New-York tribune., 1920-03-08
Edwards Boom
Fails to Move
Party Leaders
wet Candidacy for Demo
cratic Nomination Is Re-
sarded as Interesting
but Not of Importance
Cause Declared Hopeless
House Vote to Sustain Vol
stead Law Is Held to Re
feet Public Sentiment
By Carter Field
r.o,r The Tr;buns's WasAsnston Bxrea'

From The TrIbuns's Wdshs"cson 6Hfe03
WASHINGTON, March 7.-Despite
~. many indications Of resentment
srs;nst prohibition, not only in the big
sTet" centers, but even in many of
the states which have been "dry" for
Years. there is no expectancy on the
mart Of most Of the leaders OF either
nsrty that it actually will be national
;ssue in the Presidential campaign
about to open.
r.turally. in the anti-prohibition feel
tho as disclosed, for instance, by the
raerement me to name Governor Edwards
~ New Jersey as the Democratic can
d;data for President. This movement
has been taken up enthusiastically by
Democrsts in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa
and many other states. Governor Ed
Yards was not known, even by name. in
those states prior to his spectacular
run and election on a frankly and
openly "wet" platform as Governor Of
New Jersey Sentiment for him for
President, therefore, Is construed here
As anti prohibition sentiment, pure and
simple.
Movement Believed Abortive
But no one believes that this senti-
ment will really get anywhere, either
Is looking to nomination Of an avowed-
" "wet" candidate for President, or
writing q "wet" plank into the national
platform. AS the politicians here see
the situation, 1t simply isn't going to be
done.
They point to the vote in the House
Of Representatives, on the repeal Of the
vclstead prohibition enforcement act
last Thursday, when the repeal was de-
feated 254 to IS, just three to /. This
vote occurred, they state, after Gov
ernor Edwards's election and after all
the demonstrations Of anti-prohibition
talk of a possibility Of "wet" plank
In the Democratic platform and q "wet"
candidate for President These eighty
five wet" votes were forty-four Demo
Gratis and forty-one Republicans, which
scarcely indicate any overwhe Inning in
crease in "wet" sentiment in the Demo
cratic party. Just five men, as a matter
Of fact changed from dry" to "wet,"
the net change being only four, since
one man charged the other way.
vote in the House Of Representa-
tives is always very significant cross
section of American public opinion.
Even when it is not an accurate pic
ture 1t usually represents what the
435 members of the House think is the
safest thing for them to do, politically.
Then, too, the members Of the House
are pretty good guessers as to what
is the safe thing to do politically, or
they would never, most Of them, have
risen any further than their local city
councils or state legislatures.
Situation Shown by Canvass
The Tribune correspondent has made
more or less Of canvass to find out
Just how much impressed the men on
Capitol Hill are with the exhibitions
OF anti-prohibition sentiment which
have been SO prominently played up in
the newspapers in the last few months.
put which seemingly have had so little
influence on the House of Representa-
tives. Here are a few thoughts
Cleaned in this canvass:
l. Inc newspaper poll conducted In
io~a showing Governor Edwards to be
leading Hoover, McAdoo and other
democrats for the Presidential nomi-
nation is regarded as interesting. but
1nimportant. 1t is asserted that the
democratic party in Iowa always has
Deen more or less "wet," and is con-
cen1rated largely in the river towns,
winch were very wet" It is sug-
s"ot .ne republican party In
iowa is overwhelmingly "dry,' and that
the state voted itself "dry" on the
elearcur prohibition issue before the
country went dry"
z. indiana members are unimnressed
oy Edwards's popularity in the Heosier
s'ate, stating that Indiana voted her
seN dry more than two years ago
oy a substantial majority. The Demo-
S.a.c delegation to San Francisco will
pe controlled by Thomas Taggart, they
,,ay' and will vote for the candidate
az approves, Thomas r. Marshall. if
'ne vice-President wants it.
70. massachusetts,, Rhode Island and
oonneet1cut are very "wet", in senti-
mem, mens, but their delegations will be con-
ntsohed at San Francisco by Senator
uavld |. Walsh, and close friends of
nu me senator. as we'll as other leading
iIsmocratlc politicians from New Eng
H;.;a, HH.a, regard the idea Of fighting prohi-
e''n very much as they regard the
VI outing into stone wall.
wet" Cause Considered Hopeless
~; -; senator Bailey. who is making an
~ sis'-Adminlstration fght in Texas. and
t;au ao Is opposed vigorously to prohibi-
aon, Is making no attempt whatever to
ieure wet" delegation to San Fran.
s, ss,sco; He Is understood to regard the
wes cause as hopeless.
NJ. me Hitchcock Mullen forces in
n,ah,n,k,, neIhs,anska, always anti-Bryan and anti
srs"ioltlon, srs are making no move and
sss s !, Understood to contemplate none
S.amt Ssaainst prohibition, although they are
sahi,lhg ao,g with all their strength to get
Wu,; Wvun,;;egat,on to their liking. At present
~ ta,am IN jennings Bryan seems content
t;on .e' mis- old enemies have the delera-
nv. . q. another evidence Of tho hopeless
'Ss mn 81 the wet" cause In Nebraska.
~nile the prohibition fight will not.