Comments on: Pennsylvania League of Women Voters Fires Back at Pennsylvania Supreme Court

By: Tom McLaughlin

Tom McLaughlin — Tue, 27 May 2008 13:05:43 +0000

FYI, just a few years ago the Prohibition Party elected a candidate to a township level office in western Pennsylvania.

By: henry dubb

henry dubb — Mon, 26 May 2008 18:15:42 +0000

Yes, for example if you look at the prohibition and socialist party platforms (WI) of 1932, they shared many common issues. The one disagreement was of course temperance, the Milwaukee Sewer Socialists took their constitutional right to beer (what else could the pursuit of happiness refer to)rather seriously.

By: David Gaines

David Gaines — Mon, 26 May 2008 18:03:29 +0000

That’s true. The temperance and female suffrage movements were closely related. In fact, I believe it was the Prohibition Party that first advocated female suffrage in a platform (upon its founding, in 1869). Correct me if the Free Soil or Liberty parties beat them to it, however. In any event, the Prohibition Party, which has been one of the most conservative political parties in US history, was strikingly progressive in the 19th century because of its positions related to temperance and, thus, the general welfare and status of women.

By: Chronicler

Chronicler — Mon, 26 May 2008 17:43:27 +0000

If anything, the early LWV leaders would have supported the prohibition movement, since the two reforms marched forward hand in hand. At the time, women overwhelmingly supported prohibition.

By: henry dubb

henry dubb — Mon, 26 May 2008 17:40:49 +0000

No, it emerged out of the Suffrage movement around the passage of the 19th amendment.

By: Deran

Deran — Mon, 26 May 2008 16:45:05 +0000

tangentially; wasn’t the LWV originally begun to end prohibition of alcohol? Or is that a myth they use to recruit members!

By: NewFederalist

NewFederalist — Mon, 26 May 2008 15:32:46 +0000

Go PA League of Women Voters! This states’ ballot access laws are as bizzare as the liquor laws! It is good to see a mainstream organization taking up the challenge.