South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-09-12
EDITOR NEWS-TIMES:
BY THE EDITOR


both. Democratic politicians who are dry" are.
dry" from principle despite party expediences and
the democratic party. proved by the IN
congress the Indiana legislature, and wherever
liquor has been issue-outside, perhaps occasion
cities-has proven itself better than hfty-hfty
he dry" side. Republican politicians on other
hand. dry" from principle. but from party
expediency-and that applies. sometimes fear
to tho republican clergy-proven by the fact
that they recognize anything wet" in their
party. though II be limp dish-rag but screen
g. denly IT, and vote for # regardless. They are
dry" only against democrats-"wet" or dry"
This proven locally BY the manner in which
dry" republicans. even the clergy. became bed
fellows the liquor interests IN support of DR..
Franklin X. Carson for mayor-followed by their
sweetscented silence to the moral rottenness
gambling. prostitution and bootlegging. that per
meates the community under the Carson regime.
Were Il a democratic mayor they would be thunder
Ing II from their pulpits-with all the dogmatic
assurance Of Negro preacher chasing devil
Bob Jones. 1t is true. temporarily awakened them
for fortnight, but the strain upon their partisan
ship great and It has all long since been
forgotten. sweetly forgotten.
Debates IN republican caucus over the 18th amend
unent in congress are indicative as the nose on
your face that it is there that republican support
OF that addition the constitution was considered
purely from the standpoint party expediency and
scarcely from any moral. social or economic consd-
erations whatever Same with prohibition;
with the Vostead The question consd-
cred whether passage would lose the rerub-
ncans more OF the liquor vote than it would lose
the democrats. In sufficient power and with n
president the White House. acting always "by
and with the consent of the senate rubber
stamp" president. a saturated sponge
adj old
assurance from the liquor forces of future political
support, and only the volstead act. 18th
amendment. would &C to the junk-heap like Wild
fire.
There plenty Of dry" republicans. attached to
congress. Yet TO be attached dry only for
party expediency, who would just soon be wet"
and would be. at a snap OF the hnger-aso for
party expediency. Warren Gamalle Harding is one
OF them; James Eli Watson is one OF them; Andrew
jackson Hickey Is one OF them. All that is neces-
IS Cor the liquor interests to surrender uncon-
ditonaliy to republican party support and we
sometimes wonder If even the republican clergy
wouldn't soon be singing their praises-quite as the
author OF the letter heads this comment either
in ignorance or knavishness, thought to throw 4
smoke screen" about, or sound the praises OF War
Gamaliel Harding.
We would be optimistic in the extreme to antici-
pate democratic congress as the result Of the
coming election. the wet half of which could
amend multilate the Vostead act or repeal the
18th amendment. without republican hep-and
that they would probably never get. in sufficient
magnitude TO make It effective, uress there were
deal with the liquor forces that guaranteed the
republicans future liquor support on the other
hand a republican congress under Warren c. Hard
ing. ready to deal for the liquor vote could with
the aid OF the wet" democrats put over a prohib-
ton nuliifyinC program and do - easiI,,
Warren Gamaliel Harding's record on wet" and
dry issues is despicable in behalf Of the vets
as the Congressional Record could possibly make
IT, has James Middleton Cox beat thousand-at
least thirty.'-ways. In a sIeech in the senate
August /, 1917. apologizing for his vote favorable
10 the 18th amendment. admitting it forced
by the republican caucus and essential 10 "regu-
larity." Sen Harding said:
Il am not prohibitionlst Mr. President. and
never pretended to be be a
temperance man. do not approach this uues-
ton from a moral viewpoint. because am un-
able 20 see IL as great moral question" &C.. r.
Page 564S)
1t was purely matter Of party expediency with
him. expecting It would profit the republican party
more politically. than it would the democrats. where
upon he ambles on:
Il do think the prohibition amendment
will be effective. You cannot make a law
stronger than tho public sentiment that sees to
us enforcement I have watched the progress OF
this question from the conflict IN the hamlet 10
the municipality 70 the county. the state and
the nation. and . . freely express my doubts
as 20 It's practicabity."
Yet was willing 20 vote for II for marty av-
pediency. 20 be regular" following a party caucus
and his vote on tho 18th amendment and 10 pass
the Nolsead act over the presidents veto-of course
he wouldn't miss that chance to vote against the
presidents the only votes out OF thirty-two
prohibition tests during his tncumbency. that he
ever cast the side OF the "drys" The other 80
times he voted will the vets" support Of every
Raging. Gripping. softening. weakening amend
ment 10 any kind OF bill that came up in which the