Time to Toast the Party?
In 1892 the National Prohibition Party's presidential candidate garnered more than 270,000 votesor 2.2% of the total. Over the following decade the party was strong enough to elect several Congressmen, a few Governors and lots of local officials. In last year's election, a paltry 15,893 voters.02% of the totalpulled the Prohibitionist lever. Moreover, the party, which was formed in 1869 and is the nation's third oldest, has not elected anybody to anything since the days when people drank their whisky out of teacups. What to do? Last week the party did what many another stumbling enterprise has done: changed its name. The N.P.P. will henceforthat least on an experimental basis in some statesbe known as the National Statesmen Party. Whether the name change will hoist the party out of the category of political oddity is doubtful, but at least it may attract a few of the folks who take a drop now and then.
Public domain image of Jim Hedges from the  Partisan Prohibition Historical Society website
U.S.  presidential candidate Jim Hedges of , Pennsylvania took some time to answer a few questions about the Prohibition Party and his 2012 presidential campaign. 

The Prohibition Party is the third oldest existing political party in the United States, having been established in 1869. It reached its height of popularity during the late 19th century. The party heavily supported the , which banned the sale of alcohol, and resulted in the US period known as  (1919–33). It was repealed in 1933.  The party has declined since this period, but has continued to nominate candidates for the presidential election.

In 2003, the party split into two factions. Preacher  and perennial candidate  were nominated for the presidency by their respective factions. After Dodge's death in 2007, the party reunified and named Amondson as its sole presidential nominee for 2008. During the election, Amondson was interviewed by ''Wikinews''.  He died in 2009, leaving an opening in the party for 2012.

Jim Hedges is a longtime  activist, who holds the distinction of the first individual of the 21st century (and the first since 1959) to be elected to a political office under the Prohibition Party banner. In 2001, he was elected as the Thompson Township , and was re-elected to the post in 2005.  He served until his term expired in 2010. Hedges declared his intent to run for the Prohibition Party presidential nomination on February 18, 2010.  This marks his first run for the presidency.