The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-09-24
LIQUOR FOR HARpiNoY

Sometimes ono protests too much
Especially may this be uhe case In the
, progress OF n political campaign.
For some time, republican pofsticlant
and newspapers have made the alleged
''wetness" OF Gov. Cox prominent
feature OF their propaganda. They have
inspired hecklers to interrupt him In his
speeches and demand TO know his atti-
tude on prohibition. This was thought
TO be very embarrassing to him. But
he promptly replied that the liquor is-
sue is as dead as slavery. that the
Nineteenth amendment has been
adopted and that so far as he is con-
cerned, II will be enforced.
| In the meantime, the republican cam
| di1ate remains as silent--on this ques-
tomas the grave. II has never oc-
CURED TO the hecklers to develop
Harding's position. Partisan papers
have prodded the democrats with the
responsibility OF Murphy, Taggart,
Nugent and others for Cox's nominal
tIon. One OF these papers is the Kan
sas City Times, which is rated as an
advocate OF prohibition. A change,
however, seems to be coming over the
Spirit OF these zealots' dreams. Re-
garding the status OF tho campaign so
far as liquors. effect on 1t Ii con-
cerned, the Times says in part:
80 far as the political situation can
be guaged this far in advance OF the
election, the states supposed to be wet
are leaning more and moro toward the
republican side. In New York the sem
timent is running so strongly that way
that the republicans claim the city itself
viii go republican Is received with seri-
BUSINESS. New Jersey, where Gov. Ed
wards was elected on his promise to
make the state as wet as the Aeltntic
ocean, the democratic hope IL now en-
tronched along the Hoboken and Jersey
City water front. Massachusetts, IL an
other example. II has large industrial,
and foreign population. Last winter.
under local option laws. q great many
cities and towns. voted wet. Yet the
results Of subsequent primaries showed
that the gains In voting strength were
unmistakably republican. The demo-
crats now make no claim that they
can carry the state"
Perhaps the Times aid not intend 70
say what this may be interpreted 20
mean. Granted that the bosses named
above were interested In the nominal
ton Of Cox. the situation at present
as seen by the Tlmes-indioatos either
that this interest was not prompted
by ambition TO serve the cause Of liquor
or that they have abandoned hope Of
being able to control him In favor Of
the outlawed traffic. Our contemporary
may take ifs choice between the horns
OF the dilemma. II practically con-
fesses in tho last sentence quoted
above that the democratic partyais not
counting on liquor support 10 promote
Its success.
As Illustrating its ciovsn hoof. how
ever, the Times makes no complaint
against the alleged swing Of the liquor
support to Harding. II has apparently
never seemed to consider II necessary
that Mr.. Harding. as well 90 Mr.. Cox.
should make his position on the ques-
tion definitely known. II It is correct
In its claim that the liquor states are
veering to Harding Il seems TO indicate
that the liquor men have received some
sort Of private assurance which has
satisfied them. BY the same token.
they have not found the attitude Of Coz
to their liking.