insecurity, trivialized education, spouse and child abuse, intrusive governmental regulations, drinking, and more.  We're interested in helping people help themselves by voluntary association in a private enterprise economy.  We're interested in teaching personal responsibility.  We're Americans, original, old, and new, who love our country and what it stands for.

When you vote for the 'lesser of two evils,' that's exactly what you get.  But, when Prohibition Party candidates earn large protest votes, major party politicians notice.  When we join together and vote our consciences, we do make a difference.  If your state election officials do not recognize the Prohibition Party, then register in another and influence that party by voting in its primary, but please support the Prohibition Party with your gifts and vote for Prohibition Party candidates at the general election.

        If you are a reform-minded conservative and a non-drinker, the Prohibition party wants you!

 

Attractively printed brochures containing the Prohibition Party platform are available from Action! Prohibitionists, box 212, Needmore, PA 17238


 

 

The National Statesman is published monthly. A subscription costs $10.00 per year. Send orders
to PO Box 2635, Denver, Colorado 80201 or email earldodge@aol.com for additional information.

Influential political cartoonist Thomas Nast (1840-1902), he who gave the pachyderm to be the symbol of the Republican Party and the jackass for that of the Democratic Party, also gave the camel to the Prohibition Party. Nast drew for Harper's Weekly during the last quarter of the nineteenth century.

Nast chose the camel to represent the Prohibition Party because, like Prohibitionists generally, camels don't drink very often, and, when they do drink, they drink only water. Originally a dromedary, the symbol was later changed to the Bactrian camel in order not to be associated with the camel logo on Camel Cigarettes.

We recommend two web sites on Thomas Nast: www.buffnet.net/~starmist/nast/main.htm and www.detnews.com/aaec/history

The Prohibition Party Platform as adopted by the 1995 convention

 

What About Those Bible Wines?

One of the most vexing disagreements between alcohol prohibitionists and moderationists concerns the use of the word 'wine' in the Bible. Each side quotes its own favorite verses of Scripture to justify its own viewpoint. And taken literally, the King James Version and most other translations do contradict themselves about 'wine'.

The issue can be resolved in one of two ways:

1. People who reject the doctrine of Biblical Inspiration consider the Bible to be a collection of oral traditions derived from several Middle Eastern societies. Some of these societies approved of drinking, others did not. The contradictions among the Bible sources are therefore real but are of no consequence.

2. People whose faith tells them that the Bible was inspired consider the contradictions to be only apparent (not real) and explain them away as errors in interpretation. The word 'wine' in olden times was used indiscriminately to mean either fresh grape juice or fermented (alcoholic) grape juice. The context in which the word is used tells the reader which meaning is appropriate.

American English today uses the word 'cider' in the same way - 'cider' can be either fresh apple juice (sweet cider) or fermented applce juice (hard cider). The context in which the word is used tells the reader which meaning to infer.

Two excellent books on the subject of Bible wines are Stephen M. Reynolds "The Biblical Approach to Alcohol" (US Council International Organization of Good Templars, 2926 Cedar Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55407) and Charles Wesley Ewing "The Bible and its Wines" (Prohibition National Committee, Box 2635, Denver, CO 80201).

Professor Reynolds has organized a foundation and charged it with producing a new Bible translation in which the 'wine paradox' and other contradictory passages in existing translations are reconciled. This 'purified translation' is now being published and is available from the Lorine L. Reynolds Foundation, 702 Custis Road, Glenside, PA 19038.

--Editor

National Committee of the Prohibition Party 1999-2003

Officers

Earl F. Dodge of Lakewood, CO, Prohibition National Committee chairman since 1979, was elected to an additional four year term at the 33rd nominating convention of the Prohibition Party. Dodge has been involved with the Prohibition Party in one or another capacity since 1952.

Dean Watkins of Tucson, AZ was chosen to be vice-president of the National Committee, replacing George Ormsby of Aston, PA.

National Committee treasurer Karen Thiessen of Wheat Ridge, CO was returned to office.

Margaret L. Shickley of East Petersburg, PA replaced Rachel Mitchell of West Olive, MI as secretary.

Watkins' grandfather, Aaron Watkins, was the Prohibition Party vice-presidential candidate in 1908 and 1912 and was its candidate for president in 1920. Shickley is the last living person to have been elected to any public office on the Prohibition ticket. Thiessen is Dodge's daughter; both Lakewood and Wheat Ridge are suburbs of Denver.

Executive Committee

The National Committee of the Prohibition Party elects a nine-member executive committee, which makes any necessary policy decisions between national conventions. Day-to-day operating decisions are made by the executive secretary. The chairman of the National Committee is also the executive secretary. In addition to the four officers listed above, the executive committee includes: Rachel Kelly of FL, Don Webb of AL, Howard Lydick of TX, George Ormsby of PA, and (there is one vacancy).

National Committeemen

Prohibition National Committee rules provide for two members from each state in the Union. The current National Committee includes 31 members from 21 states; the previous (1995-1999) National Committee included 36 members from 23 states.

Alabama - Don Webb (Dothan)
Arizona- Dean Watkins (Tucson)
Arkansas - Walter Erion (Little Rock)
California - Tom Cisar (Rancho Palos Verdes) , Paul Scott (Glendale)
Colorado - Earl F. Dodge (Lakewood) , Karen Thiessen (Wheat Ridge)
Florida - Rachel Kelly (Sarasota)
Indiana - Wendell Hansen (Noblesville) , Martha Shelley (New Castle)
Kansas - Vearl Bacon (McPherson)
Massachusetts - Richard K. Whitney (Boston) , Roger Williams (Worcester)
Michigan - Charles Wesley Ewing (Royal Oak) , Rachel Mitchell (West Olive)
Minnesota - Ann Moe Finsveen (Minneapolis)
Missouri - Joseph L. Autenreith (St. Louis), Faith Dodge Nelson ( )
New Mexico - Betty Isaacs (Albuquerque)
New York - Russell Hallock (Washingtonville)
Ohio - Jerry Kain (Toledo)
Oklahoma - Robert Blair (Oklahoma City) , Luther Lee Kennicutt (Salina)
Pennsylvania - Margaret L. Shickley (East Petersburg), George Ormsby (Aston)
Texas - Howard Lydick ( Richardson)
Utah - Lee McKenzie (Riverton), Gary Van Horn ( Sterling)
Virginia - Andrew Condrey
Washington - Frank Clark (Ellensburg)
At-Large - Jim Partain, Pell City, Alabama

"Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart"
- Galations 6:9(NKJV)

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