Evening star., 1920-02-06
DEMOCRATIC MOVE
|. TO L|BERAL|zE DRY
LAWS IN PLATFORM
Plan to Capture Next House
on Wine-and-Light-
Beer Program. 2
"WHITE HOUSE" is SAID
TO FAVOR PROPOSAL
Would Leave Bryan High and Dry.
Causing Him to Bolt, =, \
IS Vieu
BY y. o. MESSENGER.

40
BY y. o. MESSENGER.
Reports have been current in demo-
l7cratic circles for some time that an
effort will be made at the democratic
\ national convention to have the party
platform, under the guise of conserv-
ing states rights. 'squint" toward lib
eralizing the laws made and to be
| made by Congress to enforce prohibi-
! tion. Ultimately this "squint" would
| focus on authorization of light wines
| and beer.
The INN ediate object in view would
be to capture the next House of Rep
! resentatives through the election of
| men, running on such a platform, in
the great congested populations in
| wet territories.
Renewed interest will attach to
| these reports as result of the speec n
last night OF Gov Edwards of New
Jersey at the democratic dinner in
New York aud the letter of Gov
Smith of the Empire state to the
diners The dinner was given to
chairman Cummings of the democratic
/ national committee, and was attended
| by prominent democrats from all
parts or the country. Both executives
declared their adherence to "a popu-
lar restatement of state rights"
''White Houseo Reported "Eayorinc..
Part of the gossip which has been
going the rounds prior TO this fresh
impetus was that the White House"
| is favorable to the idea. This term
| White House" as employed by the
| politicians is cryptic. Sometimes they
| use it as darkly limiting that il means
the President. Other times il applies
to those Immediately around the chief
N O c - hn Inn S,s,-
| to be in touch with his views and de-
Sires.
William J. Bryan scented this situa-
| tion early in the proceedings. hence his
recent savage attack on Chairman
Cummings for SO much as breaking
bread with Gov Edwards. A platform
contemplated by the plan under way
would indeed leave Mr.. Bryan high and
idry. If adopted by his party. he would
in all consistency have to bolt. it is
ideas and his sincere prohibition view
! and play elsewhere.
Plan Under Grave Discussion.
But no one goes to the extent a.
| this time of discussing whether the
| democratic national convention will
or will not favor the plan. Suffice il
| for present aninladversion that it 1.
under grave discussion, and that there
is determination to press it at San
Francisco. OF this there can be no
doubt.
Some of the shrewdest democrats
! in the party organization are of opin-
ion that a liberal plank in the plat
form will attract innumerable repub-
lican and Independent votes and will
reclaim wandering democrats who
are being alienated over the Irish
question and the league of nations
1t would be a direct appeal. IL is
said. to the foreign-born vote and
n t.rit ha
man vote in this country.
Rigorous Law Enforcing Noted.
Note is taken of the fact that the
democratic administration is enforc-
ing the laws with utmost rigor. There
has been complaint that unnecessary
strictness and harshness attend the
Interpretation of the law through
rulings applied. 1t is pointed out that
favorite method of bringing a law
into disrepute and the quickest way
to secure its modification have ever
been to make its enforcement as OBJ
noxious as the letter of the law will
allow-and stretch that. il possible
The project now under way does not
go to the extent, it is explained, OF
PR posed repeal of the prohibition
am ,ndment to the Constitution. 1t
only has in view taking advantage OF
the provision of that amendment
which authorizes Congress and the
states to administer the law concur
rently and to elect Congress. if pos
sible. that will liberalize the law OF
enforcement
Next Congress Seen Weapon.
weapon lies ready to the hand 81
those who have this purpose in mind
the election of House of Representa-
tives next November and the election
of one-third of the Senate. These will
be popular elections as differentiated
from the judgment of the people on
the constitutional amendment through
the assent of three-fourths of the
state legislatures.
This means that Arizona, which was
of equal weight with New York in the
ratification of the amendment TO the
Constitution, would have one vote in
the House, while New York on ques-
tion of modifying the law. would have
forty-three votes in the House. In
the same way at the democratic ma
tional convention, il the question
should come up on adoption OF "A plat
form with a liberalizing plan therein.
Arizona would cast hNe votes and New
York ninety.
In Congress, Pennsylvania. Massa-
chusetts, Ohio. Illinois. New Jersev.
Indiana. Michigan and Wisconsin. with
their heavy delegations in the House
of Representatives., would hereafter
be afforded opportunity for popular
expression on liberalizat tion of the Law.
which was denied the population or
those states in the method of amend
ing the Constitution, should such a
platform be indorsed by the voters in
the Congress elections.
Moreover. il must be borne in mind.
the politicians say. that the people
have had a practical demonstration
of the rigors of nationwide prohibi-
tion and the possibilities TO which en-
forcement may extend. which was
lacking before and which may result
in a change of popular sentiment.
Many Would Pledge Party.
At any rate, there is no question
that many democrats are intent upon
trying to pledge the party to the ex-
pertinent of proposing an appeal to
popular feeling. Gov. Edwards OF
New Jersey announced last night that
he proposes to carry the fight to San
Francisco. regardless of what any
man or set of men may personally
think" Gov Smith of New York
wrote that the time-honored demo-
cratic doctrine that the government
is most effective which governs the
least" had been violated when, "in
the name of democracy there was inn
posed upon 100,oo0.000 free people.
without asking their direct consent.
a restriction to their personal liberty
which Prussia in her pslmiest days
never dreamed Of.
Politicians are not unmindful of the
consideration that these utterances
are from the governors Of two states