Prohibition Party

The Prohibition Party (PRO) is a political party in the United States that has worked for many years to stop the sale and use of alcoholic drinks. It is one of the oldest smaller parties in the country and has been part of important movements for change.

During the late 1800s and early 1900s, the party played a big role in the temperance movement, which wanted to control or stop alcohol use. Even though it never became one of the two biggest parties, it had influence during that time. After laws were made to stop alcohol (called Prohibition), the party's support went down, but it rose again after those laws were changed in 1933.

Today, the Prohibition Party has a mix of ideas. It supports helpful programs like Social Security and free education, but it also stands for careful rules about drinking and other activities. The party also cares about taking good care of the environment.

History

Foundation

In 1868 and 1869, groups called the International Organisation of Good Templars passed ideas to create a new political party that wanted to stop people from selling or using drinks and other things that can make you drunk. In 1869, people in Oswego, New York, planned to start this party. Leaders were picked to help organize it.

In 1869, almost 500 people from many states met in Chicago and made this new party. They were the first party to let women join as full members. A man named Gerrit Smith spoke at this meeting. The party was called either the National Prohibition Party or the Prohibition Reform Party.

Early

In 1872, the party planned to choose someone to run for president and vice president. Several men were suggested for each job, and James Black and John Russell were chosen. The party wanted to stop alcoholic drinks, let people pick their senators, use both silver and gold for money, keep taxes low, and let everyone vote no matter who they were.

In 1876, the party changed its name. In 1881, a new group called the Home Protection Party formed but later joined the main party again.

Rise

In 1879, a woman named Frances Willard became leader of a group called the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union. She wanted this group to support the Prohibition Party. In 1884, the group decided to support the Prohibition Party.

In 1884, the Prohibition Party chose John St. John to run for president. He got many votes but was not elected. In later years, the party sometimes had a small group of voters that could change election results.

In 1896, the party had a big argument about what its goals should be. Some wanted only to stop alcoholic drinks, while others wanted more changes like using silver money and letting women vote. The group split, but most came back together later.

The party also began to support other changes, like making schools better and treating everyone fairly. One of their members became a governor in Florida.

Decline

In 1919, a change to the U.S. laws was made to stop alcoholic drinks. The Prohibition Party decided to keep working to make sure these laws were followed.

In the 1920s, the party talked about letting people who did not follow the law leave the country and not let them vote.

In later years, the party had less support and sometimes argued about its leaders and money. By 2014, the party had only a few members.

Post-World War II

In the 1950s, the party had money problems and lost support in many states but still had some success in a few places.

In 1977, the party briefly changed its name but went back to the old name in 1980.

In 2003, the party split into two groups arguing over money. The argument was settled in 2014 after one leader passed away.

In 2015, the party joined a group of free and open elections and became an official party in Mississippi. In 2016, one of their candidates got more votes than any Prohibition candidate since 1988.

The party has kept choosing new leaders for each election. In 2024, they chose Michael Wood for president and John Pietrowski for vice president.

Electoral history

Presidential campaigns

The Prohibition Party has chosen a candidate for president in every election since 1872. This makes it the oldest party in the United States after the Democrats and Republicans.

House

House electoral history

Notable members

• Joseph E. Anderson (1873–1937), a state legislator from Illinois and the most recent member of the Illinois General Assembly from the Prohibition Party.
• Frances Estill Beauchamp (1860–1923), served as Kentucky state chair and secretary of the national committee.
• Marie C. Brehm, the first woman ever to be nominated for vice president in a national election.
• Benjamin Bubar Jr., a member of the Maine House of Representatives from 1939 to 1944.
• Sidney Johnston Catts, the 22nd Governor of Florida from 1917 to 1921.
• Samuel Dickie, led the Prohibition Party from 1887 to 1899 and was the 9th Mayor of Albion, Michigan from 1896 to 1897.
• Neal Dow, mayor of Portland, Maine from 1851 to 1852 and again from 1855 to 1856.
• Clay Freeman Gaumer, a member of the Illinois House of Representatives from Vermilion County during the 35th General Assembly.
• Saxe J. Froshaug, a member of the Minnesota Senate from 1911 to 1915.
• John R. Golden, a member of the Illinois House of Representatives from Ford County during the 45th General Assembly.
• Harvey W. Hardy, mayor of Lincoln, Nebraska from 1877 to 1879.
• Frank Hanly, the 26th Governor of Indiana from 1905 to 1909.
• James Hedges, Tax Assessor for Thompson Township, Pennsylvania from 2002 to 2007, and the first elected member of the Prohibition Party in the 21st century.
• John H. Hoeppel, a U.S. Representative from California from 1933 to 1937.
• Nicholas L. Johnson, a member of the Illinois House of Representatives from Kane County during the 46th General Assembly.
• James Lamont, a member of the Illinois House of Representatives from Winnebago County during the 35th General Assembly.
• John St. John, the 8th Governor of Kansas from 1879 to 1883.
• Charles Hiram Randall, a member of the California State Assembly from 1911 to 1912 and a Representative from California's 9th congressional district from 1915 to 1921.
• Frank S. Regan (1862–1944), a member of the Illinois House of Representatives from Winnebago County during the 41st General Assembly.
• Susanna M. Salter, the first woman to serve as a mayor in the United States from 1887 to 1888.
• Daniel R. Sheen (1852–1926), a member of the Illinois House of Representatives from Peoria County during the 44th General Assembly.
• Green Clay Smith, a Representative from Kentucky's 6th congressional district from 1863 to 1866 and the 2nd Territorial Governor of Montana from 1866 to 1869.
• Emily Pitts Stevens, joined the Prohibition Party in 1882 and helped lead efforts for the Woman's Christian Temperance Union to support the party.
• Oliver W. Stewart, led the Prohibition Party from 1900 to 1905 and served in the Illinois House of Representatives from 1903 to 1905.
• Frances Willard, a founder of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union.
• Alonzo Wilson (1868–1949), a member of the Illinois House of Representatives from DuPage County during the 44th General Assembly.
• Josephus C. Vines, mayor of Brighton, Alabama from 1905 to 1906.

Platform

The Prohibition Party has ideas about many important topics. They care about protecting life at every age, so they are against ending a pregnancy before a baby is born, against the death penalty, and against helping someone end their own life. They also think there should be fewer ads for things like alcohol, cigarettes, and marijuana.

They want people to choose not to drink or use tobacco, and they support laws that let people pray in schools. They also think there should be rules about working and resting on Sundays. They want to stop gambling and lotteries, and they believe people should have the right to defend themselves.

For the economy, they think the government should not control money as much and want better support for older people. They also believe in balanced budgets, building more public places, free college for everyone, and job training programs.

In foreign policy, they prefer a calm approach, not getting involved in other countries' fights unless it is very necessary. They also want to treat other countries fairly and help people who are treated very badly in their home countries.

Chairmen

The Prohibition Party has had many leaders since it began. In 1867, John Russell was the first person to lead the party. Some leaders served for many years, while others led for just a short time. Earl Dodge served the longest, for twenty-four years, and Gregory Seltzer served the shortest, for one year.

Past chairmen include:

• 1867–1872: John Russell
• 1872–1876: Simeon B. Chase
• 1876–1880: James Black
• 1880–1884: Gideon T. Stewart
• 1884–1887: John B. Finch
• 1887–1899: Samuel Dickie
• 1900–1905: Oliver W. Stewart
• 1905–1908: Charles R. Jones
• 1908–1924: Virgil G. Hinshaw
• 1924–1925: B. E. P. Prugh
• 1925–1932: D. Leigh Colvin
• 1932–1947: Edward E. Blake
• 1947–1950: Virgil C. Finnell
• 1950–1953: Gerald Overholt
• 1953–1955: Lowell H. Coate
• 1955–1971: E. Harold Munn
• 1971–1979: Charles Wesley Ewing
• 1979–2003: Earl Dodge
• 2003–2005: Don Webb
• 2005–2009: Gene Amondson
• 2009–2013: Toby Davis
• 2013–2014: Gregory Seltzer
• 2014–2019: Rick Knox
• 2019–2020: Randy McNutt
• 2020–2023: Phil Collins
• 2023–Present: Zack Kusnir