The Washington times., 1915-03-23
Efforts of Prohibitionists to
Force Issue to Front En-.
barrasseS Both Parties.
MOVE IS LIKELY TO FAIL
Both Republicans and Demo-
Gratis Seem Ready to Fight
Shy of Question.

Whether to put prohibition in the 1915
platform is the question which is loom
ing up to the embarrassment Of boil,
Democratic and Republican parties, not
to mention the Bull Moose.
No doubt exists that strong efforts will
be made to get prohibition put into the
different platforms. The Anti-Saloon
League leaders openly say so. They
announce that both the parties and the
candidates viii be put on record on the
liquor issue.
Information in we'll informed quarters
here today is that Bryan will not seek
dry plank in the next Democratic
platform. 1t is reported that he will
oppose such n plank, either openly or
Indirectly, on the ground that the time
is not ripe and that it would probably
defeat the Democratic party. His 90
stion will be that for the time being
1t should be left to the States to deal
with the problem.
It Is well-known that the average poll
ticians of whatever party. SHES vio-
lently when any attempt is made to
commit him on any phase Of the liquor
question.
This was we'll illustrated when the
Hobson prohibition amendment was
pending before Congress, and efforts
were made to force it to a vote. Mem
bors of all parties in the House sweat
blood over the way they should vote.
Many pleaded to delay the vote until
Iftar ha a. a,.l
many members said it would embarrass
them to vote either for or against it
the vote was delayed until after the
elections and held back until last winter
H. Renew Effort.
The prohibitionists have been meet
ing with such success in adding States
to the dry column that they have re-
solved to make a more aggressive cam
paisn than ever. They are planning not
only numerous important fights in
stance, the proposed campaign to ma Ike
chicago dry-but they have determined
to press the. struggle for a prohibition
amendment harder than ever.
II VIII be forced on the attention Of
Doth House and Senate next session.
And then. in 1916, every Presidential can
Gioste VIII be catechised, driven to state
MS position one way or another, and
blanks into the platforms.
Right at this point is likely to arise
some Of the most animated fighting Of
the whole 1916 contest.
interests opposed to prohibition. includ-
ing the the liquor interests, recognize
that it Is coming. They are laying their
INES to keep dry planks out Of the
Mr.. Bryan's reported attitude would
block a dry plank from the Democratic
platform, because no other strong Demo-
cratic leader will take the initiative for
II. PRESIDENT Wilson is disposed to leave
States.
Nor is there reason to believe that
the Republicans will take UP a dry
pank snt IN True, there is powerful senti
the Republican political leaders will take
apour the same attitude as the Demo-
cratic leaders, that the issue Is too un-
certain from the standpoint of vote
One Republican Presidential possibil-
1ty, IT Is true. has come out and de-
clared that the saloon must go. This
Is Senator Cummins of Iowa. But the
other aspirants are not likely to be so
bold about it. And some of the friends
of Senator Cummins are expressing re-
gret that he talked out so plainly. lest
1t center on him the opposition of wet
clements within the party for the nom
ination.
1t is possible, that Senator Cummins
attitude will force the wet and dry
proposition to the front in the Repub-
lcan convention much more pronounced
ly than would have been the case
but for his statement. 1t certainly will
do so If he develops much strength in
the convention or-should a Presiden-
tial primary law be passed-in the pri-
maries.
Congress probably could shunt the
wet and dry question to one side so
far as 1916 platforms are concerned by
voting to submit prohibition amend
ment to the States. That is, such Con-
gressional action might have this ef-
feet. And then again it might not. 1t
might stir up the issue more than ever.
What is making the politicians lose
sure how to shunt it aside.