South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-08-22
PROHIBITION As
NATIONAL ISSUE
Is NOW DEAD
Two Older Political Parties
Are for Enforcement
of Dry Law.
BY LOUIS LUDLOW.

WASHINGTON. ID. c.. Aug p. -
Prohibition as q national issue has
almost va r1oosed In fact. a.
seems 20 be settled already that pro-
hibiuon will not be an issue In the
presidential campaign. So FAR as
the public declarations OF he two
old parties are concerned either one
OF them. II successful VIII favor
the enforcement Of the law. just as
- will favor the enforce ment Of
other federal laws. Neither party
in convention vas willing 10 make
any promises Whatsoever with re-
CDect 20 the modification OF the Vol
stead enforcing legislation. and * IS
pretty well understood that the
presidential nominees Will 20
through the campaign without any
promises along this line
The wet interests were diSap-
pointed over this failure 20 obtain
any measure OF support from either
OF the old political parties The fail
uro OF both parties 20 come 20 the
aid OF the vets has convinced a
good many persons, who wNre not
entirely convinced before the ma
tional conventions were held. that
prohibition has come 10 stay
Work Of Prohibition
reasoning that the longer the pro-
hibition amendment Is in effect the
more difficult Il will be TO undo the
work II Is performing. II is con-
Ceiva bic, persons who take this view
81 tie situation say. that If either
of the old party conventions had
taken 4 definite stand against prohi-
hilton N its present form. say for
instance stand in support OF the
manufacture Of light wines and
beers, the prohibition structure
might have partially been broken
down. But since neither party is
willing 20 assume the responsibility
Of attacking the amendment or the
legislation under which Il is en-
forced. Il Is regarded as practically
certain that no attempt in the fu-
ture 10 set aside prohibition VIII
avail anything
This does not mean that the ad
NoCates OF notifications In the en-
forcing legisla ton Will remain idle
u does mean that the distilery and
brewery interests and the saloon m
wterest. or whatever may be left OF
u. have about abandoned all hope
OF eventually obtaining relief
Since the old parties have declined
20 have anything TO do with any ef
hNa Q ~ OCT dC4Nf tAAaLAlaE tuNu4LAULo
the VETS have abandoned plans
which they had made for conduct
tng 4 campaign on a national scale
and will concentrate their efforts IN
a large number Of congressional dis
tricts
Whatever hope they have OF re-
lief is now based on the preClriOus
possibility OF obtaining a majority I'm
the next congress III favor Of modi-
wing the Nolstead act The hopes
along this line. IL may be said are
not very buoyant Representa- tives
OF the national wet organization
have only recently completed a sur
vey OF the feld and have reported
10 headquarters here that while 81
may be Lossible % elect few mem
berg Of the house Of representatives
or this issue. 4 IS not a. all prob
BILE that the new house will favor
a ny Worthwhile changes IN the Vol
stead law. Nominations for congress
have IN most instances been made
and a careful canvass Of the nom
3nees made by the wet interests. so
= Is learned here does not offer