United States Prohibition Party
The Prohibition Party is a political party in the United States. As the name implies, the party advocates the prohibition of the use of beverages containing alcohol. 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 was founded in 1867. Its first National Committee Chairman was John Russell of Michigan, who served from 1867-1872. The party succeeded in getting many communities and a number of states to outlaw the production and sale of intoxicating beverages. 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 of illegal alcohol in the USA is generally known as "Prohibition". The enactment of national prohibition took away the party's main issue and the party declined in importance. The "Prohibition" era saw the rise of "Speakeasies", bootleggers, and a great growth of organized crime. By the start of the Great Depression the cause of prohibition was considered discredited by much of the public. National prohibition was repealed by the 21st Amendment in 1933. While hard line prohibitionists objected, the US Prohibition Party declined into insignificance.
From 1977 to 1980 the party was called the National Statesman Party. The party still exists today, although its following is small, and since 2003 there has been a schism between supporters and opponents of longtime party chairman Earl Dodge. It 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.
Presidential candidates
1872 - James Black 1876 - Green Clay Smith 1880 - Neal Dow 1884 - John Saint John 1888 - Clinton B. Fisk 1892 - John Bidwell 1896 - Joshua Levering 1900 - John G. Woolley 1904 - Silas C. Swallow 1908 - Eugene W. Chafin 1912 - Eugene W. Chafin 1916 - Frank Hanly 1920 - Aaron Watkins 1924 - Herman P. Faris 1928 - William F. Varney 1932 - William Upshaw 1936 - Leigh Colvin 1940 - Roger Babson 1944 - Claude Watson 1948 - Claude Watson 1952 - Stuart Hamblen 1956 - Enoch A. Holtwick 1960 - Rutherford Decker 1964 - Harold Munn 1968 - Harold Munn 1972 - Harold Munn 1976 - Benjamin C. Bubar 1980 - Benjamin C. Bubar 1984 - Earl Dodge 1988 - Earl Dodge 1992 - Earl Dodge 1996 - Earl Dodge 2000 - Earl Dodge 2004 - Earl Dodge, Gene Amondson
External links
- Prohibition Party Website (pro-Dodge)
- Prohibition Party Website (anti-Dodge)