This was an aspect that had not previously struck me. I saw now the undoubted truth of Wrogers's assumption. Within a month South Australia would take a vote on prohibition. Outrim Clynes was the Parliamentary champion of the 'drys'. Since Alfred Deakin there had been no oratory to equal that of Clynes, and the whole weight of his personality and gift of speech had been thrown into the fight. Harvey-Pendox, the lawyer, had been as influential in his sphere as Clynes was in his. Between them the 'wets' were in for a sound defeat. No sane man doubted the result of the poll. South Australia was now headed for prohibition.

But now, with two leaders removed at one blow, the odds had swung with a vengeance. All those far-reaching influences had vanished. The 'drys' would collapse like a pricked baloon, and the liquor interests would emerge triumphant.

"It's awful!" Wrongers cried in the wretchedness of his thwarted Rechabite principles. "It's an outrage!" In all South Australia, Sir Edwin Corbie must choose those two men as victims of his criminal lunacy."