Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-03-12
BOOZE WILL NOT
Be NATIONAL ISSUE
EFFORTS TO INJECT WET CUES.
TON INTO CAMPAIGN NOT
GETTING VERY FAR.
POLITICAL LEADERS
FAIL TO be IMPRESSED
Members Of Congress and Others In
Washington View Prohibition
Question as Dead Except In Spots
Iowa Sentiment Of Edwards Sim.
ply Represents River Sentiment.
by r. G.. Dougherty.l

washington, March 1..-DeSplte
the many indications Of resentment
against prohibition. not only in the
big wet centers in the eastern states,
but even in many of the states which
have been dry for years, there Is no
expectancy on the\ part Of most OF
the leaders of both parties that it will
actually be a national issue in the
presidential campaign about to open.
There is tremendous interest here,
naturally. in the ti-probibition
feeling as evidenced, for instance, by
the movement to name Governor Ed
wards, Of New Jersey. as the demo-
cratic candidate for president. This
movement has been taken up enthusi-
astically by democrats in Illinois, In
diana. iowa and many other states.
Governor Edwards was not known.
even as name, in those states pri-
or to his spectacular run and cleo
ton on a frankly and openly wet
platform as governor Of New Jersey.
Sentiment for him for president,
therefore, is construed here as anti
prohibition sentiment pure and sim
pie.
But no one believes this sentiment
will really get anywhere, either as
looking to the nomination Of an
avowedly wet candidate for president.
or writing a wet plank into the ma
tional democratic platform. As the
politicians here see the situation II
simply isn't going to be done.
They point to the vote in the house
Of representatives on the repeal OF
the Volstead prohibition enforcement
act last Thursday when the repeal
was defeated 25i to 50, just three to
one. This vote occurred. they point
out, after Governor Edwards elec-
tion, and after all the demonstrations
OF anti prohibition sentiment which
have resulted in the talk of a posi-
bility of wet plank in the demo-
cratic platform and wet candidate
for president. These eighty-f1ve
votes were IA democrats and Al re-
publicans, which scarcely indicates
any overwhelming increase in wet
sentiment in the democratic party.
Just five men. as a matter Of fact,
changed from dry to wet, the net
change being only four since one
man changed the other way.
y vote in the house OF representa-
tives is always very significant
slant or cross section of American
public opinion. Even when it Is no,'
an accurate picture 1t usually repre-
scnts what the 435 members of the
house think is the safest thing for
them to do politically. Then. too,
members of the house are pretty
good guessers as to what is the safe
thing to do politically or they would
never. most of them, have gotten any
further than their local city councils
or state legislatures.
congressman not Impressed.
Your correspondent has made more
or less Of a canvass to find out just
how much impressed tho men on
Capitol Hill are with the exhibitions
of anti-prohibition sentiment which
have been so prominently played up
in the newspapers In the last few
months, but which seemingly have
had so little influence on the house
Of representatives.
Here are q few thoughts cleaned
in this canvass:
1.-The newspaper, poll conducted
IN Iowa showing Governor Edwards
to be leading Hoover, McAdoo and
other democrats for the presidential
nomination As regarded as interesting
but unimportant. 1t Is asserted that
the democratic party in Iowa has al
ways been more or less wet. and IL
concentrated largely in the river cit
les, which were very wet. 1t Is like
wise pointed out that the republican
party in Iowa Is overwhelmingly dry.
and that the state went dry before
the country went dry.
Indiana members are unimpress-
ed by Edwards popularity in the
Hoosier state, pointing out that In
diana voted herself dry more than
two years ago by a substantial ma
jority. The democratic delegation to
San Francisco will be controlled by
Thomas Taggart, they say, and will
vote for the candidate he approves,
Thomas r. Marshall, the vice presi-
dent II he Wants It, =.
Massachusetts, Rhode Island
and Connecticut are very wet In sem
timent, but their delegates will be,
controlled at San Francisco by SEN
ator David i. Walsh. and close
friends of the senator as well as
other leading democratic politicians
from New England, regard the Idea
Of fighting prohibition very much az
they regard the Idea Of butting into q
stone wall.
4-Former Senator Joseph w. Bal
ley, who is making an anti-adminis-
tration fight in Texas. and who is
opposed vigorously to prohibition, -
making no attempt whatever to Sc
cure q wet delegation to San Fran
cisco. He is understood to regard
the wet cause as hopeless.
\ 5-The Hitchcock Mullen forces In
Nebraska, always anti-Bryan and
anti prohibition afe making no move
and are understood TO contemplate
none against pronlDirlon, Aiino they
are lighting with all their strength to
get a delegation to their liking, At
present, William Jennings Bryan
Seems content 70 let his old enemies
have the delegation, another evidence
OF the f,opelessness Of the wet cause
In Nebraska. t.
While the prohibition Tight will mot.
in the opinion Of politicians here, en-
ter into the platform Of the two par
ties. nor result In the naming Of =.
wet a. q candidate for president y
will play q very important part
probably, in ~ great many congres-
sional districts. Even this = not ex-s