The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-12-11
DEMOCRATIC
RANkSFACE.
PARTY SPLIT
CONTINUED from First Page.)


namely a combination of Palmer
and McAdoo men-were sufficient
to control the last Democratic con-
vention when the platform was
under discussion. And the Demo-
cratic nominee, James NJ. Cox,
promptly went to see Mr.. Wilson
and won his endorsement. So that
that Wilson view may still be said
to be predominant in the Democrat
ic party.
Prohibition Plays Part.
Now here. comes the most import
ant question of all-prohibition.
The former president knows what
! a part it plays in American poll
| tics and probably agrees with Pres
ident Harding's recent statement
in his address to congress that the
matter has by no means been cast
out of politics but is playing vital
part in local elections. Mr.. Wilson,
| it will be recalled, vetoed the bill
which would have extended war
time prohibition after the arms
tice but the drys were able to pass
it in congress over his veto.
He was bitterly assailed Cor this
by the dry" organizations. His
record on the prohibition question
has not been what the "drys" would
like. He started out in New Jer-
Esey by insisting that it was moral
and not a political question and
declared for, local option. He agreed
to wartime prohibition or rather
the making Of 2.75 beer chiefly be-
cause of the need for conserving
the ingredients which were used
in the manufacture f beer. And
when the San Francisco convention
Of the Democratic party was in
session, there is well-defined story
that Mr.. Wilson sent beer plank
to that city despite Mr.. Bryan's
known attitude on prohibition and
despite the feeling of so many Dem.
ocrats that the issue had better be
ignored in the platform altogether
The plank was never offered or
Mr.. Wilson's behalf.
Wilson Believed SWEET"
Since those Gays. Mr.. Wilson ha.
been silent because of his illness
and such letters as he has writer
to friends have touched general,
on international affairs. But il
will be recalled that Mr.. Wilson wa!
one of the first to send messag,
Of congratulations to Governor
Edwards of New Jersey on his cleo
ton as United States senator on /;
wet platform. Mr.. Wilson also con
graduated Governor AL Smith O
4 New York.
Although there is nothing tangi
BILE to Indicate that Mr.. Wilson
would commend a platform of ligh
wine and beer to his colleagues il
the Democratic party. it is mucl
more likely that he will lean to
ward tiat side than toward the dr.,
end of the controversy. Mr.. Hard
ing has committed himself and hi
party to the maintenance of tn,
Volstead act. Mr.. Wilson neve
favored that act and is free to ad
vocate its repeal or modification.
Programs Merely Tentative.
Progressivism and liberalism ar,
merely political phrases today with
out concrete definition. The Re
publican group will in the next few
months endeavor to make thei
theory OF liberalism explicit. Tn
Democratic opportunity will com
within the next 30 days as the var
ious speakers prepare for the Jack
son day dinners in January, an oc
casion which may even bring fort
some expression on domestic at
fairs from the man who enjoys tn
distinction of being the only Dem
ocrat elected to two successive
terms in the presidency since tn
Civil war.