Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-12-28
SIGNS or POLITICAL CHAOS.
is necessary.

SIGNS OF POLITICAL CHAOS.
There is n strong current of opinion
i'm Washington to the effect that lead
ers OF the Republican party propose
TO conduct next years campaign with
dry enforcement as the chief plank of
the party's platform. In fact. that
they intend to make this the leading
issue of the campaign.
This belief was melted to promi-
hence by the recent activity OF Presi-
dent Harding In behalf Of n more en-
phatic and rigorous enforcement Of
the Volstead law. The program. il is
believed, also Would include the re-
nomination OF President Harding by
the Republican National Convention.
Should the Republican national
campaign of 1924 he inaugurated on
this issue. and the Democratic party
fail to meet II squarely. or ever ignore
the prohibition question. as II did in
1920. there is no doubt IL would Gre
ate great political confusion through
out the country. II would aid ma
terially in the breaking UP of old no-
litical parties, as was the case during
the famous political campaign Just a
century previous. in 1924, when tho
opponents of the old Democratic party
were driven into new political or
g~anizations. and at the election pre-
vented the success OF its candidate
for President.
There is ample evidence OF how the
plain injection OF prohibition enforce
ment into the political campaign
would disrupt the two leading politi-
cal parties OF today. At the election
Of last November. Democrats carried
New York and New Jersey on plat
forms thnt came out squarely for lib-
eralization of the Prohibition Enforce
ment law. Maryland also elected a
Democratic Senator OF liberal views.
on the other hand. Ohio elected the
Republican candidate FOR United
States Senator who Is leader OF the
dry forces. and other States gave YER
diets which emphasized strong public
desire for holding on 20 what already
has been gained for the prohibition
cause without receding a single step
The issue also was in evidence in
the Delaware election. Democrats
who favor strict enforcement OF pro
hibition voted in considerable mum
bers for Senator du Pont because h,
was said TO have given his pledge o.
support 10 the Anti-Saloon League
Republicans who are opposed 20 pro.
hibition voted in about equal number
for Thomas F. Bayard. the Democratic
candidate for United States Senator
and he was elected. This Indicate
how a national campaign conducte,
prominently in this issue would az
] feet large numbers Of voters In botl
parties.
But & is said the Republicans VIII
/ favor a prohibition campaign woul
expect 20 gain heavily in the West
although they realize they would los
heavily in the East. But that those be
hind the present proposition would b
= able 20 control the next Republica.
National Convention IL stu a matte
OF speculation.
o This alleged movement goes heavil
= 70 sustain the belief OF many polite;
observers that a breaking up OF par
ties is near az hand. Already the r,
o publican party is divided into radio.
= and ~reactionary groups. and even n
radicals are showing signs Of dl'
: agreement as 20 distinct policies. RI
a Democratic party. however, il n,
seriously disturbed. but prohibitic
might create confusion in SIS rank
al