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, >, 4
Is View
BY y. O. MESSENGER.

Is View.
BY y. O. MESSENGER. =
Reports have been current in demo-
7cratic circles for some time thai 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-
! ton. Ultimately this 'squint" would
focus on authorization OF light wines
| and beer.
| The immediate 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 speech
| 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 OF She country. Both executives
"A D0nll-
lar restarement of state rights"
'White House. Reported "rayorir.-
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 II as darkly limiting that it means
the President Other times it applies
! to those Immediately around the chief
magistrate-the inner circle, supposed
to be in touch with his views and de-
sires.
William ]. Bryan scented this situa
ton 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
dry If adopted by his party. he would
in all consistency have to bolt. it is
said, take his rag dolls, all his radical
! ideas and his sincere prohibition view
and play elsewhere.
Plan Under Grave Discussion.
But no one goes to the extent ~
this time of discussing whether the
democratic national convention will
or will not favor the plan. Suffice ii
for present animadpersion that il l..
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 liberal plank in the plat
form will attract innumera BILE 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
would be counted on to win the Ger
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
mas oeen 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. if possible
The project now under way does not
go to the extent, it is explained. of
proposed repeal of the prohibition
amendment to the Constitution II
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 a Congress. if pos
Sible. that will liber"liz the law Of
enforcement
Next Congress Seen as Weapon.
a weapon lies ready TO the hand %
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
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
of the amendment 10 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 democra tic ma
tional convention, if the question
should come up on adoption OF a plat
form with a liberaliZing plan therein.
Arizona would cast five votes and New
York ninety.
In Congress. Pennsylvania. Massa-
chusetts, Ohio. Illinois. New Jersey.
Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin, with
their heavy delegations in the House
of Representatives., would hereafter
be afforded opportunity for popular
expression on lberaliza ion of the la~
which was Qen1ed the population OF
those states in the method of amend
ing the Constitution, should such a
platform be indorsed by the voters in
the Congress elections
Moreover. it must be borne in mind
the politicians say. that the people
have had a practical demonstration
Of the rigors of nationwide prohibi-
ton 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
hat many democrats are intent upon
trying to pledge the party to tho ex-
pertinent of proposing AN appeal 10
popular feeling. Gov. Edwards OF
lew Jersey announced last night that
ne proposes TO carry the fight TO San
Francisco. Regardless OF what any
nan or set OF men may personally
.hink." Gov. Smith of New York
wrote that the time honorcd demo
.ratic doctrine that the government
y most effective which governs the
east" had been violated when. In
he name of dcmocra.s there wa- i'm.
,osed upon 100000. 900 free peopl.
without asking their direct consent
restriction 10 their personal lbertN
, hich Prussia In her psimiost days
isNer dreamed OF
Politicians are not unmindful Of The
onridcrai ION that these uttsraaces
~ from the governors of 100 sisisa
zoe den,oUFatic, which srs sssentisi
&. l. fsN IHNWa.AUaH