The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-03-30
Enltnrial D1urat
An Independent Analysis Of Leading Cur.
rent Events ~ Reflected In the Pub.
Lie Press Of the Country
JOHN BARLEYCORN'S HAT in
THE RING.

Liquor will undoubtedly cut big figure in
national politics this year." predicts the Ell
Paso Herald Qnd.). pointing out that q recent
decision of the supreme court permits congress
to say what percentage Of alcohol is "intod-
eating" The Herald thinks it would be the
merest camoufage for congress to enact law
that beer and wine are not intoxicating. But
congress has done other things as ridiculous"
and Judging from the spirit Of most Of the
people at present. such decision would not be
unpopular with the majority Of the voters OF
the country
1.-THE liquor question Is becoming big is
sue again, just when most people had begun
to consider it settled" agrees the Tacoma
News-Tribune 0nd.). There is no blinking
the fact Of considerable reaction against pro-
hibition. :. Whole states seem on the
verge of rebellion; and the Tribune doubts
that 1.-The majority Of citizens who favored the
dry amendment ever expected that the per
missible alcoholic content Of beverages would
be reduced to the ridiculous minimum OF one
half of one per cent" The Trenton Times
Qnd) finds that never before has there been
a subject that aroused so much public inter-
est" and that while the wet" movement is
commonly thought of as belonging to the east,
yet persons who have recently travelled ex-
tensively in the western states declare that
the indications are that prohibition will be the
principal issue in this years campaign" 1t
seems to the Topeka State Journal 0nd. Rep
that prohibition is destined to be "a dominant
issue in politics for many years to come" but
that until the vets have shown their strength
it is not likely that either Of the leading parties
will dare openly to side with them"
1.-THE way will be opened for definite ma
tional decision" on liquor, says the Lansing
State Journal 0nd), "if its advocates succeed
in getting plank into one party platform and
the other party ignores it," and the Journal
adds:
There is a growing movement, particularly
in Democratic circles. to propose a modifca-
ton of the drastic prohibition regime by per-
hitting the manufacture and sale of beverages
of low alcohoholic content, particularly beer
and light Wines
Already three candidates for the presiden-
tial nomination on the Democratic ticket Gov
ernor Edwards of New Jersey. Governor Cox
of Ohio and Senator Hitchcock Of Nebraska, !"
the Wheeling Register Dem) points out, have
endorsed moderation of the Volstead act to
permit light wines and beer
"And others will come to it." says the Reg
lister 1.-The people are just beginning to assert
themselves and newspapers that heretofore
have been afraid Of offending the Anti-Saloon
league by printing the facts about prohibition
are now beginning to tell the truth
Wilson, the League and Lager is suggest
ed as Democratic slogan this year by the
Lexington Leader Rep.), for it thinks that if
MIR. Wilson decides to run again he will be
wise enough to know that he could not hope
to carry the election solely on the League Of
Nations issue. and in casting about for COM
panion issue what better could he find than
light wine and beer?" But If the Democrats
&eIxa al
struct their platform accordingly" the Salt
Lake Tribune (Rep.) is sure it would split
the party and bring William ]. Bryan to the
fore as champion Of the amendment" There
fore this effort to put wet plank into the
San Francisco platform sis sly bit of gener-
alship that is not going to work if Bryan and
his helpers can prevent" says the Indianapolis
Star lind. Rep.
Secretary Daniels paper the Raleigh News
and Observer (Dem.) calls attention to the
move of Senator France (Rep) of Maryland
to make the basis of new liberal party the
demand for the repeal of the prohibition amend
ment.' and this paper comments as follows:
Evidently he wants the national Republi-
can party at Chicago to declare for repeal and
evidently he implies that II the party does not
so declare he is ready to lead a movement for
Republican party that will. If that is the
kind OF liberalism the Republican party wants
the Democrats will not try to interfere
Let the Republicans swing on to liquor liberal
ism if they want TO-"
The Topeka Capital fRep), however thinks
the Democrats should have monopoly Of the
! liquor issue. saying:
THE course Of the Republican party should
be clear. 1t has been the determined foe OF
the li1uor power for many years Prohibition
like high license before it, made headwav
through the Republican and not the Democratic
| party. Jockey1ng with prohibition shonId ha
left to the Democratic party"