Pocahontas star herald., 1923-07-20
Inviting Disaster

Harding and the Republican National
Committee arising out of the World
Court issue, have given much en-
couragement to the Democrats.
Despite the oppositioO Of the party
committee, the president still holds
out for the court.
But many things may happen before
either Of the two major parties write
their platforms and name their stand
ard-bearers. Only on rare occasions
have the Republicans failed to show
political wisdom by bridging the
chasms before election day.
on the other hand the Democrats
have frequently thrust aside oppor-
tunity for success at the polls by
committing the party to some foolish
policy that a novice in politics shoul
/ have realized preSaged disruption aud
defeat.
Norman =. Mack, one Of the Demo
cratic national committeeman from
New York, has come out for plank
in the platform pledging modification
Of the Yolstead act simultaneously
he announces that Gov, Smith Of his
state will be contender for the
Democratic presidential nomination.
Mr.. Macks statements followed a con-
ference with the governor.
For more than 20 years Mr. Mack
has been member Of the national
committee. His experiences during
that time should warn him against
the folly Of permitting a noisy minor
ity to write into the platform any
thing so Objectionable to the majority
as to drive away those votes who
refuse to wear the political label of
either party.
Gov Smiths views ON the prohibit
tiOn question are too well known to
need comment. No ambiguity of Ian
guage that he might employ to ex-
press these views could conceal the
fact that he is opposed to the eight |
eenth amendment, the Volstead act
and everything else that stands in
the way Of legalized whisky traf- |
fc.
1t is. his constitutional right to seek |
the presidential nomination if he wills
to do so. But If by chance he should |
be the nominee Of the Democratic |
party, the platform would have TO be
shaped to fit Smith. Trimming Smith |
to fit platform with a prohibition
plank would be as impossible as weld
ing the wooden handle to the pewter
spoon.
Talk of committing the Democratic
party TO wet" policy next year is
inviting disaster. To do so would
mean defeat, deserved and inglorious.
The term, modification of the Vol
stead act" deceives nobody. If the
true sentiments of those who are
clamoring for less drastic liquor leg
islation We're known, ii would be
found that 80 per cent of them favor
the legalized saloon.
The national committeeman from
New York has been deceived by the
noise made by the "we;s' in his sec
ton. He knows little or nothing Of
the sentiment existing among the
masses in the east, Of the opinions
held by those who talk little for pub
lication, but vote regularly for what
they conceive to be for the country's
best interests. Mr.. Mack forgets
that brass band Of 20 pieces parad-
ing the streets makes more noise than
10000 people ON the side lines watch
.ug 1t go by.
As the committeeman says, the
greatest opposition 10 modification
would come from the western states
That is because an honest effort to
enforce prohibition has been made in
he west and the people are now reap
Ing the benefits.
lie should not be too sure. however,
that the Southern Democratic dry
states viii go Democratic even II the
party pledges for more liberal alco-
holic content"
Back In 1910 Democratic leaders in
Tennessee received the political shock
of their lives when Tennessee broke
{ away from the Solid South" The Re
publican candidate for governor stood
! on a platform pledged to prohibition.
! The Democrats held to local option.
. For the first time since the years
Immediately following the Recon
siruction period, the Democrats went
down IN defeat In this state, normal
Ily Democratic by 10000, a Democrat
pledged 10 modification" of the pro-
hibitoin laws wouldn't stand a ghost
Of a show today against a Republi-
can candidate running on a prohibit
lion platform.
A Democratic or a Republican nom