Evening star., 1922-11-12
PROHIBITION 1924
ISSUE, SAYS SM00T
Predicts Dry Act VI )dification
Plank in Both Parties
Platforms.
ADMITS RADICAL WAVE
Declares Wet and Farm Blocs, #
United, Will Control Next
Congress.
ADMITS RADICAL WAVE

Modification of ths Volstead ma
tional prohibition enforcement act
must be considered by the national
conventions Of both the republican
and democratic parties in 1924. ac-
cording to Senator Smoot of Utah.
who has just returned to Washing
ton He said yesterday afternoon
that this was an issue which could
not be evaded. 1t will not die of its
own weight, he predicted, and must
be met.
Senator Smoot said. further. that II
the wet" bloc and the farm bloc In
Congress should form coalition
they could control legislation in the
asxt Congress.
The Utah senator predicted that
special session of Congress next
spring would be called. In fact, he
said he believed that progressiVes IN
Congress will force such a session.
Uprising of Farmers.
There is no question about radi-
cal wave having swept the middle
west" said Senator Smoot. 'It may
be called progressivism or by any
other name. 1t was responsible for
the election Of senatorial candidates
IN Nebraska, North Dakota and Min
nesota
There was an uprising of farm
ers because Of intolerable conditions.
Their crops were rotting. even In
Utah. and transportation to market
could not be provided. They were
ready to strike at anybody, and did
rfN Sy,
while a radical wave swept the
middle west, the same result WAS at =
compliShed by wet wave in fbe
east. This was evidenced by the Ge-
feat of republican candidates in New
York and New Jersey.
I'm the next Congress both parties
must consider two groups. These
will be the farm bloc and the wet
bloc. Together, these certainly will
be dominating elements. II they
amalgamate, or cooperate. they can
put over anything in the shape If
legislation"
1924 Platforms Affected.
prevail when the Sixty-eighth Con-
gress Is galvanized into life, Senator
Smoot predicted that full cognizance
must be taken of the wet issue as
raised during the recent campaign.
He insisted that the national con-
forms In 1924. must take into con-
sideration modification of the existing
prohibition statutes.
Senator Smoot would venture no
prophecies as to how far the farm
bloc and the wet bloc will go In the
direction Of pooling their interests.
He merely pointed out the possibili-
ties that lie In such coalition.
Senator Smoot does not look for
much accomplishment by the coming
t-1
Congress Some of the appropriation
bills. even. he said. might fail to get
through before March 4. through the
efforts Of those who desire a special
session of the new Congress next
spring.
Fear Ship Subsidy Lost.
He predicted that the administra
ton ship subsidy bill would be block
ed in the Senate; that Senator La Fol-
lette and those affiliated with him
would fight this measure and make
final action on it impossible. He said.
TOO, that while there may be some
amendment of the Esch-Cummins
whether an agreement could be
reached by the various factions on
the proposals which will be pre-
sented
Reorganization of the various exec
utive departments of the government
is impossible before March 4. the
Utah senator said. President Hard
ing recently expressed an earnest
hope that this reorganization would
be taken up during the special ses-
sion called for November 20. Sen.
ator Smoot is a member OF the Joint
committee appointed to propose plans
>or reorganization of the depart
ments. The progressives, Senator
Smoot suggested, would oppose ac-
ton at the coming session on this
To o.
,nent Of such legislation until they
have their full strength In the new
Congress.
Hope that legislation would be en-
acted taxing the great mass of tax
exempt securities was expressed by
Senator Smoot, though he predicted
there would be opposition to 1t from
the west and south.