The Washington times., 1922-04-15
COP. REACTION.
seen BY BRYAN
IN RECENT VOTE
Resentment at Dry Law Not
Cause of Defeat--Due to
Suffer More.
BY JAMES L. KILGALLEN.
Copyright, lsR2. BY International News


ssrvice.)
CHICAGO. April 15.--William
Jennings Bryan, in an exclusive
interview today. declared that the
notable liberal victories" claimed
TO have been scored at the polls
this week were not liberal vic
tories at all--they were Republi-
can defeats.
THE reaction against the Re
publican administration is so
strong that Republican members
of Congress are likely to suffer
whether they are wet or dry" he
asserted.
Pacing the floor in his room in
the University Club, the thrice can
didate for the Presidency went on
quickly:
THE political pendulum is not
swinging back toward the wet can
didates-and. what's more. ft won't.
t"The conscience of America has
triumphed In the adoption of pro-
hibition. The appetite OF America
will not overthrow IT,"
sBryan's attention had been called
to the fact that ID. Bourke Cochran.
Democrat, of New York, spokesman
for the liberal element in Congress,
saw in the defeat in the primaries
of Ira c. Copley and clifford Ire
land, both veteran Republican mem.
bers of Congress from Illinois, the
awakening" OF the common sense
of America againN Volsteadism--
and a turning point" I'm politics.
mo such thing" said Bryan
warmly. There is no great public
clamor for the return OF the saloon.
The truth is there is a larger
majority In this country back OF
prohibition than there was behind
any predicted since the civil war. I"
TITS about time" he declared with
emphasis. "for these so-called liber.
ais TO take off the mask and describe
themselves by word that the peo.
pie will understand. They are the
lawless element In this country to-
day.
1T is not their purpose to repeal
the constitutional amendment. Oh,
no. They know II can't be done.
What they do want to do is to
control one branch OF Congress and
thus TO refuse to appropriate the
money necessary TO the enforcement
OF the Volstead Act.
This lawless element-these lib
erals'-would paralyze the executive
arm OF the Government and insti-
tute an era of lawlessness in the
country.
The issue Is clearly drawn. II 10
lawiessness versus the law"
Asked II he thought there was
any connection between the present
crime wave and prohibition. he re-
piled:
"onIy in the sense that prohi.
bition lessons crime. The crime
wave Isn't confined to this country
alone. It's worldwide. It's an after
the-war condition. IL will take time
70 get the world back to an ethical
basis"
Admits BootIegging.
Bryan admitted he realized that
there is considerable bootleggins.
Referring to the importation of
liquor into Florida by boats from
the Bermuda Islands the former Sec
retary of State said this matter
should be taken up at once with the
British government. He said Con-
gress should pass a law Withdrawing
citizenship from any American citi-
zen who goes into another country
and uses another country's flag
while he conspires against the laws
OF his own country"
do you think, Mr.. Bryan" he
was asked, that there is any chance
of light wine and beer"
No Compromise.
NO" he replied. The vets don't
want that. A saloon selling just
wine and beer would not be as popu.
lar as the old fashioned saloon that
sold everything and had a disorderly
house and gambling hall in connec-
ton with II.
III beer and wine saloons were per.
mitted the owners wouldn't obey the
law any more than bootleggers do
now" ...
Asked to comment on Gov. James
NJ. Cox's recent speech before New
York Democrats, Bryan said he didn't
care to discuss the speech of any
individual especially when he deals
in generalities."
The 1924 campaign issue? A lit
tie to early to predict, Bryan said.
Just now the revenue bill seems
to absorb attention. The Demo
Gratis In Congress, Bryan said, have
made a splendid record on this Is.
sue while the Republicans have been
more divided on fr~than any other
more so, he believed. than the repre-.
sentatives of either party were ever
divides on a revenue bill.
And now, Mr.. Bryan, what are
your political plans2"
Bryan smiled.
Young man." he said, taking out
- Eo tnh "A