Omaha daily bee., 1920-05-07
Close Check s. >sS coates
OF Light s and Beer
Cannst Win Endorsement OF
Either Political Party.
DEMOCRATIC LEADERS
URGE SILENCE ON ISSUE
Trust Bryan Can Be Persuaded
To Abandon Intention to
Fight for Endorsement Of
Eighteenth Amendment.
BY ARTHUR SEARS HENNING.
Chicago Tribune Omaha Bee Leased Wire.

BY ARTHUR SEARS HENNING.
Chicago Tribune Omaha Bee Leased Wire.
|. Washington, May 6.-"Wet'
hopes to obtain plank i'll the demo-
cratic and republican national plat
forms favoring light wines and beers
have gone glimmering, according to
Information percolating from the
headquarters of both parties today.
There has been checking up of
the prospective "wet" strength in
the conventions by the republican
and democratic leaders within the
last week. it transpires. with the re-
suit that the foes of prohibition have
been advised of the hopelessness of
their cause. so far as the presidential
contest is concerned.
Officials of the democratic pational
committee made an unusually care
full canvass of the situation. for the
reason that both Governor Edwards
Of New Jersey and Governor Cox OF
Ohio have been figuring as presi-
Dental possibilities favorable to the
resurrection of beer. and it was the
democratic convention which was
looked to chiefly by the "wets' as
likely to adopt wine and beer plank
from political consideration, if not
from conviction.
Drys in Majority.
The democratic check-up showed
that only 10 Of the So members of
the resolutions committee at San
Francisco would be in favor of a
prevailing sentiment of the states
prevailing sentimnet of the states
electing the delegates who will name
the members of the committee. 1t
is understood that as result of this
canvass, Chairman Cummings of the
democratic national committee, who
will be the temporary chairman of
the. democratic convention, will re-
frain from striking any keynote
favorable to the 'wets. I" Demo-
cratic leaders have also urged the
anti-prohibitoinists to clay off,
warning them that if they continue
to press for "wet" plank they
surely will spur the prohibitionists
to force through a strong "dry"
plank.
The democratic chieftains here
hope that by putting the snuffers on
the "wets' William Jennings Bryan
can be persuaded to abandon his in
tention to fight for a plank strongly
endorsing the eighteenth amendment
and enforcement thereof. Silence on
the liquor issue is ardently/ desired
by the democratic leaders.
No Prospect at Chicago.
The canvass by republican leaders
showed that the "wets' would be
even weaker at Chicago than at San
Francisco.
The prospect, therefore. IS that the
advocates of light wines and beer
will transfer their endeavors to the
congressional campaign, seeking to
elect congress which will modify
the definition of Intoxicating liquor
1t would take wet landslide to
win the house and with only one
third of the senator's to be elected
the "wets" could scarcely hope for a
friendly senate in the next congress.
The federal prohibition law is
success" said Wayne B. Wheeler,
counsel for the AntiSaloon league,
today. Its friends have not been
as active as its enemies recently be-
cause they assumed that all awabid-
ing citizens would obey the consti-
tuition and the laws enacted pursu
ant thereto until changed in legal
and orderly manner. The same ma
jorities that won national prohl-
bition will be increased if they find
it necessary to prevent repeal. This
substantial majority of the Ameri-
can people is less vocal just now
than the "wets." but when aroused
it will be more powerful than
ever"