The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-04-09
Good Politics in His Prohi-
bition Proclama-
ton
WATER WAGON
is EASY RIDING
In Dry Localities and Where
1t Is Wet, the Issue
Will Be Avoided

Washington, April 9.--Secretary Bry
to take advantage of the prohibition
wave without committing itself to pro
hibition either as national or as 8
state issue. He has added prohibition t6
the assets of the party. This seems te
be the upshot of the Bryan Remington
letter, made public Wednesday night, as
ilumined by Mr.. Bryan's own comments
Yesterday. All Washington is admiring
the latest feat of political tight rope
walking executed by Woodrow Wilson's
premier. The latest Bryan policy boils
down to this:
"In states where prohibition is an is
sue" Bryan declares that his party
should support prohibition, as in the
Iowa case. While in his letter Bryan
saws: I'm any contest between wet
and dry candidate for national commit
teeman, | am for the dry candidate"
in full explanation yesterday, he practi-
cally qualified this to read tissue" for
contest" The difference is significant.
Nothing is an issue till both parts agree
to call it by that name end no one can
for a moment doubt that Bryan will ever
declare that prohibition is an issue I'M
less it is clear to him that prohibition
is about to be voted in. In other words,
Bryan's advice to Democrats is to jump
on the prohibition band, or water wag
on, when the jumping is good. When
the jumping is not good, he Will coun-
sci inaction, for then prohibition, in his
opinion. would not be an issue
Asked directly yesterday whether he
would favor the same policy in Ohio as
that Endorsed for Iowa, the secretary of
state replied evasively that he would
take up that question when it arose.
He intimated that he might have some
thing more to say about the subject in
The Commoner, which is edited by him
from the state department
The Remington letter and the new at
titude of the secretary of state on pro-
hibition gives the Democrats practically
all the political advantage that can arise
from espousing prohibition where it Isl
popular while avoiding it where it is
unpopular. or. as in the case with the
national amendment movement, where it
is politically dangerous. If the party
follows the course laid down for it, UNI
questionably it viii attract conservative
Prohibtonists, will ALLEVIATE only those
Prohibitionists who have formed party
of their own, or are about 10 Join that
party, and will please the local opinion
people. OF course the traditional states
Fighters, of whom there are many, will
be gratified.
General observation in Washington
yesterday pointed to the conclusion that
the secretary of state has played good
hand for his party. Wherever il is ex- |
pedient. Mr.. Bryan himself will be called |
into the field 20 save his party candidates |
when the embarrassing prohibition Is
sue has arisen. Thus in Indiana. Senator |
John w. Kern, whose term will expire
in 1917, is thought TO be in danger of /
defeat, and hopes TO save himself by
making a fight against the Taggart ma
chine. which represents the brewery in
terests, for which his colleague. Senator /
Shively has been counsel. Here the serv
ices Of Mr. Bryan will be greatly needed.
for II Senator Kern is To repudiate the
Democratic mainstay some genius must
come along to tell Democratic voters
how 10 have their cake and eat il too.
Anti saloon advocates here were Wis
IDLY encouraged yesterday over the state
ment by Secretary Bryan. Mr.. Kenning
ton had written that the secrctary's
name was being used in behalf Of a can
didate tor the national committee. Mr.
BRYAN declared IL seemed improbable that
the liquor question would appear in the
platform Of either the Democratic or Re.
publican party. but that there was no
reason why a Democratic national com
mitteeman should not represent the party
sentiment on the prohibition question.