1943 Prohibition National Convention

1943 1944 Prohibition Disc Prohibition Party.svg Tomlinson Hall and Market Street, Indianapolis, Indiana, c. 1909.jpg Postcard of Tomlinson Hall, the convention venue 250px November 9, 1943 (rally)November 10–13, 1943 (convention) Tomlinson Hall Indianapolis, Indiana Claude A. Watson California Floyd C. Carrier Maryland later withdrewreplaced on ticket by Andrew N. Johnson 1940 1947 1 D. Leigh Colvin of New York The 1943 Prohibition National Convention was held November 10–13, 1943, at Tomlinson Hall in Indianapolis, Indiana. It nominated Claude A. Watson of California for president, and Floyd C. Carrier of Maryland for vice president. Logistics thumb|Tomlinson Hall, venue of both the convention and preceding rally (photographed in 1909) The convention was held at Tomlinson Hall in Indianapolis, Indiana, November 10–13, 1943. It was the 75th annual meeting of the Prohibition Party,Prohibition Party Urges End To Totalitarian Trend; Watson Nominated For President https://www.newspapers.com/image/536227302 Newspapers.com subscription Franklin County Times July 3, 2026 3 November 25, 1943 and its nineteen national (presidential nominating) convention. It marked the first time that the party held its nominating convention in the calendar year prior to the election, something it would regularly do afterwards.Prohibition Party History https://www.prohibitionists.org/History/body_history.htm Prohibitionists.org July 3, 2026 Tomilnson hall had previously been the venue of the party's presidential conventions in 1888Case George 1889 The Prohibition Party: Its Origin, Purpose and Growth https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=msu.31293017447214;view=1up;seq=789 Magazine of Western History. V.9 1888/1889 9 707 HathiTrust and 1904.Prohibitionists May Wait.; Talk of Postponing Convention Until After Democrats Nominate. https://www.nytimes.com/1904/06/27/archives/prohibitionists-may-wait-talk-of-postponing-convention-until-after.html The New York Times July 16, 2026 June 27, 1904 It also was the location of the 1912 Convention of the Socialist Party of America.Proceedings of the Socialist Party https://dn760105.eu.archive.org/0/items/nationalconvention00soci/nationalconvention00soci.pdf Socialist Party July 16, 2026 1912 The state of Indiana was a regular location for the Prohibition Party's conventions. Indianapolis had been the site of the 1888, 1904, and 1932 conventions; and was soon after the site of its 1951 convention. Winona Lake, Indiana was the site of the party's convention in 1947 and 1959, and Milford (in Kosciusko County, Indiana) was the site of its convention in 1955.White Terry Winona Lake And The Anti-Liquor Movement https://timesuniononline.com/stories/winona-lake-and-the-anti-liquor-movement,278929 Times-Union June 29, 2026 en April 5, 2026Prohibition Party National Convention Sites https://www.prohibitionists.org/old%20site/sites.htm Prohibitionists.org June 29, 2026 The convention was expected to feature approximately 225 delegates from 32 states and the District of Columbia.Delegates from 32 States Prepare To Select 1944 Prohibition Ticket https://www.newspapers.com/image/104811788 Newspapers.com subscription The Indianapolis Star July 4, 2026 3 November 11, 1943 The convention was organized in conjunction with the Indiana state party, which held its state office nominating convention directly ahead of the start to the 3-day national convention. The state party held its meeting at the Central YMCA Building in Indianapolis.Prohibitionists Open Convention; Indiana Ticket Nominated In Advance of 3-Day Meeting https://www.newspapers.com/image/314181332 Newspapers.com subscription The Indianapolis News July 4, 2026 17 November 10, 1943 Temporary officers The temporary officers appointed for the convention were: D. Leigh Colvin of New York, chairman James A. W. Killip of Pennsylvania, secretary Ralph C. March of Illinois, first assistant secretary E. Harold Munn of Michigan, second assistant secretary Virgil C. Finnil of Indiana, sergeant at arms Additionally, Enoch A. Holtwick served as presiding officer during the convention.Greenville Man Considered Nominee for President https://www.newspapers.com/image/88598623 Newspapers.com subscription Herald and Review July 4, 2026 6 August 27, 1963 Presidential nomination The convention selected its nominees for the 1944 United States presidential election on the final evening of the convention. The party claimed it would be running its "most extensive and most thorough" campaign In 1943.Prohibition Party Picks Presidential Nominees https://www.newspapers.com/image/623727351 The Sacramento Bee United Press Newspapers.com subscription July 4, 2026 12 November 13, 1943 It nominated Claude A. Watson of California for president. Watson was a Los Angeles-based lawyer. He defeated radio personality and reverend Samuel N. Morris of Texas. Additionally, Earl R. Chalfant put himself forward as a candidate for the nomination.Claude Watson and F. C. Carrier to Head 1944 Prohibition Ticket https://www.newspapers.com/image/314187307 Newspapers.com subscription The Indianapolis News July 3, 2026 November 13, 1943 Heading into the convention, Watson and Morris were the most widely discussed prospects for the nomination, with Prohibitionist former congressman Charles Hiram Randall of California also speculated as a possible nominee. The previous nominee of the party, Roger Babson, had ruled out another run; declaring that he would decline to accept if nominated. Presidential nomination vote Watson: 131 Morris: 31 Chalfant: 0 Vice presidential nomination After losing the presidential nomination, Morris refused to be nominated for vice president. The convention ultimately nominated Floyd C. Carrier of Washington (the president of the American Temperance Society) for vice president. His only opponent for the nomination was Andrew N. Johnson of Kentucky, the unsuccessful nominee of the party in the 1943 Kentucky gubernatorial election held weeks earlier. Carrier later dropped off the ticket due to health problems,Storms Roger C. Partisan Prophets: a history of the Prohibition Party 1854-1972 1972 National Prohibition Foundation 51 https://archive.org/stream/PartisanProphetsAHistoryOfTheProhibitionParty1854-1972/prohibition#page/n2/mode/1up and Johnson was substituted as vice presidential nominee by a vote of the party's executive committee.Prohibition Party http://www.enotes.com/topic/Prohibition_Party (See Table) eNotes 4 March 2012 Vice presidential nomination vote Carrier: 130.5 Johnson: 17.5 Rally On the evening prior to the first session of the convention, local ministers organized a public rally. Congressman Joseph R. Bryson of South Carolina (a Democrat) was the headlining speaker. At the time, he was proposing legislation to instate prohibition temporarily during the American effort in World War II and the future demobilization period.National Convention of Prohibition Party Will Open Tomorrow https://www.newspapers.com/image/3139627 Newspapers.com subscription The Freeport Journal-Standard United Press July 4, 2026 7 November 9, 1943 The rally was also held at Tomlinson Hall. Speakers at convention D. Leigh Colvin delivered the keynote address at the opening session. His speech focused on his view that the party needed to build itself upon its support for prohibition and connected moral matters, encouraging the Prohibition Party to develop as, "a part not dependent upon votes of the wetsopponents of alcohol prohibition are colloquially known as "wets", while proponents are known as "drys" and the underworld". Other speakers included D. Leigh Colvin (the 1936 presidential nominee of the party) and Virgil G. Hinshaw (former national chairman of the party).Prohibitionists Hold National Conclave https://www.newspapers.com/image/654787823/ The Union City Times-Gazette INS Newspapers.com subscription July 4, 2026 1 November 10, 19431943 Convention Notes https://www.prohibitionists.org/History/Convention-Notes/Conv_notes-1943.html Prohibitionists.org July 4, 2026 Platform The convention adopted a platform highly critical of President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his administration. The platform advocated for presidential term limits to be imposed of a single six-year term, changing the law from presidents serving four-year terms without formally imposed term limits. Party officer elections Edward E. Blake of Illinois was re-elected as party chairman. F. W. Louth of Indiana was re-elected as vice chairman. James A. W. Killip of Pennsylvania was re-elected as New York. Charles L. Hill of Wisconsin was re-elected as treasurer. Rejected proposal to rename party A proposal to rename the party, spearheaded by William F. Varney. It was defeated after lengthy debate. The proposal to rename the party did not put forth a specific proposal for a new name.Prohibition Party Debates Name Change https://www.newspapers.com/image/611120377 Portage Daily Register Newspapers.com subscription July 4, 2026 November 11, 1943 The grouping of delegates leading opposition to the proposal was led by Louth. Notes References Category:Prohibition National Conventions Prohibition National Convention Prohibition National Convention Prohibition National Category:20th century in Indianapolis Category:United States presidential nominating conventions in Indianapolis Prohibition