The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1920-02-10
TALK OF RAISING
THE LIQUOR ISSUE
Proposed Propaganda of Two Demo-
cratic Governors Against the
Prohibition Amendment Is
Frowncd Upon In
Washington.

Washington, Feb. off any Demo-
cratic or Republican politicians at
tempt 10 raise the liquor issue or at
tempt to secure any modification
whatever Of the terms CT the federal
prohibition amendment or of the
Volstead enforcement code, they will
be decisively and completely repudi-
ated by the party organizations in
the forthcoming national conventions.
This was the answer OF official
Washington to the declaration made
on Thursday night by two Democratic
governors that they would seek to
champion the liquor cause in the San
Francisco convention. under the
guise of promoting personal liberty
and states rights"
That Governors e. l. Edwards, of
New Jersely, and A. f. Smith. of
New York. should have selected a
banquet to Homer s. Cummings,
chairman of the Democratic national
committee to make their announce
ments, carried in the opinion of some
here, the implications that there is
on foot a well organized campaign
to get the Democratic party to sup
port a modification of the federal
amendment.
The sentiment within the rank and
Ale of the party. however, is that
this liquor faction is an extremely
small minority. and the opinion was
practically unanimous, even among
Democratic politicians who have con-
sistently voted wet" that for the
party to ally itself In any way with
the liquor forces in the forthcoming
campaign would be ruinous policy.
"If, Governor Edwards carries his
propaganda to the San Francisco con-
vention. he will be promptly and de-
cisively 'repudiated,' Morris Shep-
pard CD senator from Texas, de-
clared last night
This sinister effort to revive a ques-
ton already disposed of by the Ameri-
can people Is not to be considered
seriously. except in so far as it raises
hopes that are detrimental to the
cause of prohibition enforcement"
Wesley Jones tR.) senator from
Washington, declared. He continued !:
ANY party that lies under even a
suspicion OF attempting to mod
crate or retract the federal amend
ment cannot get very far. The effort
may be made at the conventions, but
1T will most certainly be showed I'M
der"
In contrast to the position taken by
significant that some of the aspirants
for the presidential nomination have
already gone on record with a decla-
ration that the amendment must be
enforced. Only three days ago Warren
Harding CRY. senator from Ohio,
whose chances for securing the. nomi-
nation are not by any means to be
lightly taken. came out for unQuali-
fed enforcement.
At the present moment to insinua-
ton is that the amendment and the
enforcement code should be liber-
allied. 1t is. however. well recog-
nized that this is but the thin end OF
the wedge and what those who make
this plea desire Ia the overthrow OF
the entire prohibition structure.
Leaders OF both parties in outlin-
ing platforms tell the country from
day to day that enforcement of the
law is function they cannot evade
without endangering the stability of
the national institutions They fur
Their fully realize that failure to en-
force a law once on the statute books
Is one OF the best ways In the world
10 destroy the majesty OF law.