Extended Commentary: James Hedges and Prohibition’s “Faithful Remnant”

Abstract

Dr. David Gillespie provides a novel examination of the modern American Prohibitionist Party with this biography of James Hedges. Eleven years ago, Hedges invited Gillespie, a third-parties scholar, to address a Memphis gathering of his Prohibition partisans at the 140th. anniversary of his party's founding, allowing Gillespie a unique outsiders look into America's third oldest living political party. This article provides a glimpse at the broad sweep of partisan Prohibition’s history, including its glory days; but this is principally to provide context for its coverage of the contemporary party and of James Hedges, the leader of that “faithful remnant.”